AP COGO Unit 4 Terms

Electoral system

The formal rules and procedures for selecting the executive or members of the legislature

Mandate

The broad support of the people to carry out proposed policies

Runoff election

A second and final election held between the top two vote-getters when no candidate has won the majority

Multimember district system (MMD)

A system for selecting the members of the legislature where 2 or more candidates are elected from a district

Single-member district system (SMD)

A system for electing members of the legislature where the candidate who wins the most votes in a district earns a seat in the legislature

Plurality

The most votes, but not necessarily the majority

First-past-the-post (FPTP)

An election rule in the SMD system where the candidate with a plurality of votes wins a seat

Proportional representation system (PR)

A system for electing members of the legislature where seats are awarded based on the percentage of votes a party receives

Mixed electoral system

A system for electing members of the legislature that includes aspects of both the SMD and PR systems

One-party system

A country where only one party is allowed to control the government

Dominant party system

A party system where multiple parties exist, but one party dominates the executive and wins most of the seats in the legislature

Two-party system

A party system where only 2 parties are able to garner enough votes to win an election, although more may compete

Multiparty system

A party system where more than 2 parties can win a national election and control the government

Catch-all party

A party that takes ideologically diverse positions to capture as many voters as possible

Duverger’s law

A theory that states in political systems with single-member districts and the plurality voting system, two main parties tend to emerge

Interest groups

An association of individuals or businesses that attempts to influence the government

Pluralism

A system in which groups are allowed to form and advocate for their interests outside of government control

Corporatism

A system in which the state controls interest groups and chooses the ones it wishes to recognize

Single-peak association

An organization that brings together all interest groups in a particular sector to influence and negotiate agreements with the government

Social movement

A group that has a loosely defined organizational structure and seeks major socioeconomic or political change through collective action

Grassroots movement

Citizens at the local level banding together to advocate for a cause

China - Party System

One party system

• Communist Party has dominated since 1949

• Allows 8 other parties to exist but they hold no positions of power or authority

Russia - Party system

Dominant party system

• United Russia

• Only legally registered parties can run for office - various methods used to prevent other parties from gaining influence

• Increasing threshold on rules to limit party access to the ballot

Mexico - Party system

Multiparty system

• 3 major parties = Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI), Partido Acción Nacional (PAN) and Partido de la Revolución Democrática (PRD)

  • Goal is to transition Mexico away from one-party dominance

• Eliminated el dedazo (practice where the president handpicks his successor)

• Decentralizing/reducing one-party power at the subnational level

United Kingdom - Party system

Multiparty system

• 2 major parties = Conservative and Labour

  • Control the legislature and the executive

Nigeria - Party system

Multiparty system

• 30 parties, but 2 major = People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress of Nigeria (APC)

• 3rd parties have a degree of electoral success

• No one can run for office unless they are a part of a party

  • Must pay for inclusion → only wealthiest can run for office

Iran - Party system

No organized political parties

• Parties operate as loosely form political alliances with questionable linkage to voters

• Parties must be vetted and approved by the Guardian Council

• No dissenting vote

Nigeria - Electoral system

Senate

• 36 States - 3 senators each

• 3 Districts in each state and senators are elected via SMDP

• The Capital Abuja has 1 senator

• Each state can have multiple parties

House of Representatives

• All members elected via SMDP

• The number of representatives in each state is determined by population, so states have different numbers of represenatives

• SMDP system supports ethnic minority candidates

Mexico - Electoral system

Chamber of Senators

• 128 Senators

  • 96 Senators = multi member district

  • 32 senators = PR

• 32 electoral districts → 3 senators each

• Senators run as a party ticket

• Party ticket with the most votes = 2 candidates

  • The party that comes in second gets one seat

Chamber of Deputies

• 500 members

• Mixed electoral system with both SMDP and PR

  • 300 directly elected by the people in a SMDP

  • 200 elected by PR

United Kingdom - Electoral system

House of Commons

• SMDP and first-past-the-post

• 650 members

• Each district elects one representative

House of Lords

• Appointed or inherited

• 778 members

Russia - Electoral system

State Duma

• 450 members

  • 225 elected through SMDP and first-past-the-post

  • 225 chosen via PR (7% threshold)

    • A party must get at least 7% of the total vote to earn any seats

Federation Council

• 170 senators

  • Appointed

Iran - Electoral system

Majles

• SMD and MMD

  • Both need 1/4th of the total vote to win

• Direct election

• Members are vetted by the Guardian Council

  • Complex system that may require a 2nd round of voting

• 290 seats → 5 reserved for non-Muslim minorities

China - Electoral system

National People’s Congress

• 2,980 members → Meet once a year, in March

• Indirect elections

  • Members are chosen by local people’s congresses

• Candidates are vetted by the CCP