LEC 5 electoral systems

LEC 5 electoral systems

political parties functions

(i) Organize the popular vote.

• (ii) Educate and inform the citizenry.

• (iii) Formulate policy.

• (iv) Recruit leaders for public office.

• Peter Mair: their function is to organize &

stabilize

party system 2 components

Party system: has a static and a dynamic

component.

• Static: the number of parties in the

legislature.

• Easy enough.

• The dynamic: their internal cohesion, the

relationship with other parties, and their

propensity to conflict and cooperation.

What is an electoral system?

The mechanism for translating votes into seats.

What is a party system?

The constellation of political parties in a country.

What is party system stability?

The ability to produce predictable, durable governments with stable voter-party allegiance. (Lane & Ersson quote)

How is party system stability measured?

Number of governments or number of prime ministers

Examples of stable vs unstable party systems?

• Stable 2-party: USA

• Stable 3-party: UK, Canada, Australia

• Unstable multi-party: Weimar Germany, Fourth Republic France, Postwar Italy

  • France today: becoming unstable

Why do electoral and party systems matter?

They translate preferences into policy and manage the democracy vs efficiency trade-off; breakdown can lead to instability or coups

What is a plurality system (FPTP)?

Candidate with the most votes wins the seat. (Canada, UK, US, India.)

advantages and disadvantages of plurality systems

Advantages: Simple, clear choice, tends to produce majority governments.

Disadvantages: Disproportional, wastes votes, punishes small parties, allows majority governments without majority support

What did the 2019 UK election show about FPTP?

Conservatives won majority with 43.6% even though over 50% of voters supported anti-Brexit parties

Why is Thatcher used as an example of FPTP distortion?

She won large parliamentary majorities with ~42–44% of the vote and implemented major economic changes that a coalition government would likely not have allowed.

Goal of PR systems? (proportional representation)

Convert votes into seats more proportionally.

PR advantages and disadvantages

PR advantages: Fewer wasted votes, more democratic, moderates policy, encourages cooperation.

PR disadvantages: Can cause instability, allows extremist parties, gives small parties too much power (“kingmakers”)

How does STV work? (single transferable vote)

Voters rank candidates; candidates must reach a quota; surplus votes transfer to next preferences. (used in Ireland, Malta, European Parliament.)

droop quota formula

Total votes ÷ (seats + 1) + 1.

Difference between closed and open lists? pr system

• Closed: party controls ranking

  • Open: voters influence ranking

hare quota formula

Total votes ÷ total seats.

D’Hondt formula

V= total of votes the party has. S= they already won (0 on the first round).

V ÷ (S + 1), used repeatedly to allocate seats proportionally.

mixed member proportional

Two votes: one for local MP, one for party; second vote determines proportional seat distribution. (used by Germany, New Zealand, Mexico, Bolivia.)

German MMP threshold?

5% threshold to enter parliament.

Sainte-Laguë formula?

V= total votes received by the party. S= number of seats the party alr won

Q = V / (2S + 1).

advantage/disadvantage of mmp

Advantages of MMP: High proportionality + local MPs.

Disadvantages of MMP: Two classes of MPs; second vote more important; strategic voting.

Three factors affecting proportionality in PR systems?

1. Threshold

2. District magnitude

3. Assembly size

What is the Alternative Vote?

Ranked voting; lowest candidate eliminated until someone has a majority.

advantage/disadvantage of alternative vote

Advantages of Alternative Vote: Encourages broad appeal; ensures majority winner.

Disadvantages of Alternative Vote: Complicated; less proportional than PR.

two ballot system

If no majority in first round, top two candidates go to second round. (used by France, Brazil, Ukraine, Austria, Portugal, Colombia.)

Result of 2017 French presidential election?

Macron defeated Le Pen 66.1% to 33.9% in second round.

relationship between electoral systems and party systems

Electoral systems determine the number of parties, which determines whether politics is consensual or conflictual.

Which systems tend to produce which party systems?

• Plurality → few parties, majoritarian government

• PR → many parties, coalition/consensus government

why are electoral systems so important?

Because they determine how votes translate into seats and therefore who has power.

Why do countries choose particular electoral systems?

Politicians design them to benefit themselves or shape the party system (e.g., De Gaulle two-ballot, Germany 5% threshold, Australia AV).