AP Comp Gov Big Summary

Big Ideas in AP Comparative Government and Politics

1. Power and Authority (PAU)

Understanding how power is distributed and exercised within various governmental systems.

2. Legitimacy and Stability (LEG)

Examining how legitimacy is established and maintained, alongside its correlation with political stability in different countries.

3. Democratization (DEM)

Analyzing processes that lead to the transition from authoritarian regimes to democratic governance, including potential challenges and outcomes.

4. Internal/External Forces (IEF)

Looking at the factors within a state, such as civil society and governance versus external influences like globalization and foreign intervention.

5. Methods of Political Analysis (MPA)

Utilizing various methodologies to analyze political structures and behaviors, enhancing the understanding of political phenomena.

Unit 4: Party and Electoral Systems and Citizen Organizations

4.1 Description of Electoral Systems

Electoral rules serve as a crucial indicator of a nation's level of democratization. These systems can allow competitive selection or may be subject to manipulation for political purposes.

Examples:

• China: Members of the National People’s Congress are selected indirectly, primarily by the Communist Party (CCP), which maintains significant control over candidate selection processes. Although eight other parties exist, the CCP is the only ruling party, heavily limiting political pluralism.

• Iran: Members of the Majles (parliament) are directly elected, but candidates undergo rigorous vetting by the Guardian Council, which can exclude many potential candidates. Additionally, Iran lacks formal political party structures and has only a few reserved seats for non-Muslims, further limiting diversity in representation.

• Mexico: The National Congress has two chambers:

  • Chamber of Deputies: 300 members elected by plurality, and 200 through proportional representation.

  • Chamber of Senators: 96 elected from constituencies, 32 by proportional representation. The implementation of gender quotas promotes female representation within the legislative bodies.

• Nigeria: The House of Representatives is elected through single-member districts, while the Senate has equal representation from all states, reflecting the country's federal structure.

• Russia: The State Duma elections operate under a mixed system combining single-member and proportional representation strategies, often influenced by state policies aimed at consolidating power.

• United Kingdom: The House of Commons employs single-member district, first-past-the-post rules that favor a two-party system, often marginalizing smaller parties.

4.2 Election Rules and Regime Objectives

The structure of electoral systems significantly influences party dynamics and political outcomes.

• Proportional Representation: Facilitates the representation of minority and women candidates, fostering a more inclusive political landscape.

  • Example: Left Party: 20% of the vote results in 40 seats, whereas the Center Party with 60% gains 120 seats, illustrating the importance of proportional systems for fair representation.

• Single-Member Districts: Typically engenders two-party systems, narrowing voter choices and often leading to a lack of diverse representation.

  • Example: In a single-member district, a candidate receiving 20% of the vote would lose despite having a noticeable voter base.

• Voter Requirements:

  • Nigeria: Mandates that presidential candidates must secure a majority among voters and achieve 25% in two-thirds of the states.

  • Iran and Russia: Both require candidates to obtain a majority to win, often resulting in runoff elections to ensure legitimacy.

4.3 Characteristics of Political Party Systems

Political party systems can be classified along a spectrum from dominant to multiparty systems.

• Dominant Party System: For instance, Mexico experienced a dominant party system with the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) until the year 2000, which has shifted towards more competitive politics post-PRI era. In Russia, United Russia has maintained significant control after 2000.

• Multiparty System: This system features multiple political entities competing for governance. For example, Mexico's political landscape has diversified post-PRI, fostering a more dynamic political environment with parties like PAN and MORENA gaining traction, diminishing the PRI's absolute control following the implementation of electoral reforms.

4.4 Linking Citizen Participation to Policy-Making

The degree of citizen participation is closely tied to the rules governing elections and the structure of political parties.

• China: The one-party system restricts citizen input, significantly obstructing democratic engagement.

• Mexico: Citizens engage in politics through major parties such as PAN, PRD, and PRI, which allow for coalition participation, enhancing governance effectiveness through representation.

• Nigeria: Features a diverse array of political parties reflecting ethnic interests, though fragmentation can lead to political instability.

• Russia: Dominated by United Russia, smaller parties struggle for representation as the ruling party increasingly controls the political narrative.

• UK: A two-party dominance persists, but the single-member district system often marginalizes smaller parties, limiting comprehensive representation.

4.5 Social Movements and Interest Groups

Social movements aim to catalyze substantial societal change, while interest groups focus on specific issues or interests.

Key Movements Include:

• Iran: The Green Movement emerged to protest perceived electoral corruption in the country.

• Mexico: The Zapatista uprising symbolizes the struggle against social inequality and demands for indigenous rights.

• Nigeria: Militant movements have arisen, advocating for marginalized communities and addressing grievances related to resource allocation and political representation. Grassroots movements, though significant, often face mobilization challenges due to governmental pushback.

4.6 Pluralist vs. Corporatist Interest Group Systems

• Pluralism: Characterized by competition among independent interest groups, promoting a vibrant civil society.

• Corporatism: The state orchestrates access to policymaking by managing sanctioned groups, often stifling genuine grassroots advocacy. For instance, Mexico has transitioned from a corporatist system, where the government controlled interest groups, toward a more pluralist approach, allowing for greater advocacy and diversity within civil society.

Glossary

• Proportional Representation: An electoral system that allows multiple political parties to gain representation based on the proportion of votes received. This tends to enhance the diversity of voices in governance.

• Gender Quotas: Legally mandated requirements to ensure that a certain percentage of candidates in elections are women, aiming to address gender disparities in political representation.

• Single-Member District Plurality System: An electoral format where the candidate with the most votes wins; however, this doesn't require the winner to achieve an overall majority of the votes, which can lead to underrepresentation of smaller parties.

• Majoritarian Rules: Electoral rules that necessitate a candidate to secure a majority of the votes (over 50%) to be elected, often promoting more decisive electoral outcomes.