Chapter 5 example #56969

Giving your support to a party or candidate that is not your first choice in order to avoid an even worse outcome

The rules by which elections are conducted

The theory that two-party systems will exhibit a centrist pull, or convergence

In Duvergers Law, the way that different election systems convert votes into seats

Party systems that primarily try to build electoral support

A form of elections in single-member district systems, in which the candidate in each district who receives more votes than any other (a plurality of votes) is declared the winner

A system in which the legislature is dominated by parties that are far apart on the issues or are antagonistic toward each other and the political system

An electoral system in which a country is divided into many election districts, each of which is represented by one candidate

(Double ballot elections). A single-member district electoral system in which voting happens in two stages: in the 1st round, a candidate needs a majority of votes (more than all other candidates combined) to win- if there is no majority winner in the first round, then a smaller number of candidates run in the 2nd round, where only a plurality is needed to win

The activity in which the political demands of individuals and groups are combined into policy programs

(Also majority runoff elections). A single-member district electoral system in which voting happens in two stages. In the 1st round, a candidate needs a majority of votes to win. If there is no majority winner in the 1st round, then a smaller number of candidates run in the 2nd round, where only a plurality is needed to win

A proportional representation electoral system in which each party draws up a list of its candidates for each district, and voters give preference votes to individual candidates on the list. These votes are then counted to decide which candidates will represent the party in that district

A system in which a facade of democracy provides some space for political opposition, independent media, and social organizations that do not seriously criticize or challenge the regime

The number of parties in a country, and the relationship among them

States that there is a systematic relationship between electoral systems and party systems, so that plurality single-member district election systems tend to create two-party systems in the legislature, while proportional representation election systems tend to create multiparty systems

An electoral system in which the candidate who receives more votes than any other but not necessarily a majority of votes is declared the winner

An electoral system in which a country is divided into a few large districts, which may each elect multiple candidates. Competing parties offer lists of candidates for the slots in each district, and the number of representatives a party wins depends on the overall proportion of the votes it receives

Party systems in which parties establish preelection coalitions so that voters know which parties will work together to form the gov't

In Duvergers Law, the fact that both voters and candidates anticipate the mechanical effect

A system in which the parties that command most of the legislative seats are not too far apart on policies and have a reasonable amount of trust in each other and in the political system

A measure that takes into account both the overall number of parties and their relative sizes

Party systems that primarily seek to direct society

A proportional representation electoral system in which each party draws up a list of its candidates for each district. After the election, the elected representatives are chosen from the top of the list, in declining order, and ordinary citizens have no say about their candidates

In an authoritarian party system, a party that recognizes and accepts at least some other groups and organizations, but may repress those it sees as serious challenges to its own control

Formal groups that have other political and social functions in addition to interest articulation

Party systems that are either dominated by just two parties, or that have two dominant parties and election laws that usually create a legislative majority for one of them

Structures in which a central officeholder, authority figure, or group provides benefits (patronage) to supporters in exchange for their loyalty

Rule by the military, which may emerge by default as the only force able to maintain orderly gov't when aggregation fails in democratic or authoritarian party systems

Party systems with election laws that virtually guarantee that no single party wins a legislative majority, and with no tradition of preelection coalitions

In an authoritarian party system, a party that insists on almost total control over political resources and recognizes no legitimate interest aggregation by groups within or outside the party