Political Party Systems

• The review sheet covers parties, electoral systems, and citizen organizations.

Election Systems

• Includes elections, multimember district (MMD) systems, and single-member district (SMD) systems

Elections

• Electoral systems involve formal rules and procedures for selecting the executive or legislature members
• Mandate refers to broad public support for carrying out proposed policies
• Runoff elections are second and final elections between the top two vote-getters if no candidate achieves a majority in the first round

Multimember District (MMD) System

• This is a method where two or more representatives are elected from a district
• Proportional representation aims to address specific concerns or encourage certain outcomes within MMD

Single-Member District (SMD) System

• In SMD, the candidate with the most votes wins a legislative seat in their district
• Plurality signifies the most votes, but not necessarily a majority
• Supporters of SMD argue it creates a strong bond between citizens and their chosen representative
• First-past-the-post (FPTP) is an election rule in SMD where the candidate with a plurality wins
• Criticisms of SMD include "wasted" votes and overrepresentation of major parties

Proportional Representation

• This is a system where seats are awarded based on the percentage of votes a party receives
• Seats in PR systems are often filled using a party list with ranked candidates
• Winning a certain percentage of the vote earns the corresponding seats from the ranked list
• A quota for minimum votes (threshold) is usually involved
• Ballots are cast for a party, not an individual, in multi-member districts
• Open and closed lists determine if people or parties pick the list order
• PR encourages multiple parties
• Small parties gain platforms and potentially cabinet positions in coalition governments because of PR
• Countries with at least 25% women in the legislature use PR for seat selection
• PR systems lead voters to select among political parties rather than candidates

Disadvantages of PR Systems

• PR systems can give small parties a disproportionate amount of power
• The personal connection between representatives and citizens is weakened
• Voter positions may not be reflected due to negotiations between parties

Mixed Systems

• Mixed systems elect legislature members through single-member districts and proportional representation such as in Mexico and Russia
• Combines first-past-the-post and proportional elements
• Some seats are single-member, and some are proportional

Other Types of Elections

• Referendums are votes on policy issues
• Plebiscites gauge public opinion through non-binding votes
• Initiatives are votes on policies initiated by the people

Mexico's Elections

• Mandates in Mexico are the broad support of people to carry out proposed policies
• Presidential elections in Mexico are becoming freer and fairer

Historical Context

• During PRI's rule, the president chose their successor through "el dedazo" that strengthened authoritarian rule
• El Dedazo was eliminated which led to the creation of the National Electoral Institute (NEI) to reduce voter fraud
• Mexico privatized state-owned corporations which reduced the potential for patron-clientelism

Mixed Electoral System in Mexico

• Mexico's dual-chamber legislature, the "Congress of Union" has a directly elected presidency
• The Congress of Union contains the Chamber of Deputies (lower house) and the Senate (upper house)
• Representatives are voted into Mexico's Congress of Union though a mixed electoral system

Single-Member Plurality System in Mexico

• Three hundred Chamber of Deputies seats are elected through SMD
• The country is divided into districts with roughly equal populations
• Each district elects one representative, and the top vote-earning candidate wins

Proportional Representation (PR) System in Mexico

• PR systems are responsible for electing the remaining two hundred Chamber of Deputies seats
• Each party submits a candidate list, and seats are allocated based on the vote percentage
• A 2% threshold exists for a party to win seats
• Parties earning less than 2% of the vote do no get seats

Total Number of Members in the Chamber of Deputies

• There are 500 members
• 300 are elected through SMD
• 200 are elected through PR

Total Number of Members in the Mexican Senate

• There are 128 Members
• 64 are elected through SMD
• 32 are elected through PR
• 32 are elected nationally

Mexico's Referendums

• Legal referendums are rarely used
• The Mexican Constitution allows mechanisms like plebiscites, but political culture relies more on representative democracy

United Kingdom's (UK) Elections

• Single Member Districts (SMD) in the UK results in two dominant parties (Labour and Conservative)
• The Liberal Democrats offer a middle ground but are disadvantaged due to the SMD system
• The Liberal Democratic Party earns between 15-25% of the vote but a smaller share of seats

First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) in the UK

• This is another term for SMD plurality system, the candidate with the most votes wins the seat
• FPTP is also known as "winner takes all"
• UK's House of Lords is mostly appointed by the Prime Minister; some hereditary peers remain
• UK's House of Commons members are elected through single-member districts (SMD) using a first-past-the-post system

UK's Election History

• Between 1979-2010, the Liberal Democratic party had 15-25% of the vote
• In 2010, neither Conservatives nor Labour was the party, their shared vote was only 65%
• Decreasing support for the two major parties led to a minority government for the first time since WWII
• Conservative PM David Cameron formed a coalition with the Liberal Democrats for a parliamentary majority
• In the 2015 election, the incumbent Conservatives won a majority as the Liberal Democrats' vote collapsed
• Their 2010 popularity reflects "protest-votes" against both major parties
• The 2017 General Election almost produced a "hung parliament"
• Conservatives made a deal with Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP)

UK's Referendums

• Used for major constitutional questions (e.g., Brexit in 2016)
• They are advisory and have no formal legal requirement

Russia's Elections

• Russian Presidential Terms were formerly 4 years, now 6 years with a maximum of two consecutive terms
• 2008 amendment increased presidential term to six years, which took effect in 2012
• 2020, voters approved constitutional amendments resetting presidential terms, allowing Vladimir Putin to run for two more terms
• Russian Presidential Election is directly elected by citizens
• Russian Prime Minister is selected by the President
• Duma Election has 450 members, elected through a mixed system (half by proportional representation, half by SMD)
• Russian Federation Council members are appointed by regional governments (two per region)
• Dmitry Medvedev was Prime Minister in the Putin administration
• He was elected president in May 2008 with 71% of the vote and named Putin as prime minister
• Putin retained power informally, even though he was not the president
• After one term, Putin and Medvedev again switched roles, with Putin winning presidency in 2012
• During the Medvedev presidency in 2008, the presidential term was successfully lengthened to six years
• Alexei Navalny is Putin's rival who was barred from running for President
• Putin distanced himself from United Russia to increase his margin of victory
• The government also engaged in a massive get-out-the-vote campaign
• Russia's Referendums are legally permitted but rarely used

Nigeria's Elections

• Nigerians directly elect the president and both houses of the National Assembly
• Plurality requires the winner to get a plurality of the votes and 25% of the vote in two thirds of states
• This is to encourage candidates to gain representation and support from diverse groups of supporters
• Runoff Elections occur if no candidate wins the election with at least 25% of votes in 2/3 of the states
• Elections for the House of Representatives is held every four years through a SMD for the 360 seats
• Elections for the Senate members serve four-year terms where each state is divided into three districts
• Another senator is elected from the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja
• Election Fraud has been prevalent since the founding of Nigeria's Fourth Republic but seems to be improving
• INEC has become more effective in overseeing elections
• Nigeria's Referendums are rarely used; the Constitution does not emphasize referendums

China's Elections

• China has indirect elections for party and government leaders, with the CCP as the only controlling party
• China's General Secretary is chosen by the National Party Congress
• Members of China's National Party Congress are selected by party members at local and regional congresses
• China's President is chosen by the National People's Congress with the party elite
• China's Premier is nominated by the President and approved by the National People's Congress
• Members of China's National People's Congress are chosen by local and regional government bodies
• Local Level Elections in China provide voter participation within the confines of the ruling party
• China holds direct elections for most village committees
• China does not utilize referendums

Iran's Elections

• Iran's regime has allowed competitive elections since its beginning
• Multimember District (MMD) System is employed for the election of Iran's 290-member Majles
• Citizens in MMDs can vote for the same number of candidates as available seats
• Separate elections are held at the same time; if a district has 30 seats, citizens have 30 votes
• Candidates who earn 25% of the vote are awarded seats; a runoff election is held if seats remain
• Iran's Guardian Council prevents candidates from running from office
• Iran's Majles has 290 Members elected through a mixed single member district and MMD system
• Two-Round System is uses for Iran's presidential elections
• Holding a second round of elections between the top two vote-getters if no candidate earns more than 50% of the vote in the first round
• It gives the winner a mandate to pursue their policy because more than half the voters showed support for them
• Mohammad Khatami is a reformist cleric
• Mohammad Khatami won the 1997 presidential election in a sweep
• The conservatives in the parliament were strong enough to block major reforms
• Iran does not utilize referendums

Political Parties

• Party systems are the number and strength of political parties within a country
• A One-Party-System consists of one party allowed to control the government
• Dominant Party Systems consist of multiple parties, with one party dominating the branch
• Under Two-Party Systems, only two parties are able to garner enough votes to win an election
• A Multiparty System has more than two parties that can win a national election

Impact of Electoral Systems

• The electoral system used has a huge impact on the countries party system
• Duverger's Law concludes that SMD systems tend to create two party systems
• Catch-All Parties take ideologically diverse, middle-of-the-road positions to attain as many voters as possible
• PR systems tend to be multi-party systems

Declining Citizen Support for Parties

• Support for political parties, especially in wealthier countries, has been declining
• There are fewer distinctive differences between parties
• An inability exists for parties to deliver government service because of budget
• Technologies have replaced parties as a source of information

Emergence of New Parties

• Has environmental and green parties and far right parties

Mexico's Political Parties

• Mexico's multi-party system includes MORENA, PRI, and PAN
• PR system elements in the mixed electoral system foster multiparty representation

Revolution Institution (PRI)

• Founded in 1929 controlled government until 2000
• Claimed legitimacy partly based by the Mexican Revolution from 1910-1920
• Used patron-clientelism to reinforce legitimacy
• Mexico's Partido de la Revolución Democraticia (PRD)
• AMLO ran as the PRD's 2006 candidate for presidency; then he left after and ran again i 2012

Mexico's Partido Acción Nacional (PAN)

• Founded in 1939 and won presidency for Vicente Fox in 2000 and Felibe Calderón in 2006
• Socially conservative and supports the Catholic Church
• Support concentrated in the North
• Mexico's Movimiento de Regeneración Nacional (MORENA)
• Created by AMLO left the PRD
• AMLO won presidency as MORENA's leader in 2018

UK Political Parties

• The Two Major Parties are the Conservative and Labour Party
• SMD system favors a two party structure (Duverger's Law)
• Smaller parties have influence at the national level
• UK's Labour Party was created by labour Unions
• Advocated for socialism and supported the establishment of a welfare state
• The decline in power lead them to become more moderaate on the left
• Split over Brexit, labour advocated for a secoodn Brexit referenudmr
• Tony Blair was Prime Minister in 1997 with a Labour victory

UK's Conservative Party (Tory Party)

• Originally to represent the political elite
• Expanded the welfare state following World War II
• Supported the Labour Party's creation of the National Health Service (NHS)
• Margaret Thatcher was the Prime Minister in the 1980s
• Theresa May replaced David Cameron as PM in 2016
• Boris Johnson is Elizabeth May's successor
• UK Independence Party largely relies on voters in England
• Nigel Farage was Longtime leader of the party
• Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) arose with Scottish Nationalism
• It has controlled the government in Scotland most of the time since devolution gave the region its own parliament in 1999
• Plaid Cymru is the Welsh nationalist party which advocates for Wales becoming an independent state
• Russia's Political Parties are under a Dominant Party System, with the United Russia dominating
• The mixed electoral system with PR and SMD favors the ruling party

Impact of Soviet Union Dissolution

• United Russia was created to Unite the duma
• Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) formed as a successor party to the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU)
• Formed by politicians from the former Soviet Union.
• Led by Vladimir Zhirinovsky Russia
• Supports regulation of a mixed economy

Nigeria's Policies

• Mixed election system (SMD and PR) allows for competition
• Nigeria's People's Democratic Party (PDP) dominated Nigeria's
• executive in 1999
• Nigeria's All Progressives Congress (APC) took advantage of President Jonathan's unpopularity
• Campaigned on improvement of elections

China's Policies

• One Party System. The CCP is the only party allowed to
• govern
• Elections are no meaningful election for competitive
• office

Iran

• The government has sanctioned eight other political parties like the Chinese
• Peasant's and Workers' Democratic Party however they are not allowed to run
• candidates for national office or to control the government.
• These state endorsed parties are interest groups to advocate for certain
• policy areas and consult with the government.
• Iran restricts their citizens from voicing their public opinions

Iran's Political Parties

• One-Party Dominant, parties are discouraged.
• Impact of Iran's Electoral System - limits it candidates

Other Notes

• The Economic Division - division that empahasizes the importance of greater market forces

Interest Movements and Social Groups

• Interest Groups - attempt to influence
• government.
• They advocate for a wide variety of causes including:

Other Notes

• Pluralism - A system in which groups are interest driven outisde of the government
• Movement For a society can cause large scale
• Corporatism in Mexico is dominantly used

Zapatista Rebellion Notes

• Through holding two significant congresses in the
• 1990s the Zapatista Rebellion is an example of a successful social
• movement that garnered government attention, raising awareness of the
• plight of indigenous people.
• United Kingdom's (UK) Interest Groups and Social Movements
• Confederation of British Industry (CBI) for Business
• Trades Union Congress (TUC) for labour

Russia, Nigeria and China's Movements

• Civil society has existed in Nigeria since before independence, yet, decades of
• military rule daleyed the development of Nigerian civil society.
• Nigeria's civil society has broadened through the state's democratization.
• China also has these movements

Explore the dynamics of political party systems including Duverger's Law, dominant party systems, and proportional representation. Understand the impact of electoral systems on party structures. Learn the characteristics and features of different political party systems.