16 Questions
According to Katz (1997, p. 3), what is the defining institution of modern democracy?
Elections
In the context of electoral contests, what does 'scope' refer to?
The number of political seats subject to electoral contests
How does the manifestation of scope impact the importance of extent in electoral contests?
It increases the importance of extent
In a hypothetical scenario where Country A has a greater number of electoral seats, what should be considered about its democracy?
Its democracy cannot be determined by the number of seats
In Authoritarian regimes, who controls the election as a means of recruitment to their assemblies?
The legislative body
What do rigged, manipulated, and controlled electoral contests obstruct, according to the text?
Liberty towards competition and contestation
What is the main concern related to having an extensive scope of electoral seats?
Voter fatigue
What does the term 'franchise' refer to in the context of the text?
The registered voters population
Which group is typically excluded from suffrage in most democratic systems?
Criminals
In which type of non-proportional system does 'the winner take all' within each district?
Plurality system
What happens in the 'two-ballot systems' if no candidate wins a majority on the first ballot?
The leading candidates face a second, run-off election
What is the guiding principle of Proportional Representation (PR) systems?
Rewarding parties in proportion to their share of the vote
How does an Absolute majority system work?
'Preferential vote' where voters rank candidates
What is one of the possible dangers mentioned in relation to an extensive scope of electoral seats?
'Voter fatigue'
Why is the plurality system becoming rarer?
'The winner takes all' within each district has proven ineffective
What is the primary exclusion from suffrage mentioned in the text?
'Criminals'
Study Notes
Defining Institutions of Modern Democracy
- The defining institution of modern democracy is the electoral system, according to Katz (1997, p. 3).
Electoral Contests
- In the context of electoral contests, 'scope' refers to the number of electoral seats.
- The manifestation of scope impacts the importance of extent in electoral contests, as a larger scope can lead to a greater representation of diverse groups.
- In a country with a greater number of electoral seats, its democracy should be considered as having a greater representation of diverse groups.
Authoritarian Regimes
- In authoritarian regimes, the ruling elite controls the election as a means of recruitment to their assemblies.
Electoral Contest Obstructions
- Rigged, manipulated, and controlled electoral contests obstruct the representation of diverse groups.
Scope of Electoral Seats
- The main concern related to having an extensive scope of electoral seats is that it may lead to a fragmentation of power.
Franchise and Suffrage
- The term 'franchise' refers to the right to vote.
- In most democratic systems, the group typically excluded from suffrage is women.
Non-Proportional Systems
- In the 'first-past-the-post' system, 'the winner takes all' within each district.
- In the 'two-ballot systems', if no candidate wins a majority on the first ballot, a second ballot is held.
Proportional Representation (PR) Systems
- The guiding principle of PR systems is to ensure that the number of seats won by a party is proportional to the number of votes it received.
Absolute Majority System
- In an Absolute majority system, a candidate must win a majority of votes to be elected.
Dangers of Extensive Scope
- One of the possible dangers of an extensive scope of electoral seats is that it may lead to a fragmentation of power.
Rarer Plurality System
- The plurality system is becoming rarer due to the increasing adoption of proportional representation systems.
Primary Exclusion from Suffrage
- The primary exclusion from suffrage mentioned in the text is women.
Explore the essential role of elections in modern democracy and how they serve as the cornerstone of representative governance. Delve into the electoral process and its correlation with accountability to winning candidates.
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