Electoral System

• How politicians are elected into office.

Electoral Systems1. First-Past-The-Post

2. Proportional Representation3. Mixed Member Proportional System

1. First-Past-The-Post (FPTP)

• United States/ Britain/Nigeria/Iran

• Single-member districts (SMD)

• Plurality/winner-takes-all system – (more than other

candidates)

• Problems with FPTP?

Problems with FPTP?

2. Proportional Representation (PR)

• Russia• Multi-member districts

• https://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/polit/damy/BeginnningReading/howprwor.htm

2. Proportional Representation (PR)

• Russia• Multi-member districts• Seats are divided among parties based on proportion

of vote received.• Threshold

• PARTY LIST• Closed List– – Parties order the list of candidates.

• Open List—– Voters order the list of candidates.

Proportional Representation (PR)(EU elections in UK– closed list)

Proportional Representation(Open List)

• https://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/polit/damy/BeginnningReading/howprwor.htm

3. Mixed Member Proportional System (MMP)

• Mexico• Some members of legislature are elected by

single-member FPTP.• Some members elected by a proportional

system.

Mixed Member Proportional System

Mexico’s Electoral System

MIXED MEMBER PROPORTIONAL VOTING (MMP)

• 1964: Proportional introduced

• Chamber of Deputies (500 seats)– 300 SMD (FPTP)– 200 Proportional

PARTY NUMBER OF SEATS

PRI 241PAN 147PRD 72

Green 17Labour 9

New Alliance 8Convergence 6

CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES: 2009

• https://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/polit/damy/BeginnningReading/howprwor.htm

• https://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/polit/damy/BeginnningReading/howprwor.htm

Alternative Vote

• British Referendum (2011)• FPTP: single-member districts• Rank your candidates• If no first preference gets a majority, second

preference of least popular candidate gets redistributed.

• Repeat until FPTP

Party Systems

• The set of significant political parties in a country, and their interactions.

Party Systems1. Single Party System

2. Single-Party Dominant System3. Two Party System4. Multiparty System

Party Systems

Single Party System• One party with dictatorial

power.• Position of power usually

guaranteed in Constitution.• Political opposition is

heavily restricted our outlawed.

Single-Party Dominant System• One party controls political

power for a long time.• Other parties are tolerated.• Few, if any, legal

impediments to other parties.

Party Systems

Two Party System• Two parties dominate.• Others may exist, but have

no real political importance.

Emanate from what type of Electoral System?

FPTP

Multiparty System• More than two parties have

an impact on political life.• Often leads to coalition

governments.

Type of Electoral System?PR & MMP