1. Describe the different types of electoral systems. What are the differences b
ID: 1112343 • Letter: 1
Question
1. Describe the different types of electoral systems. What are the differences between the plurality, majority, and proportional representation systems? Where are these different systems used? Consider and weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each system.
3. What is an interest group? How does an interest group differ from a political party? Describe some of the different strategies that interest groups use to gain influence the political system. In your answer, be sure to give specific examples of each of the strategies you discuss. What types of interest groups choose what kinds of policies?
5. Describe the influence of race, ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status in political participation. How do these differences affect the character and level of political participation?
Explanation / Answer
Answer 1
A set of rules that determine how electiona and referendums are conducted and how the results are translated into action are electoral systems. Political elections are conducted by the governments where as the non political elections are conucted in business, non -profit organization , and informal organisation.
The most common electoral systems are three - (i) Plurality System, (ii) Majoritarian System and (iii) Proportional Representation.
Pluralistic System : In this system a candidate who gets the highest number of votes from the electorate becomes the winner. In case of single post to fill up the system is called - first -past - the -post. Most of countries follow this system. British and American Colonies have this system.
Majoritarian System: In this system, the winning candidate must get a majority of votes. It is unlike the pluralistic system where the winner gets highest number of votes. Here, one has to get a majority say more than 50 % of votes. This is achieved in two ways. In the first system, there is IVR (Instant vote running) in which there is single round of ranked voting. In the second way, there are two or more rounds of voting take place to arrive at the result.
Australia and Papua New Guinea have this practice of majoritarian system.
In case in the first round no rsults come, then the second preference of lowest ranked candidates are added to the totals. This process is repeated till the final result of getting some candidate more than 50% of votes.
Proportional Representation : In this system, it is supposed that if a party gets n % of votes of the electorates, then this party must corner n % of seats of the parliament. This system is most common among countries where it is assumed that divisions in an electorate are reflected proportionately in the elected body.
The STV (Single Transferable Vote) is another way of proportional representation , but it is achieved by voters' rankining candidates in a multi- member constituency by preference rather than by mere voting for party list.
Depending upon the need and convenience, each system is weighed. Considering the modern high tech development, the system of proportional representation is highly accepted among the most democratic countries.
Related Questions
Navigate
Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.