7. How do elections play favorites ?

Question 1

A necessary condition for liberal democracies is

Answer 1

Free and fair elections

Question 2

“Disproportionality”

Answer 2

Condition of favoritism in the elections

Question 3

The 5 systemic preconditions necessary to democratic elections ?

Answer 3

• Universal adult suffrage
• Secret ballot (Australia : electronic)
• Impartial vote counting (pb in new democracies)
• Freedom to contest elections
• Absence of gerrymandering, i.e. drawing of electoral district lines to favor one party

Question 4

4 characteristics for analyzing voting system ?

Answer 4

• District magnitude
• Ballot structure
• Total size of the legislature
• Electoral formula

Question 5

District magnitude ?

Answer 5

The number of seats to be filled in each electoral districts

Question 6

2 extremes of district magnitude ?

Answer 6

• Representatives elected “at large” (Israel, Netherland, Serbia, Slovakia, Ukraine), from the entire country
• Countries divided in districts based on population ; US : districts redrawn after each census

Question 7

Ballot structure ?

Answer 7

Only one candidate or order of preference ? Crossing party lines ?

Question 8

Small legislatures provide less opportunity for…

Answer 8

Proportionality, whereas larger legislatures are more proportional and accurate in terms of representation

Question 9

Larger legislatures tend to be inefficient unless..

Answer 9

They have a well-organized structure

Question 10

Good and bad point in having lots and small districts

Answer 10

• • : Closer contact with the legislator

* - = Legislator has less influence

Question 11

Electoral formula ?

Answer 11

Precise calculation by which seats are allocated.

Question 12

Can several countries have the same electoral formula ?

Answer 12

No

Question 13

2 types of electoral systems :

Answer 13

• Plurality-majority system (majoritarian system)

* Proportional representation systems (List PR and Single transferable vote systems)

Question 14

3 types of plurality-majority systems

Answer 14

• Single-member, simple plurality (SMSP)
• Second-ballt (SB) system
• Alternative vote (AV)

Question 15

Single-member, simple plurality system

Answer 15

Tends to give the majority of seats to one party. District magnitude 1. UK gov. Stability, opposition weaker.

Question 16

Index of disproportionality ?

Answer 16

Measure of the difference between vote share/seat share. From 0 to 100. Last elections UK : 20. Most countries : 15.

Question 17

The SMSP system explains..

Answer 17

A two party system (small party unlikely to get seats)

Question 18

Third party candidate in the US ?

Answer 18

Ross Porrow who financed his campaign in the 90s but also Bernie Sanders before becoming a democrat in 2007 (but phenomenon very rare)

Question 19

Second-ballot system used in…

Answer 19

France for both national assembly and the presidential

Question 20

SP system ?

Answer 20

To pass the 1st round, you need 25%. If nobody has btw 25 and 50%, all parties who don’t get 12,5 are eliminated.
Often = 2 parties in the 2nd ballot, yet in the last elections in France = triangular.

Question 21

Advantage and bad point of the SP system ?

Answer 21

Simplicity but voter fatigue

Question 22

What happens in 2012 in France ?

Answer 22

French National Assembly elections ; socialists advantaged by disproportionality (29% of the votes and 48% of the seats), UMP disadvantaged, EELV same.

Question 23

Where is Alternative Vote implemented ?

Answer 23

Australia only

Question 24

What is AV ?

Answer 24

Votes express preferences : if no candidate get the absolute majority on the first count, the first preferences are counted, the last preference drops out and gives his vote to the second choice = repeat that until someone gets a majority.

Question 25

In PR systems, magnitude usually between

Answer 25

3 and 5

Question 26

General effect of PR systems

Answer 26

Reinforcement of parties more than candidates

Question 27

List PR system ?

Answer 27

Conservative oriented : Belgium, Chile, Costa rica, Danemark, Greece, SA, Spain, Norway

Question 28

Single Transferable vote ?

Answer 28

Rank order of preference , used in Ireland

Question 29

Combinaison of List PR and Single Transferable systems ?

Answer 29

Mixed member PR system. Adopted in Germany. The most proportional system. Bolivia. NZ.

Question 30

System that plays the most favorite ?

Answer 30

SMSP system (the least : MMP)

Question 31

Maurice Duverger ?

Answer 31

Classic law : electoral system influences the number of political parties and the nature. SMSP => 2 party system