CH 15

Question 1

First-order elections

Answer 1

election in which the stakes are the highest, usually evolving the possibility of a change of government

Question 2

second-order elections

Answer 2

election in which the stakes are lower, such as local or mid-term election

Question 3

electoral system

Answer 3

a general term for the rules governing an election, including the structure of the ballot

Question 4

electoral formula

Answer 4

(how votes are converted to seats) and districting (the division of division of the territory into separate constituencies )

Question 5

single-member plurality

Answer 5

an electoral system based on districts that each have one representative, and in which the winner is the candidate with the most votes.

Question 6

proportional representation

Answer 6

an electoral system in which the number of seats won by each of the competing parties is proportional to the number of votes they each win

Question 7

mandate

Answer 7

a commission to act on another’s behalf in a specific area. an election mandate is an authorization from the people for the government to follow a particular course

Question 8

distribution requirements

Answer 8

rules specifying how a winning candidate’s votes must be arranged across different regions

Question 9

referendum

Answer 9

a vote of the electorate on a limited issue pf public policy such as a constitutional amendment

Question 10

initiative

Answer 10

a procedure which allows citizens to initiate a popular vote on a given proposal (a referendum initiative) or the place it on the legislature’s agenda (agenda initiative)

Question 11

recall

Answer 11

a popular vote on whether an elected official should be removed from office during normal tenure