Electoral systems

Question 1

what are examples of majoritarian systems

Answer 1

• single member plurality
• two-round system
• alternative vote

Question 2

what are examples of proportional systems

Answer 2

• closed-list PR
• open-list PR
• single-transferable vote

Question 3

what are examples of mixed systems

Answer 3

• mixed member proportional
• mixed member majoritarian

Question 4

What is ‘Duvergers Law’

Answer 4

idea that majoritarian systems create two party systems and proportional systems create multi-party systems

Question 5

what are the two reasons that Duverger gives for the difference in party systems

Answer 5

• mechanical, big parties win proportionally more seats than their vote-shares, while small parties win proportionally less seats than their vote shares
• psychological, people vote strategically for bigger parties if their most preferred party has no chance of winning in a constituency