Lektion 6: Electoral systems

Question 1

Which type of elections and electoral systems are there?

Answer 1

Elections and electoral systems:

• Magnitude (how many candidate by consitiency are eleceted by vote) of constituency
• Party lists vs. candidates
• Thresholds

Question 2

What is Magnitude of constituency?

Answer 2

! The larger magnitude the large is the proportionality of the seats
! Minimum: single-member constituencies
! Maximum: whole-country constituencies
Ex. Maximum: The netherlands the entire country is one constituency, voting takes place in small unites.

Question 3

Which two voting systems are there?

Answer 3

Single-member constituences:

• They only have one seat to award to the strongets caniddate.
• Majoritatian system
• You cannot divide a single candidate, therefore the loosing candidates gets out

Multi-member constituencies:
- Several seats
- Distribueted to parties according to vote share
Proportional representation (such as DK)

Question 4

Which variations are there within the Single-member system?

Answer 4

• Single member plurality (SMP) (in the US and UK) –> no absolute majority required, its the most common system worldwide
• Alternative vote (Australia) –> the voters rank the canididate sin order (1st, 2nd, 3rd etc). The last place candidate are illuminated, and those voters have prefered them, their second priority is taken.
• Two round system (majority) system: (France)

Question 5

Which variations are there within the Multi-member system?

Answer 5

• List systems (DK): The party gives out a list with their members. You can vote for a person, but you can also vote for a person
• Mixed systems (personlized PR) (Germnay) –> The voters have two votes: 1 for a candidate + a vote for a party list
• Single transferable vote (STV) (Malta, Ireland) –> The votes is transferred from one party/canidate to another, if the party/canidate dont need it

Question 6

What is an Electoral thresholds?

Answer 6

(Spærregrænse)
dET betyder det mindste antal stemmer som et parti skal have for at kunne komme ind

Electoral thresholds make the seat distribution less proportional in the legislature
The polics in the country will become more predictibal

Question 7

What function does an electoral tresholds have?

Answer 7

Thresholds (Spærregrænse): rules that are trying to prevent parties to win more seats

• Electoral thresholds prevent small parties from winning seats
• Typically 3-5% (In DK its 2%)
• Usually national level
• Rarely constituency level

Question 8

What effects of electoral systems are there?

Answer 8

! Representation / proportionality
! Party system
! Type of government

Question 9

What is the representation in the electoral system?

Answer 9

Representation:

• Perfect proportionality: % votes = % seats
• Highest prop. In single national district
• Rule of thumb: >= 5 seats pr. Constotuency
• Disregarded votes in single-member constituencies
• Eelectoral thresholds reduce proportionality

Question 10

What does Durvergers Law say?

Answer 10

• Majoritarian –> “Two-party system”
• PR –> “Multi-party system”

! High district magnitude allows for more parties in legislature
! Mechanical effect
! Psychological effect(s)

Question 11

What are the Origins(oprindelse) of electoral systems?

Answer 11

!  Historically:majoritarian 
!  Exclusive suffrage
!  Census voting
!  Capacity voting
!  Plural voting system 
!  Race restrictions
!  Gender restrictions

Question 12

What does Ahmed say?

Answer 12

Ahmed (2010)
! Electoral rules mattered to ‘old’ elites
! Choice under uncertainty
! 19th century: SMP and PR functional equivalents
! Path dependence

Question 13

Why did PR become common in Europe?

Answer 13

! Socialist threat
! PR protection against working class dominance
! Where working class is weak, no PR
! Example: UK, USA

Question 14

What does substantial problems

Answer 14

! Implications ‘socialist-threat explanation’
! Rational and informed ‘choice’
! Socialists support majoritarian systems
! Introduction of PR conflictual