Parliamentary democracy - Elections Flashcards
Actively enfranchised
Having the right to vote
Passively enfranchised
Having the right to put yourself up for election
Proportional representation
The votes are distributed among the available numer of seats.
Quota
The number of votes you need to win one seat.
Election threshold
A party needs to win a minimum percentage of votes in order to be allowed to take part in the distribution of votes
District system
System in which each district can only send one representative to parliament: the candidate who has won the majorty of the votes in the district
Spin doctor
A communications expert who advises the party and party leader for the party’s election campaign
TV and internet democracy
The old and new media play a significant role during election campaigns
Voting strategically
Voting for e.g. the CDA instead of the SGp, in the hope they will become the largest party and play a crucial role in the formation of the cabinet
Preference votes
Votes for one particular person of the party you are voting for. Candidates, who are not very high on the list, can in this way atill win a seat in parliament
Formation of cabinet
The ministers and secretaris of state are found to execute the plans made
Coalition
A combination of different parties who work together at administrative level
Informateur
Person that is tasked with investigating which parties are willing to work together to form a government - one that will have the support of a majority in the Scond Chamber.
Coalition agreements
The agreements made by the coaslition on the broad outlines of their future policy
Formateur
Person tasked with appointing the members of cabinet
Monarch’s speech
The speech given by the monarch at the beginning of the parliamentary year on Prinsjesdag. It includes the coalition agreement.
Budget
Document in which the definite plans of teh government and the amount of money available are made public
General Debate
When the budget is being debated on by the Second Chamber.
Interim budget report
A report in which the government gives an account of whether or not the financial policy it laid down in the national budget, has been successful.
Motion of no confidence
Motion that can be introduced by the Second Chamber if it rejects the policies of one particular minister.
Outgoing cabinet
When the whole cabinet resigns and early elections are called. The ex-ministers will continue in their function until there is a new cabinet.
