Party systems

Question 1

Define the phrase party system

Answer 1

the normal number of parties that compete effectively in elections

Question 2

What are the 4 main party models

Answer 2

One party system
Two party system
Three party system
Multi party system

Question 3

One party systems are usually ________

Answer 3

Totalitarian

Question 4

What are the features of a two party system

Answer 4

May cause deep - seated divisions weakening internal cohesion
Adversarial politics
Very powerful
Policies that depend on cross party alliances may never emerge

Question 5

what is an example of a country with a multi party system

Answer 5

Netherlands

Germany

Question 6

What are the features of a multi party system

Answer 6

Easier to forge cross party alliances
1 party rarely wins majority
Inter party cooperation is essential
Parties are weaker

Question 7

Multi party systems usually use what voting system

Answer 7

Proportional

Question 8

name some parties in Germany’s multi party system

Answer 8

CDU + CSU 
SPD
Green Party 
FDP 
Die linke 
AFD

Question 9

Which German parties are centre left

Answer 9

SPD - major success 1960’s + 70s - Brandt & Schmidt politician
Green Party - environmentalist + centre left
FDP

Question 10

which German party is far right

Answer 10

AFD - far right - anti immigration

Question 11

Which German party is far left

Answer 11

Die linke ‘the left’ - support in the east - former communists

Question 12

the German party FDP are ‘liberals’ who are generally form coalitions with what two parties

Answer 12

CDU + SPD - a centre left + centre right party

Question 13

A two party system is when ….

Answer 13

The power of govt switches between two main parties (1945 - 1974)

Question 14

Some say the UK has a dominant party system what is this

Answer 14

One party has long reigns in govt - one follows the other e.g. (1979 - 2010 where lab followed conserv)

Question 15

What are the three main reasons for a two party system

Answer 15

Class alignment
Electoral system
Lack of funding for minor parties

Question 16

The UK party system can be referred to as a d_____

Answer 16

Duopoly

Question 17

Why is lack of funding for minor parties a reason for the UK’s two party system

Answer 17

Hard for minor parties to break into the two party system

Question 18

How does the plurality system currently used enable the current two party system

Answer 18

Smaller parties lack electoral strongholds - e.g. red wall

Belief that voting for minor parties is a wasted vote

Question 19

What emerged as a challenge to the 2 party system in the 1980’s

Answer 19

The Liberal Democrats - and their rising popularity - 1988

Question 20

How did partisan dealignment contribute to the decline of the duopoly

Answer 20

Means people are more open to minor parties ideas & policies that resonated with them the most

Question 21

Some say the UK has a 2 and a ____ party system

Answer 21

Half

Question 22

What evidence is there for the return of the two party system after 2010

Answer 22

2017 gen election both the Lib Dems & SNP lost seats in comparison to Lab & Conserv who secured their highest share of popular votes since the 1970 gen election

Question 23

How did the creation of regional assemblies encourage the development of the multi party system

Answer 23

They use a proportional voting system - AMS

Question 24

What evidence is there for the UK having a 2 and a half party system

Answer 24

2019 - 76% of vote went to conserv + lab but SNP won 48 seats + Lib Dems most votes after L&C