Party Systems

Question 1

What is a 1 party system?

Answer 1

Only 1 party is allowed to operate freely

Question 2

Features of a one party system

Answer 2

Only 1 party is allowed to operate, often associated with highly authoritarian countries.

Question 3

Examples of a one party system

Answer 3

North Korea, China and Cuba

Question 4

Negatives of a one party system

Answer 4

Undemocratic and highly authoritarian

Question 5

Positives of a one party system

Answer 5

Stable, efficient, constant and consistent government with high levels of national
unity as a result.

Question 6

What is a dominant party system?

Answer 6

The same party keeps on winning normally lasting at least 3 terms.

Question 7

Examples of a dominant party system

Answer 7

Scotland, Japan

Question 8

Features of a dominant party system?

Answer 8

Weak opposition thus leading to only 1 party having a realistic chance of winning and taking power.

Question 9

Negatives of a dominant party system

Answer 9

They tend to become corrupt as they believe that even if they are a bad government they won’t be voted out due to weak opposition. Tend to become complacent. Lack of competition and accountability.

Question 10

Positives of a dominant party system

Answer 10

Highly stable

Question 11

What is a two party system?

Answer 11

Only 2 parties have a realistic chance of winning and forming a government.

Question 12

Features of a two party system

Answer 12

2 main parties that win all the elections usually a right wing party and left wing party.

Question 13

Examples of a two party system

Answer 13

USA

Question 14

Positives of a two party system

Answer 14

Never changing (you know what to expect), easy to understand, stable

Question 15

Negatives of a two party system

Answer 15

Lack of representation amongst minorities as there are only 2 parties with a chance of winning, Lack of competition leads to complacency

Question 16

What is a two and a half party system?

Answer 16

A system whereby there are two main parties that contest elections but also a sizeable third party. Usually the third party holds the balance of power such as the Lib Dems in the 2010 election.

Question 17

Examples of a two and a half party system

Answer 17

Canada. UK

Question 18

Features of a two and a half party system

Answer 18

Two dominant parties which normally form governments, however theres either an emerging party in the country [New democratic party-Canada] or there is already a third party in the country [SNP-UK] who hold a certain amount of power.
Negatives of a two and a half party system
Sometimes the Third smaller party can have a large influence on the other parties if at an election the big parties only win with a minority government and have to form a coalition with the third party.

Question 19

Negatives of a two and a half party system

Answer 19

Sometimes the Third smaller party can have a large influence on the other parties if at an election the big parties only win with a minority government and have to form a coalition with the third party.

Question 20

Positives of a two and a half party system

Answer 20

More democratic then most systems due to more representation because of the third party.

Question 21

What is a multi party system

Answer 21

A system in which several major and many lesser parties exist, seriously compete for, and actually win, public offices. The key here is that more than two parties have a realistic chance of being a part of the government and governments tend to be made up of coalitions

Question 22

Features of a multi party system

Answer 22

Many parties fight for power, governments are normally coalitions and therefore mostly unstable unless in an election 1 party wins an out right majority.

Question 23

Examples of a multi party system

Answer 23

Germany, Italy, most of Europe adopts this system

Question 24

Negatives of a multi party system

Answer 24

Due to the large amount of parties there is risk of extremism creeping into the government, coalitions most of the time create an unstable government, parties from opposite sides of the political spectrum have to work with each other, acts/bills/policies take ages to come into law.

Question 25

Positives of a multi party system

Answer 25

Representation of everyone, Although this system looks volatile it isn’t as many of the same parties will regularly find themselves in power again, some would argue this is the best democratic party system due to the amount of parties and therefore representation which is at going on.