Unit 3 ASO 2 - comparison to the US

Question 1

Electoral District

Answer 1

Refers to the single-member electorates (seats) represented by members of the House of Representatives in the US. Larger states have more districts (California), whilst smaller states have less districts(Alaska). Each district has around 700, 000 people.

Question 2

Electoral College

Answer 2

A body of people representing the states of the US, who formally cast votes for the election of the president and vice president on the behalf of the people. Each state has two Senates seat and each state is given at least three electoral college seats.

Question 3

Executive

Answer 3

The branch of government which administers the law. The group of people from the governing party who make policy and control government departments, and who are answerable to the Parliament for the way they run the government.

In the Westminster political system, the principle of separation of powers in not as strict. Members of the executive, called ministers, are also members of the legislature, and hence play an important part in both the writing and enforcing of law.

Question 4

First Past the Post Voting

Answer 4

The principle by which members of Congress are elected meaning that the candidate with the most votes is the winner of the congressional seat only a simple majority is required. e.g. Paul Ryan is an elected member of congress.

Question 5

Gerrymandering

Answer 5

Is the deliberate drawing of the boundaries of an electorate to ensure that particular types of voters are either included or excluded. This occurs in the United States, where federal electoral boundaries are determined by almost all state governments not by an independent body such as the AEC. North Carolina snake like boundaries.