Electoral Systems

What is the purpose of elections/voting?Bacon’s Rebellion and herrenvolk democracy vs.

Puritan inclusiveness

Legislative District

Geographic area from which legislators are elected by their constituents

Redistricting: redrawing the lines of the district US Constitution: requires decennial census-->

population growth/movement--> reapportionment (States gain/lose members of the House; required to have at least 1; controlled by US Congress) + redistricting (districts must have roughly similar numbers; controlled by State legislature)

Proposition 11: replace partisan legislature w/nonpartisan commission

Types of Districts Single Member District (winner takes all)

Plurality (first-past-the-post: FPTP): most votes wins US, Britain, Mexico, Nigeria Tends to 2 party domination

Runoff: if no majority, top two vote getters face off in second election

France, Iran Multi-Member District: Proportional (PR)

Party-list: 100 seats, if party gets 33% of the vote--> top 33 names off list of candidates take seats

Iraq, Mexico, Russia Tends to reduce “wasted” votes; wider range of views +

parties Except: 2007 change Russia—to undermine opposition-->

proportional, 5%7% to qualify [United Russia: 64%; Party will now take lead in setting policy, head of Party is Putin; recreate Soviet system]

Presidential Elections Mexico: popular, pluarality, single 6-year term

Current: Felipe Calderon (PAN) Enrique Pena Nieto (PRI) Nigeria: direct, popular election w/distribution requirement: not only to

win an absolute majority of the vote nationally but also to secure at least one-third of the vote in at least two-thirds of the country’s provinces rounds of voting Current: Goodluck Jonathan

Russia: 50% eligible must vote to be valid; win majority or run-off Current: Vladimar Putin (PM: Dmitri Medvedev; “dual executive”)

China: President of People's Republic of China (Xi Jinping, also Chairman CCP) + Premier of State Council (Li Keqiang) elected by National People's Congress (which is chosen Electoral College-style)

Britain: PM David Cameron (Conservatives) Deputy Prime Minister: Nick Clegg (Liberal Democrats)

Iran: Elected by simple majority (run-offs as necessary). The candidate must be approved by Guardian Council w/ following requirements Male Be a well-known political figure Be a Muslim Be between the ages of 25 and 75 have no criminal record have no record of government service under the Iranian

Monarchy be loyal to the Islamic Republic

Current: Hassan Rouhani Puppet of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei