Big Ideas - How do different electoral systems encourage or discourage citizen influence? - Why are election rules different for different regimes? - Why would an authoritarian regime open up political access to interest groups and citizen organizations? - Why would a democratic regime restrict political access to interest groups and citizen organizations? # Electoral Systems and Rules: Proportional Representation: - more political parties - increases women and minority candidates Single Member Districts (SMD) - two part dominate system - geographic representation - winner takes all idea - (or first past the post) Election details for presidents: Mexico - plurality - who ever gets the most Russia, Iran, Nigeria - run off elections - why- to increase legitimacy (no majority? - must get >50%) Nigeria - must win 25% of vote in 2/3 states Russia, Iran - must have gained clear majority Election Details foe Legislature: Mexico- bicameral, mixed system (partion SMD and partial PR) UK- bicameral, SMD/FPTP Russia- bicameral mixed system like Mexico (Partial SMD and PR) China- unicameral- members chosen indirectly by regional and local elections Iran- unicameral - SMD/FPTP - reserved seats for the minorities Nigeria- bicameral - SMD and FPTP Commissions and voting Mexico and Nigeria have independent election commissions Iran - Guardian Council vets candidates Iran - reserved seats for minorities Appointments - Guardian Council in Iran, House of Lords in UK, Russian Federation Council # Political Party Systems Advantages and disadvantages to the systems: **Two party system:** Advantages: - closer relationship with reps and constituencies - more stable governments - more efficient in governing and lawmaking - simplifies voter decisions - greater consensus **Multiparty Systems:** Advantages: - greater representation - parties are more accountable - more representative of different divisions in society **Single Party System:** Why? Revolution or coup Charismatic leader economic crisis Constitutional Imposition - NAZI External threat leads to unification Ethnic/religious fragmentation Advantages: - Stability by uniform policies - single voice acting - more efficient ![[Screenshot 2025-04-17 at 1.13.49 PM.png]] # Impact of Social Movements and Interest Groups Social movemnts - larhe groups of people working toward grand political or social change Interest groups - organized to advocate for a specific interest (policy ex) Grassroots social movements- power at the local level and moves up to reginal, state, national or internation Examples in the C6 Iran - Green Movement - 2009 - people protesting the election that seems rigged - government pushes down and violent Mexico - Zapatista Movement - 1994 - started NATA day, fighting for indeigenous rights Nigeria - Emancipation of the Niger Delta - wanted it to be independent Boko Haram - extreme - want to establish its own Islamic state Russia - Domestic protests # Pluralist and Corporatist Interests **Pluralist Systems:** (only Mexico and the UK) def: promotes competition among autonomous groups not linked to the state - democratic regimes encourage this in these systems: the amount of influence exerted on the government and policy making is based on how successfully they mobilize public opinion and persuade government officials **Corporatist Systems:** def: government controls policymaking by relying on state sanctioned groups or single peak associations to represent business labor and agriculture sectors In these: only state sanctioned groups have a "seat at the table" - so they are incentivized to support the regime and the government