Deck 6: Electoral Systems and Elections

Question 1

Single member district plurality electoral systems do all of the following except:

A) Create a closer electoral connection between candidates and voters than proportional systems do.
B) Give significant advantage to the largest party.
C) Often create a legislative majority for a single party, even if it does not receive a majority of votes.
D) Offer voters a greater range of ideological choice at the polls than proportional systems as they tend to produce multiparty systems.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

In closed list proportional representation electoral systems, voters:

A) Cast ballots for party lists.
B) Cast ballots for individual candidates.
C) Cast ballots directly for the executive branch.
D) Are more likely to feel a close personal connection to individual elected representatives.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Germany uses a mixed member electoral system which combines features of single member districts and proportional representation in such a way that:

A) Parties' seat shares in parliament are roughly proportional to parties' vote shares.
B) Voters never vote for individual candidates.
C) Candidates are listed on an open party list.
D) Seat shares are almost never proportional to vote shares.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Duverger's Law states that:

A) Voters will vote for small parties in a SMD plurality system because they believe their vote will help elect that party's candidate.
B) SMD plurality creates a very low de facto threshold, allowing third parties to gain seats proportional to their vote share.
C) Proportional representation electoral systems always lead to a multi-party system, regardless of a country's underlying cleavage structure.
D) SMD plurality systems produce two party systems while proportional representation favours multiparty systems.

Question 5

Which of the following statements about referendums is NOT correct?

A) Switzerland sees by far the highest number of referendums in Europe.
B) Citizen's initiatives are more common than other referendums.
C) Since 1990, the number of initiatives and referendums has increased.
D) The referendum in the UK about leaving the European Union was a consultative referendum and therefore technically not binding on the government.