Deck 10: Elections and Referendums

Question 1

The___________ is the set of rules governing the conversion of votes into seats.

Answer 1

electoral system

Question 2

What is the relationship between electoral systems and party systems?

A) Electoral systems shape party systems.
B) Party systems shape the electoral system.
C) Party systems and electoral system are largely independent.
D) The type of relationship varies across countries.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

What are the main voting opportunities in modern democracies? Please select all that apply.

A) Elections
B) Referendums
C) Petitions
D) Surveys

Answer 3

A,B

Question 4

What are the three main categories of PR systems? Please select all that apply.

A) List systems
B) Mixed systems
C) Single transferable vote
D) Alternative vote

Question 5

Which is true for thresholds?

A) They are very uncommon in modern democracies.
B) Their purpose is to stabilize government.
C) They are usually applied at the constituency level.
D) They are a counterbalance to proportionality.

Question 6

Which of the following statements about electoral systems are correct? Please select all that apply.

A) Non-PR systems encourage the emergence of a two-party system.
B) Intra-party choice between candidates are specific to PR systems.
C) The bigger the constituency, the higher the proportionality.
D) Preferential lists do usually don't exist in PR systems.

Question 7

What is true for mixed systems? Please select all that apply.

A) In a parallel mixed system, the list seats are awarded purely on the basis of their list votes.
B) Mixed systems form one of the three main categories within PR systems.
C) The purpose of mixed systems is to achieve perfect proportionality.
D) In a compensatory mixed system, the constituency part and the list part of the election are separated.

Question 8

Which arguments can be found in favour of referendums? Please select all that apply.
QUERY: this is not mentioned in the text.

A) Ostrogorski´s paradox
B) Promoting political participation
C) Protecting the right of minorities
D) Better policy outcomes

Question 9

Which arguments can be found against referendums? Please select all that apply.

A) Infringement of minority rights
B) Prevention of policy innovation
C) Bad policy outcomes
D) Political alienation

Question 10

Whats the methods of seat allocation to the first step in calculation.