POLS 1130 / Walker
Introduction to Comparative Politics
Written Assignment 2 - Political Parties and Electoral Systems
This assignment asks you to collect some information about the political
parties and electoral system of a polity of your own choice. The
only restriction is that the polity may not be one of the six case studies
we are examining in class. In 2 to 3 pages, please address the following
elements:
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Political Parties. List the major political parties (use your own
judgement in defining "major," but as a rule of thumb I would classify
any party receiving more than 5 percent of the total vote in the most recent
legislative election as major). In two or three sentences describe each
major party's political ideology and agenda (what are its aims and objectives)
and indicate whether the party emerges from a cleavage in the polity's
political culture. If your polity is dominated by a single party, such
as Cuba, China, or Iraq, focus on the rationale given for limiting electoral
competition rather than on the dominant party's agenda.
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Electoral System. Describe the electoral system for selecting national
legislators and the head of state, if s/he is elected.
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Election Results. Prepare a table presenting the results of the
most recent legislative and presidential elections. For each election provide
the percentage of the total vote received by the major parties. For the
legislative election also provide information on the total number of seats
won by each major party and the percentage that each party's seats represents
of all seats in the legislature. For an example of what I am looking for
see
the attached table.
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Consistency with Duverger's Law. Duverger's Law holds that
there is a conncetion between the type of electoral system and the number
of major parties. Does your polity coform to the law or not?
If not, do you have an explanation?
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Fairness. Assess the fairness of the electoral system. That is,
draw some conclusions about how well the electoral system translates voter
preferences into the composition of the legislature.
You should rely on a variety of sources to complete your essay. Several
of the Internet sites listed on my Web Guide will
be quite helpful, especially Derksen's
election site. There are also a number of reference books in the Library
that can assist you. Whatever the sources you use, I expect the essay to
be fully and accurately documented. Wherever possible provide evidence
for your conclusions. Make sure your references are complete and follow
a standard format. Note that I will factor into the grade such elements
as overall organization, sentence structure, grammar, and spelling.
I would like the essays typed double-space. Please be sure your name
is on every page.
Late essays will be down graded a third of a grade (for example from
a B+ to a B) for each 24-hour period they are tardy.
This assignment is worth 60 points.