Pol S 204 Lecture How do Democracies differ How do democracies differ STRUCTURE focus on policy power to action A basic structure constitutional level 1 president vs parliament executive legislative branch the same or separate president rep entire country elected by all citizens separate powers policy making process divided 2 unicameral versus bicameral legislature 1 chamber or 2 senate house in US 3 unitary vs federal one central gov or vote in elections for separate levels of gov 4 direct democracy or is legislation dominated by elected reps elected in separate elections legitimacy B their electoral system Advantages of presidentialism executive mandate direct promotes accountability efficient decisiveness political stability president fixed term prime minister can be fired double edged sword Advantages of a parlimentarism executive branch more powerful collegial no president making direct appeals presidentialism may encourage personalistic politics executive legislative stalemates SLIDE Unicameral vs Bicameral Legislature divide power upper vs lower house upper land owners wealthy bicameral vs unicameral graph Federal vs Unitary Structures federalism types coming together holding together United Arab Emirates lower not based on number of people represent smaller areas Political structure sovereignty shared between central local gov putting together empiricism Sov Union stand put together cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 mutual protection against Iran others Advantages of federalism larger the country the more difficult it is for the politicians in capital city to understand issues at local level more powerful judiciary boon for individual rights federal is good for minorities that are concentrated to one area local groups autonomy over political policies where their preferences interests are unique group specific collective rights india belgium canada spain british parliament elite s gained veto over crown regarding taxing spending after glorious revolution 1688 History in indirect democracy ancient athens all male property holders vote roman senate tribal leaders Basic Structure links federal bicameral direct democracy presidents tend to be federal The Electoral System ELECTIONS some democracies have more political parties than others 1 electoral formula for translating votes into seats plurality first past the post or proportional representation of votes of seats vote for a political party party decides which rep goes into office voter single choice party or vote on individual member 2 ballot Structure 3 district magnitude how many reps district can elect one rep or it can elect several representatives Electoral formula plurality winner takes all strategic voting proportional representation PR vote conscious Ballot Structure candidate vs parties one preference vs rank order ireland District Magnitude plurality electoral system on seat allocated for each electoral race proportional representation electoral formula israel is one district Corrilation high district magnitude and proportional representation Electoral formula correlated with district magnitude and ballot structure plurality electoral system generally have voting for individual candidates in single member district proportional electoral systems are characterized PR greater of partis in legislature but who makes it into the executive branch and cabinet executive branch needs to rep the people but can t have 8 parties coalitions in multi party states a faction works together to at least represent 50 of the people cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 the political leaders have to conduct strategic voting parlimentary system with PR European parliament PR switserland belgium PR coallition where there are many different preference people like PR Defence of PR in Slides cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127