Systems Used to

Elect a
Government
Done by: Group 3
Electoral
Processes
 Dissolution of Parliament
● The prime minister meets with the head of state or their representative, such
as a Governor General to say they are going to call an election. The
Governor General or Speaker of the House announces that parliament is to
be dissolved.

● The prime minister in the current government announces the date for the
general election. The government usually tries to choose a date which will be
beneficial to that party.
 Roles of Elections Commission
The Elections Commission is responsible for the administration and conduct of
elections. Some roles include:

● Policy: Setting policy for voter registration and maintaining the

voter's list

● Administration: Managing all national, regional, and local government

elections National

● Identification Cards: Producing and issuing National Identification Cards to

first-time registrants
 Independent Observer Mission
● One crucial integrity mechanism is the use of independent observers
(organized public interest groups or citizen groups that keep an unbiased eye
on the proceedings)

● The goal of these independent observers are to ensure fair and impartial
elections, i.e. they shouldn’t be biased towards any particular candidate and
should repot with greater objectivity.
 Roles of Political Parties
● Representation of Interests: Political parties represent various interests, ideologies, and
policy preferences within society. They provide a platform for individuals with similar
beliefs to come together, articulate their views, and advocate for their interests in the
political arena.

● Mobilization of Voters: Political parties play a crucial role in mobilizing voters and
encouraging political participation. They organize campaigns, rallies, and other
activities to engage voters, raise awareness about political issues, and encourage
citizens to vote.

● Electioneering and Competition: Political parties compete in elections to gain political

power and control government institutions. Through electoral competition, parties
offer voters different choices and alternatives, fostering democratic accountability and
responsiveness to citizen preferences.
 Responsibility of Voters
18+
● Voters in Guyana must Ensure that they are of 18 years and over to register for
the election.

● Once they are of this age, they have the right to vote. The right to vote is known
as a suffrage or franchise.

● NB: 18 years old is the universal adult suffrage

● Long before the elections are held, citizens have to register and enter
their information in the national database so that their names will
appear in the voters’ list.

● If the citizen does not register, they will not be allowed to vote.

● Voters are also responsible for there to be fairness or impartiality

during elections day
 Election Day
● A polling station is a place where a voter casts their vote or ballot.

● When voting, electors must fill out a form called a ballot paper, usually by
putting a cross or mark beside the candidate or candidates the elector wishes
to vote for.

● The ballot paper is then put in a special ballot box which is sealed and may
not be opened by anyone apart from the person given the task of counting the
votes.
● A returning officer is someone who will is responsible for organizing and
conducting the elections as well as announcing the results.

● The role of an observer is to observe the election process and, as appropriate,

ask procedural questions of election officials, challenge the eligibility of
individual voters or the manner in which votes are counted, and lodge
protests with election officials.

● In any election, authorities take steps to ensure that voters, candidates, poll
workers, observers, and other actors involved in an election experience the
process free from fear or harm and to ensure that sensitive election materials
are kept secure.
● Vote Counting: After the polls close, ballots are collected and counted. In
some cases, this counting process may begin immediately, while in others, it
may occur after the ballots are securely transported to a central location.

● Tallying Results: The total number of votes cast for each candidate or party
is tallied to determine the overall outcome of the election.

● Announcement of Preliminary Results: Once the votes are counted,

preliminary results are announced to the public. These results may be
announced by electoral officials, election commissions, or media outlets
reporting on the election.
● Verification and Certification: Before winners are officially declared, the results
may undergo verification and certification processes to ensure accuracy and
integrity. This may involve auditing the vote count, resolving any discrepancies
or irregularities, and certifying the final results.

● Declaration of Winners: Once the results are verified and certified, the winners
of the election are officially declared. This declaration may be made by
electoral authorities, election commissions, or other authorized officials in
accordance with the relevant laws and procedures.
● Notification of Candidates: Candidates who have been declared
winners are notified of their victory, often through official channels
or by receiving a certificate of election.

● Publication of Results: The final election results, including the names

of the winning candidates or parties and their respective vote counts,
are typically published and made available to the public.

Cat Party Won

Selection of Prime Minister or President
● The President is responsible for implementing and enforcing the laws written
by Congress and appoints the members of the Cabinet.

● The Prime Minister takes control in the absence of the president, performing
the tasks that the President would.

● However, these two important persons don’t just spawn out of thin air. There
are processes that have to take place in advance. In the Caribbean, Presidents
are elected via election. Whereby, the person running for president in the
winning party, in fact becomes this.
 Swearing In Activities
● In the Government, in order for an official to take office, he or she must first
take the oath of office; this is also known as a swearing-in ceremony. The
official reciting the oath swears an allegiance to uphold the Constitution. The
oath is an important ceremonial gesture signifying the official start to one's
term in office. Importantly, it is a means for the official to make a public
commitment to the duties, responsibilities and obligations associated with
holding public office.
Electoral
Systems
 First Past the Post
● The county is divided into geographical constituencies

● A representative or candidate of each political party will be nominated for

elections in each constituency

● Some constituencies have independent candidates

● The candidate with the most votes wins a seat in the lower house of
parliament and represents their constituency
● The political party with the most votes form the government

● The leader of the party becomes the prime minister

● The political party with the second highest votes form the opposition

● NB: all commonwealth countries except Guyana uses this system

● Many think that this system supports gerrymandering

● Gerrymandering is the manipulation of electoral boundaries to favor a

particular political group
 Proportional Representation
● The entire country is treated as a single constituency

● A list of candidates are prepared based on the number of seats in parliament

● Instead of a candidate, voters will vote for a political party

● Each party prepares two lists of candidates (the national top-up list and the
geographical constituencies list)
● The national top-up list contains all the candidates that will take on the role
of ministers etc.

● The geographical constituencies list contains all the candidates that will take
on the role of mayors etc.

● Each party is awarded seats in parliament based on the proportion of votes

gained in the election

● For example, if a party wins 28% of votes, they’ll be awarded 28% of the
seats in parliament
First Past the Post
Advantages & Disadvantages
 Advantages
● Simplicity: FPTP is a straightforward system where voters cast a single vote for
their preferred candidate, and the candidate with the most votes wins. This
simplicity makes it easy for voters to understand and participate in the electoral
process.

● Stability: FPTP often leads to clear and stable government formation, as it tends
to produce single-party majority governments. This can provide consistency and
continuity in governance.

● Strong Constituency Representation: FPTP typically results in the election of a

single representative per geographic constituency, which can lead to strong local
representation as constituents have a direct link to their elected representative.
 Disadvantages
● Disproportionate Representation: FPTP can lead to disproportionate
representation, where a party may win a majority of seats in parliament with less
than a majority of the popular vote. This can result in a lack of representation for
minority viewpoints.

● Wasted Votes: FPTP can lead to "wasted votes" for voters whose preferred
candidate does not win in their constituency, as votes for losing candidates do not
contribute to the election of a representative.

● Underrepresentation of Minor Parties: FPTP tends to favor larger, established

parties, making it difficult for smaller parties to gain representation in parliament.
 Proportional
Representation
Advantages & Disadvantages
 Advantages
● Proportional Representation: PR systems aim to allocate parliamentary seats in
proportion to the votes received by each party. This can result in a more accurate
reflection of the electorate's preferences and increased representation for minority
parties.

● Reduced Wasted Votes: PR systems typically have lower rates of wasted votes
compared to FPTP, as seats are allocated based on the proportion of votes received by
each party, reducing the likelihood of votes being "wasted" on losing candidates.

● Greater Diversity and Inclusivity: PR systems can lead to greater diversity and
inclusivity in parliament, as they allow for the representation of a broader range of
political viewpoints and minority groups.
 Disadvantages
● Complexity: PR systems can be more complex than FPTP, as they involve various
methods for allocating seats, such as party lists or proportional allocation within
multi-member constituencies, which may be challenging for voters to understand.

● Coalition Governments: PR systems often result in coalition governments, where

multiple parties must negotiate and compromise to form a governing coalition. While
this can lead to broader representation, it may also result in slower decision-making
and potential instability.

● Weak Constituency Representation: In some PR systems, constituency representation

may be weaker compared to FPTP, as voters may not have a direct link to a specific
representative and may feel less connected to their elected officials.
GROUP MEMBERS

JOEL PRINCE
GRACE MCKOY
ANNALISA MANGALI
ADAEZE JOSEPH
DACIA CODOGEN
 References

CSEC Revision By Lucy Carman

Guide Social Studies

CSEC Social Studies By CXC

Syllabus
 References

Social Studies for

CSEC By Ivan Waterman and Janey Fisher

Examinations