📘 1. Political Parties (from Political Parties.
pdf)
Key Concepts:
Definition: Political parties are organized groups aiming to gain political power
through elections or other means.
Core Features:
1. Seek to exercise power.
2. Formal membership structure.
3. Broad issue focus.
4. Ideological identity.
Types of Parties:
Cadre vs. Mass Parties:
o Cadre: Elite-driven, ideologically strict (e.g., CPSU, CCP).
o Mass: Emphasize broad support, grassroots mobilization (e.g., SPD, UK
Labour).
Catch-all Parties: Reduce ideology to appeal broadly (e.g., US
Democrats/Republicans).
Representative vs. Integrative Parties:
o Representative: Reflect public opinion, pragmatic.
o Integrative: Aim to shape opinion, ideological.
Constitutional vs. Revolutionary Parties:
o Constitutional: Respect rules and opposition.
o Revolutionary: Seek radical overhaul of the system.
Mainstream vs. Populist Parties:
o Mainstream: Accept status quo, centrist.
o Populist: Anti-establishment, “people vs. elites” framing.
Notable Theories:
Iron Law of Oligarchy (Michels): Democratic organizations tend toward oligarchy.
Factionalism: Internal divisions that may either enrich or weaken party coherence.
📗 2. Party Systems (from Party Systems.pdf)
Definitions:
Party System: Stable set of relationships among parties, defined by number, size, and
ideological orientation.
Relevance (Sartori): Whether a party realistically influences or shares power.
Types:
1. One-Party Systems:
o Total monopoly on power.
o Examples: USSR (CPSU), China (CCP), Zimbabwe under Mugabe.
2. Two-Party Systems:
o Dominated by two major parties; others exist but have limited impact.
o Examples: USA, UK.
o Issues: Can lead to polarization or adversary politics.
3. Dominant-Party Systems:
o Competitive elections exist, but one party holds power for prolonged periods.
o Examples: LDP in Japan, ANC in South Africa.
4. Multiparty Systems:
o Multiple parties compete; coalitions are typical.
o Moderate pluralism (Belgium, Netherlands) vs. Polarized pluralism (Italy).
Pros and Cons:
Dominant-Party: Predictability but risks corruption and weak opposition.
Multiparty: Inclusive, but may cause instability or bland centrism.
📕 3. Electoral Systems (from Electoral Systems.pdf)
Types of Electoral Systems:
Majoritarian:
o Disproportional outcomes favoring large parties.
o Common in UK, USA (SMP - “First Past the Post”).
Proportional Representation (PR):
o Seats mirror vote share.
o Common in Europe; promotes coalition government.
Notable Systems:
Single-Member Plurality (SMP):
o Clear link to constituents, promotes stable governments.
o But distorts vote–seat ratio; marginalizes small parties.
Second Ballot System:
o If no majority in the first round, top two candidates go to runoff.
Party-List System:
o Voters choose parties; seats allocated proportionally.
o Can fragment party systems; weak representative links.
Key Debates:
Representation vs. Effectiveness:
o PR → Fairer but less stable.
o Majoritarian → Stable but distorting.
Electoral Reform:
o Driven often by party advantage (e.g., UK Labour post-1980s).
o No universally “best” system.
🎯 Challenging Multiple-Choice Questions
📘 Political Parties
1. Which of the following most accurately characterizes a "catch-all" party?
A. It seeks ideological purity through strict discipline.
B. It narrows its platform to appeal to a single issue group.
C. It reduces ideological specificity to attract broader electoral support.
D. It operates outside electoral frameworks entirely.
Answer: C
2. According to Michels’ Iron Law of Oligarchy, which factor contributes most to elite
dominance within parties?
A. Public demand for strong leadership.
B. Structural need for specialization and organization.
C. Absence of ideological discipline.
D. Use of populist rhetoric.
Answer: B
📗 Party Systems
3. What key difference distinguishes a dominant-party system from a one-party system?
A. The presence of electoral fraud in dominant-party systems.
B. Legal prohibition of other parties in dominant-party systems.
C. Genuine electoral competition exists in dominant-party systems.
D. Factionalism is absent in one-party systems.
Answer: C
4. Which of the following best reflects Sartori’s concept of party "relevance"?
A. A party’s degree of internal discipline.
B. A party’s historical foundation.
C. Its likelihood of influencing or entering government.
D. Its ideological distinctiveness.
Answer: C
📕 Electoral Systems
5. Under the Single-Member Plurality system, which effect is most likely?
A. Rise of coalition governments.
B. Vote-seat proportionality.
C. Under-representation of third parties.
D. Elimination of party competition.
Answer: C
6. Why might proportional systems face criticism even when they fairly reflect voter
preferences?
A. They often produce governments with unchecked executive authority.
B. They limit participation by minority or fringe parties.
C. Coalition deals may bypass public mandates.
D. Voters must rank too many candidates.
Answer: C
7. Which of the following statements about France’s electoral reform history is correct?
A. France has consistently used a single system since the 1950s.
B. France switched from PR to SMP in 1993 and never returned.
C. Electoral systems have changed frequently, including a return to second ballot in
1993.
D. France rejected all forms of proportional representation post-1985.
Answer: C
