Electoral Systems & Party Systems The causes and consequences of multiparty competition

Reminder Research paper outlines due in class on Thursday, March 12 th Research paper outlines due in class on Thursday, March 12 th These should contain: These should contain: A re-statement of the topic, including a thesis statement A re-statement of the topic, including a thesis statement The argument as you think it will develop, in point form The argument as you think it will develop, in point form Papers due Thursday, March 31 st Papers due Thursday, March 31 st

Explaining the number of parties: Relationships between party systems and societal divisions or patterns of cleavage: Do cleavages always produce parties? Do cleavages always produce parties? Do parties produce (or reinforce) cleavages? Do parties produce (or reinforce) cleavages?

The impact of electoral laws: Duverger’s law: Duverger’s law: Single member plurality (SMP) > two party system Single member plurality (SMP) > two party system PR > multiparty system PR > multiparty system Is it valid? Is it valid? Factors to consider: Factors to consider: District magnitude District magnitude Effective thresholds Effective thresholds

Varieties of electoral laws: District systems: District systems: Single member plurality (SMP, first past the post) Single member plurality (SMP, first past the post) Single member majority: Single member majority: Double ballot or runoff systems – e.g. France Double ballot or runoff systems – e.g. France Absolute majority required on 1 st ballot; Absolute majority required on 1 st ballot; lower candidates dropped lower candidates dropped Plurality on 2 nd ballot Plurality on 2 nd ballot PR PR Single transferable vote (STV) – used in Ireland & Malta Single transferable vote (STV) – used in Ireland & Malta List systems List systems

Single transferable vote (STV) Multi-member districts (in Ireland 3-5 members) Multi-member districts (in Ireland 3-5 members) Voters express 1 st,2 nd,3rd preferences… Voters express 1 st,2 nd,3rd preferences… To be elected a candidate must To be elected a candidate must Secure a minimum quota: Droop quota = V/(s + 1) Secure a minimum quota: Droop quota = V/(s + 1) Surplus votes for winning candidates transferred to 2 nd choices, candidates securing quota are elected… Surplus votes for winning candidates transferred to 2 nd choices, candidates securing quota are elected… Surplus votes transferred again. Surplus votes transferred again. If no candidate has a surplus, the lowest candidate is eliminated and his/her votes transferred If no candidate has a surplus, the lowest candidate is eliminated and his/her votes transferred Process continues until all seats are filled Process continues until all seats are filled

PR List systems and their variants: Impact of district magnitude Impact of district magnitude Counting formulas Counting formulas Highest averages (d’Hondt) Highest averages (d’Hondt) Highest remainders Highest remainders St. Lague system (Scandinavia – uses special divisors, improving position of middle-sized parties) St. Lague system (Scandinavia – uses special divisors, improving position of middle-sized parties) Pooling arrangements; tiers –e.g. Denmark, Sweden Pooling arrangements; tiers –e.g. Denmark, Sweden Formal Thresholds: Formal Thresholds: Germany 5% Germany 5% Sweden 4% Sweden 4% Denmark 2% Denmark 2%

Alternate member (AMS) or mixed- member proportional systems (MMP) Germany: Half the Bundestag elected in single member districts, via SMP Half the Bundestag elected in single member districts, via SMP Second half elected in a 2 nd, simultaneous ballot: Second half elected in a 2 nd, simultaneous ballot: Results of 2 nd ballot used to make the final distribution of seats proportional to the vote received by parties which have either Results of 2 nd ballot used to make the final distribution of seats proportional to the vote received by parties which have either Won 5% of the vote in the second ballot Won 5% of the vote in the second ballotor Won 3 seats on the first (constituency) ballot Won 3 seats on the first (constituency) ballot

Federal Republic of Germany

New Zealand

Some Questions: Can you design a perfect electoral system? Can you design a perfect electoral system? What makes one electoral system better than, or at least preferable to, another? What makes one electoral system better than, or at least preferable to, another? What are the pitfalls of electoral system design? What are the pitfalls of electoral system design? Do you always get what you intend? Do you always get what you intend? When do countries and systems design, or re-design electoral systems? When do countries and systems design, or re-design electoral systems?