Electoral Systems What is the purpose of elections/voting? Bacon’s Rebellion and herrenvolk democracy vs. Puritan inclusiveness

Legislative District Geographic area from which legislators are elected by their constituents Redistricting: redrawing the lines of the district  US Constitution: requires decennial census--> population growth/movement--> reapportionment (States gain/lose members of the House; required to have at least 1; controlled by US Congress) + redistricting (districts must have roughly similar numbers; controlled by State legislature)‏  Proposition 11: replace partisan legislature w/nonpartisan commission

Types of Districts Single Member District (winner takes all)‏  Plurality (first-past-the-post: FPTP): most votes wins US, Britain, Mexico, Nigeria Tends to 2 party domination  Runoff: if no majority, top two vote getters face off in second election France, Iran Multi-Member District: Proportional (PR)‏  Party-list: 100 seats, if party gets 33% of the vote--> top 33 names off list of candidates take seats Iraq, Mexico, Russia Tends to reduce “wasted” votes; wider range of views + parties Except: 2007 change Russia—to undermine opposition--> proportional, 5%  7% to qualify [United Russia: 64%; Party will now take lead in setting policy, head of Party is Putin; recreate Soviet system]

Presidential Elections Mexico: popular, pluarality, single 6-year term  Current: Felipe Calderon (PAN)‏  Enrique Pena Nieto (PRI) Nigeria: direct, popular election w/distribution requirement: not only to win an absolute majority of the vote nationally but also to secure at least one-third of the vote in at least two-thirds of the country’s provinces  rounds of voting  Current: Goodluck Jonathan Russia: 50% eligible must vote to be valid; win majority or run-off  Current: Vladimar Putin (PM: Dmitri Medvedev; “dual executive”)‏ China: President of People's Republic of China (Xi Jinping, also Chairman CCP) + Premier of State Council (Li Keqiang) elected by National People's Congress (which is chosen Electoral College-style) Britain: PM David Cameron (Conservatives)  Deputy Prime Minister: Nick Clegg (Liberal Democrats)

Iran: Elected by simple majority (run-offs as necessary). The candidate must be approved by Guardian Council w/ following requirements  Male  Be a well-known political figure  Be a Muslim  Be between the ages of 25 and 75  have no criminal record  have no record of government service under the Iranian Monarchy  be loyal to the Islamic Republic  Current: Hassan Rouhani Puppet of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei