Glossary
Authoritarian System
A political system characterized by the concentration of power in a single authority or a small group, where individual freedoms are often restricted and political pluralism is limited. [11, 12, 14]
Example:
In an authoritarian system, the government might control the media and suppress dissent to maintain its grip on power, as seen in many non-democratic states. [11, 12]
Dominant Party
A political system where one political party consistently holds power and influence over an extended period, even if other parties are legally allowed to exist. [1, 18, 21]
Example:
In a dominant party system, opposition parties may exist and even win some seats, but they rarely pose a serious threat to the ruling party's control. [2, 18]
Electoral Rules
The specific regulations and guidelines that govern various aspects of the election process, including voter eligibility, campaign financing, and how votes are counted and translated into seats. [10, 16, 36]
Example:
A country's electoral rules might dictate that citizens must be 18 years old to vote and that campaigns cannot accept foreign donations. [16]
Loose Alliances
Political groupings that are less formally structured than traditional parties, often forming temporary coalitions based on shared interests or opposition to a common adversary. [2]
Example:
In some political systems, rather than strong parties, loose alliances might form among various factions to support or oppose specific policies, dissolving once the immediate goal is met. [2]
One-Party Rule
A political system where only one political party is legally allowed to exist and hold power, suppressing or heavily restricting other parties. [15, 17, 24]
Example:
China operates under one-party rule, with the Communist Party of China maintaining exclusive control over the government. [1, 24]
Party Laws
Legal regulations that govern the formation, operation, and activities of political parties within a country, including rules on registration, funding, and internal democracy. [7, 9]
Example:
Some party laws might require political parties to disclose their sources of funding to ensure transparency and prevent corruption. [9]
Party Structure
The internal organization and hierarchy of a political party, including its leadership, decision-making processes, and membership. [7]
Example:
A highly centralized party structure might mean that all major decisions are made by a small group of leaders at the top, with little input from rank-and-file members. [7]
Political Party
An organized group of people who share similar political beliefs and work together to influence government policies and gain control of the government through elections or other means. [8]
Example:
In the United States, the Democratic and Republican parties are examples of political parties that compete for control of the government. [1]
Proportional Representation
An electoral system in which seats in a legislative body are allocated to political parties based on the proportion of votes each party receives. [10, 19, 34, 41]
Example:
Countries using proportional representation often have multi-party systems because even smaller parties can win seats if they cross a certain vote threshold. [19, 39]
Single-Member District
An electoral system in which each geographic district elects only one representative to a legislative body. [10, 13, 20, 27]
Example:
In a single-member district system, a candidate only needs to win a plurality of votes in their specific area to secure the seat, even if they don't have a majority. [10, 27]
Theocratic Control
A form of government where religious leaders hold political power and religious law is used as the basis for governance. [25, 30, 33]
Example:
Iran's government exhibits theocratic control, where religious authorities play a significant role in shaping laws and policies. [25, 33]