Electoral Systems and Rules 🗞️

Lily Lee
10 min read
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Study Guide Overview
This study guide covers key electoral systems, including single-member districts, multi-member districts, proportional representation, quotas, first-past-the-post (FPTP), and the overall concept of an electoral system. It then details the specific electoral systems of six countries: the UK, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, China, and Iran. Finally, it offers practice multiple-choice and free-response questions and exam tips focusing on comparing, contrasting, and understanding the impact of electoral systems.
#AP Comparative Government: Electoral Systems Study Guide 🗳️
Hey there, future AP Gov rockstar! Let's break down electoral systems and rules. This guide is designed to make sure you're feeling confident and ready for anything the exam throws your way. We'll cover key terms, country-specific systems, and even throw in some memory aids to make it all stick. Let's get started!
#Key Electoral System Terms
Before diving into specific countries, let's nail down some essential vocabulary. Think of these as your secret decoder ring for the exam.
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Single-member district: One representative is elected from each district. It's a "winner-takes-all" setup. 🥇
- Example: The UK's House of Commons and the US Senate use this system.
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Multimember district: Multiple representatives are elected from a single district. 👯
- Example: Some districts in Mexico and Iran use this system.
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Proportional representation: Parties gain seats in proportion to the votes they receive. It's all about fairness! ⚖️
- Example: This system is used in some parts of Mexico and Russia.
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Quotas: A set number or percentage of seats are reserved for specific groups (like women or minorities). 🧮
- Example: Mexico uses gender quotas to boost female representation.
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First-past-the-post (FPTP): The candidate with the most votes wins, even if they don't have a majority. It's a simple plurality system. 🏁
- Example: The UK and Nigeria use FPTP in single-member districts.
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Electoral system: The whole shebang—rules for how elections are held and results are decided. 📜
Mnemonic Alert! To remember the difference between single and multi-member districts, think Single = Solo (one winner) and Multi = Many (multiple winners). 💡
#Electoral Systems by Country
Time to get into the specifics! Here's a breakdown of each course country's electoral system. Remember, the CED (Course and Exam Description) examples are super important! So pay special attention to those.
| Country | Electoral System/Electoral Rules | Examples/Explanations |
| :---------- | 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