#AP Comparative Government: Political Party Systems - Your Final Review 🚀

Hey! Let's get you totally prepped for the exam. We're diving into political party systems, how they link citizens to policymaking, and what it all means for our six course countries. This is your go-to guide for tonight. Let's make it count!

#Understanding Political Party Systems

Political parties are crucial for a healthy democracy, right? They're the bridge between us and the government. But how they work varies wildly across our course countries. Let's break it down.

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• Electoral Rules: How elections are run (e.g., single-member districts, proportional representation) shapes the party landscape.
• Party Structure: How parties are organized internally (centralized vs. decentralized) affects their power and reach.
• Party Laws: Regulations governing party formation, funding, and activities can either empower or suppress parties.

#China 🇨🇳: One-Party Rule

• Dominant Party: The Communist Party of China (CPC) has total control since 1949. Minor parties exist but have no real power.
• Authoritarian System: Citizens have virtually no impact on policymaking. Decisions are made by the CPC elite.
• No Direct Elections: The President is selected from within the CPC, not by popular vote.
• Power Shift: Prior to 2012, decisions were made by the standing committee. Now, power is increasingly concentrated in the President.
• Citizen Link: The only way for citizens to influence policy is by climbing the ranks within the CPC, but even that is limited. The average citizen has no direct influence.

#Iran 🇮🇷: Theocratic Control

• Loose Alliances: Parties are more like shifting political alliances than structured organizations.
• "Freedom of Association"