Political

Science
 Elections and Electoral Systems
 A competitive process in which a designated
group of people, known as electorate, select
individuals who will fill particular posts.
 A document in which a political party sets out
its program at an election.
 A mandate gives the winning party the
authority to press ahead with the programe
presented to the electorate.
 In a representative democracy, elections
enable a large group (the electorate) to select
a smaller group (representatives) to act on
their behalf. In a direct democracy, by
contrast, all eligible citizens take part in
decision making.
 Voting is the key act of political participation
for most citizens. But turnout in elections has
fallen in the last decade.
 Elections give legitimacy to the winning party
and to the political system as a whole. By voting,
even for a losing party, citizens give their consent
to the system. The government can claim to be
acting on the will of the people.
 Electoral Systems:

• majoritarian (e.g. the alternative

vote)
• plurality (e.g. first-past-the-post)
• proportional (e.g. the list system)
• mixed (e.g. the additional member
system)
 Types of Elections:
• General elections These are held to elect members of the
House of Commons and, by law, must be held at least every 5
years.
• Local elections Local councilors are elected for fixed 5-year
terms.
• By-elections If a constituency seat in the House of Commons
becomes vacant because of the death or resignation of an
elected member, a by-election is held to choose a new
representative.