Jurg Streiner. European Democracies.

Winner take all (WTA) Great Britain.

656 parliamentary seats. 2 large parties. 2^nd and 3^rd places are nothing. Polarising elections. Fist-past-the-post + voter support. Conservatives always won,2^nd Labor, 3^rd Liberal.

This system helps to prevent extremist parties, making governance easier. Moderating effect.

North Ireland Protestants > Catholics (no chance to win).

Netherlands.

List PR. Seats = total votes. 150 members. Candidate is listed by the order according to won seats. Parties are ranked by party organizations. Young party are placed in the list. Strong party discipline.Multiparty system.

Switzerland.

Personalized relations between voters and candidates. 26 districts 26 cantons. 1) Each district vs. smaller parties (need higher % to win), 2) voters rate candidates or leave. Seats for each canton are determined. Win seats in order of ranking. IG and electorate have great power.

Ireland.

Single Transferable Vote (STV) system. Voters rank candidates + quota (total valid votes/seats+1)+1 = quota. If no need in ballot it goes to the next candidate till seats will be filled. Problems that officials cannot count ballots in order as it was transferred. Proportional distribution.

Germany.

2 ballots: wta and PR. Bunderstg wta and PR 50/50. Most votes in district = win. In PR – ranking.

France.

Double ballot(DB)  PR. DB seats of districts = seats in National Assembly. 1^st ballot need 50% +vote cast in own district. If 1^st ballot is won  2^nd ballot. If less than 12.5% elimination. To check the strength of parties. Voters do not follow recommendations from candidates. Communist party as extreme.

Reason of change: 1981. Socialist party wanted to win  changed into PR in 1986 elections. Hoped that it will increase the # of the parties and it will be easier to maneuver. But returned back and lost.

Cabinet formation and Heads of State.

Single majority cabinets. Ex. Great Britain. Cabinet has absolute mandate. Governing party takes all responsibility for all government policies. Powerful IG. Prime minister sum up discussions.

Minimal-winning cabinets – many political parties form coalition to attain a majority in parliament. Germany. Grand coalition of CDU/CSU + SPD Angela Merkel CDU as a chancellor.

Semipresidential system of France. President is elected by an electoral college directly by people. Parliament had no power, the president ruled executives  restored the order.1968 massive revolt  parliament and the prime minister’s powers have been strengthened. Limited president for 5 years.

Presidentialism.

(+): legislative terms are fixed, the chief executive is popularly elected, limited government – separation of powers.

(-): fixed legislative  incapacity to impose change on executives, gridlock because of separation of pow.

Parliamentarism.

(+): no gridlock, clear accountability, high efficiency in policymaking.

(-): too much power to the executive, high rates of government turnover.