AP Comparative Government and Politics College Board
Full course content, a smart revision plan and instant past paper feedback for AP Comparative Government and Politics College Board.
Start revising this course →Content Overview
43 topics in 5 modules
☑️ Party and Electoral Systems and Citizen Organizations 6 topics
- Electoral Systems and Rules
- Impact on Social Movements and Interest Groups
- Objectives of Election Rules
- Pluralist and Corporatist Interests
- Political Party Systems
- Role of Political Party Systems
☑️ Political Culture and Participation 9 topics
- Challenges from Political and Social Cleavages
- Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
- Civil Society
- Forces that Impact Political Participation
- Nature and Role of Political Participation
- Political Culture
- Political Ideologies
- Political Values and Beliefs
- Political and Social Cleavages
☑️ Political Institutions 9 topics
- Comparing Parliamentary, Presidential, and Semi- Presidential Systems
- Executive Systems
- Executive Term Limits
- Independent Judiciaries
- Independent Legislatures
- Judicial Systems
- Legislative Systems
- Parliamentary, Presidential, and Semi- Presidential systems
- Removal of Executives
☑️ Political Systems, Regimes, and Governments 10 topics
- Change in Power and Authority
- Defining Political Organizations
- Democracy vs Authoritarianism
- Democratization
- Federal and Unitary Systems
- Political Legitimacy
- Political Stability
- Sources of Power and Authority
- Sustaining Legitimacy
- The Practice of Political Scientists
☑️ Political and Economic Changes and Development 9 topics
- Adaptation of Social Policies
- Causes and Effects of Demographic Change
- Challenges from Globalization
- Impact of Global Economic and Technological Forces
- Impact of Industrialization and Economic Development
- Impact of Natural Resources
- International and Supranational Organizations
- Policies and Economic Liberalization
- Political Responses to Global Market Forces
AP Comparative Government and Politics Revision Content
Take a look at the written content available for this course. Practice-question availability may vary.
AP Comparative Government and Politics - Party and Electoral Systems and Citizen Organizations - Electoral Systems and Rules Content Preview
Party and Electoral Systems and Citizen Organizations
Electoral Systems and Rules
Electoral Systems and Rules
Types of Electoral Systems
- First Past the Post (FPTP): Under FPTP system, the candidate with the majority of votes in a constituency wins the seat. This is the simplest system but can marginalise minority groups and lead to wasted votes.
- Proportional Representation (PR): PR ensures that seats in the legislature are distributed based on the proportion of votes each party receives. Various forms of PR exist such as the party-list system and the single transferable vote system.
- Mixed Systems: Mixed systems combine aspects of FPTP and PR. An example is the Additional Member System (AMS), which involves voters casting two votes: one for a constituency representative and one for a party list.
Key Electoral Rules
- Universal Suffrage: Right to vote is given to all adult citizens, with exceptions often made for those with certain criminal convictions.
- Secret Ballot: Voters have the right to cast their votes in secret, to ensure that they can freely choose without undue influence or coercion.
- Regular Elections: Elections should be held on a regular basis, usually every four to five years, to ensure that those governing are regularly held to account by the citizens.
Factors Affecting Electoral Systems and Rules
- Societal Factors: The ethno-linguistic and religious composition of a society can influence the design of electoral systems. A heterogeneous society may prefer a PR system to ensure representation of various groups.
- Political factors: Power dynamics among political elites may shape electoral rules. For instance, incumbent parties might resist electoral reforms that could jeopardise their positions.
Impact of Electoral Systems on Political Parties
- FPTP systems are associated with a two-party system over time as smaller parties struggle to win seats.
- PR systems often result in multi-party systems and coalition governments due to their inclusive nature.
Question: Explain, in one sentence, why a proportional representation electoral system is more likely than first past the post to produce coalition governments.
Unlock instant, personalised feedback
Sign up to Adapt to practise the exam questions available for this course with instant, personalised feedback.
Start revising this course →Try Adapt now
Add this exact course and build your personalised revision plan.