APComp: Unit 4, Party, Electoral Systems, Citizen Organizations - Political Parties, Functions, Types, Party Systems, One-Party, Dominant Party, Two-Party, Multi-Party

What This Means

Political parties play a crucial role in shaping a country's government and policies. They are groups of people who share similar ideas and goals, and they often compete for power in elections. In the UK, the Conservative Party and the Labour Party have dominated politics for centuries, with the Conservative Party holding power for most of the 20th century.

Key Terms & Concepts

• Party System: A classification of how many parties exist in a country and how they interact with each other. For example, the US has a two-party system, with the Democratic Party and the Republican Party being the dominant parties.
• One-Party System: A system where only one party is allowed to exist and hold power. China has a one-party system, with the Communist Party of China being the only party.
• Dominant Party System: A system where one party has a significant advantage over other parties, but multiple parties still exist. In Mexico, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) was a dominant party for many years.
• Multi-Party System: A system where multiple parties exist and compete for power. Nigeria has a multi-party system, with many parties participating in elections.
• Electoral Threshold: The minimum percentage of votes a party must receive to win seats in a legislature. In Germany, parties must receive at least 5% of the vote to win seats in the Bundestag.
• Coalition Government: A government formed by multiple parties working together. In the Netherlands, coalition governments are common, with parties from the left and right forming alliances to govern.
• Party Platform: A document outlining a party's policies and goals. The Democratic Party in the US has a party platform that includes policies on healthcare, education, and the environment.
• Party Ideology: A party's underlying values and beliefs. The Conservative Party in the UK has a party ideology that emphasizes individual freedom and limited government intervention.
• Party Leadership: The individuals who lead a party and make key decisions. In Russia, Vladimir Putin is the leader of the United Russia party.
• Party Membership: The number of people who are officially members of a party. The Communist Party of China has millions of party members.
• Party Primaries: Elections held within a party to choose a candidate for office. In the US, parties hold party primaries to choose their candidates for president and other offices.

How This Works in Practice

• In the UK, a vote of no confidence can force a prime minister to resign, as seen in 1979 when James Callaghan lost a vote of no confidence and resigned as prime minister.
• In Mexico, the PRI dominated politics for many years, but the PAN (National Action Party) and PRD (Party of the Democratic Revolution) have challenged the PRI's dominance in recent years.
• In Nigeria, the multi-party system has led to a proliferation of parties, with over 90 parties participating in the 2019 elections.
• In Russia, the United Russia party has dominated politics since the early 2000s, with Vladimir Putin serving as both president and prime minister.
• In Iran, the Islamic Republic of Iran has a theocratic system, where the Supreme Leader is the head of state and the Guardian Council has significant power over the government.

Common Misunderstandings

• Misunderstanding: A one-party system is always authoritarian.
• Correction: While one-party systems can be authoritarian, they can also be democratic, as seen in countries like Sweden and Denmark, where the Social Democratic Party has dominated politics for many years.
• Misunderstanding: A dominant party system is always undemocratic.
• Correction: While dominant party systems can be undemocratic, they can also be democratic, as seen in countries like the UK, where the Conservative Party has dominated politics for many years but still allows for opposition parties to exist.
• Misunderstanding: A multi-party system is always more democratic than a one-party system.
• Correction: While multi-party systems can be more democratic, they can also lead to instability and gridlock, as seen in countries like Italy and Greece, where multiple parties have formed governments in recent years.

Quick Comparison Table or Scenarios

Scenario 1: Which type of legitimacy does Kim Jong-un rely on? Answer: Authoritarian legitimacy, as he has consolidated power and eliminated opposition. Explanation: Kim Jong-un has eliminated opposition and consolidated power, relying on authoritarian legitimacy to maintain his rule.

Scenario 2: Which type of party system is the US? Answer: Two-Party System, with the Democratic Party and the Republican Party being the dominant parties. Explanation: The US has a two-party system, with the Democratic Party and the Republican Party being the dominant parties and competing for power in elections.

Scenario 3: Which country has a theocratic system? Answer: Iran, where the Supreme Leader is the head of state and the Guardian Council has significant power over the government. Explanation: Iran has a theocratic system, where the Supreme Leader is the head of state and the Guardian Council has significant power over the government.

Last-Minute Exam Cram

• A party platform is a document outlining a party's policies and goals.
• The Communist Party of China has a one-party system and a dominant party ideology.
• The PRI dominated Mexican politics for many years, but the PAN and PRD have challenged its dominance in recent years.
• The United Russia party has dominated Russian politics since the early 2000s, with Vladimir Putin serving as both president and prime minister.
• A coalition government is formed by multiple parties working together.
• The Electoral Threshold is the minimum percentage of votes a party must receive to win seats in a legislature.
• A party ideology is a party's underlying values and beliefs.
• The Guardian Council has significant power over the government in Iran.
• A party primary is an election held within a party to choose a candidate for office.
• The Supreme Leader is the head of state in Iran.
• A multi-party system is a system where multiple parties exist and compete for power.
• A dominant party system is a system where one party has a significant advantage over other parties.
• A one-party system is a system where only one party is allowed to exist and hold power.
• A party membership is the number of people who are officially members of a party.