| Line 6: | Line 6: | ||
#Introduction | #Introduction | ||
#*How do we define a “two-party system”? What makes a party a “major party”? | #*How do we define a “two-party system”? What makes a party a “major party”? | ||
| − | #*Brief discussion of plurality and how it is implemented in real elections | + | #*Brief discussion of plurality and how it is implemented in real elections<br><br> |
#Duverger’s Law - plurality elections tend to encourage 2-party systems | #Duverger’s Law - plurality elections tend to encourage 2-party systems | ||
#*How it works: what is the mechanism that makes the plurality system lead to 2 dominant parties? | #*How it works: what is the mechanism that makes the plurality system lead to 2 dominant parties? | ||
| Line 13: | Line 13: | ||
#*Real-world examples of the principle occurring in various political systems | #*Real-world examples of the principle occurring in various political systems | ||
#*Counterexamples - there exist plurality systems in which there are more than 2 dominant parties | #*Counterexamples - there exist plurality systems in which there are more than 2 dominant parties | ||
| − | #*Converse is not true: 2 party systems may arise even without a plurality election | + | #*Converse is not true: 2 party systems may arise even without a plurality election<br><br> |
#Ways of avoiding the collapse into a 2-party system | #Ways of avoiding the collapse into a 2-party system | ||
#*Modifications to the standard plurality system | #*Modifications to the standard plurality system | ||
Revision as of 07:49, 26 September 2013
The plurality vote: must it lead to a 2-party system?
Bennett Marsh, Edwin Baeza, Kenneth Brown, Amberlee Carl
- Introduction
- How do we define a “two-party system”? What makes a party a “major party”?
- Brief discussion of plurality and how it is implemented in real elections
- Duverger’s Law - plurality elections tend to encourage 2-party systems
- How it works: what is the mechanism that makes the plurality system lead to 2 dominant parties?
- Tactical Voting - tendency of voters to only vote for the strong parties. No “wasted votes”.
- Fusion of minor parties in an attempt to become stronger
- Real-world examples of the principle occurring in various political systems
- Counterexamples - there exist plurality systems in which there are more than 2 dominant parties
- Converse is not true: 2 party systems may arise even without a plurality election
- How it works: what is the mechanism that makes the plurality system lead to 2 dominant parties?
- Ways of avoiding the collapse into a 2-party system
- Modifications to the standard plurality system
- How a third party can become prominent when 2 dominant parties are already established
- Third parties can exploit weaknesses/mistakes of some major party
- Usually only happens in times of political/social turmoil - e.g. the Civil War
