Elections, Political Parties, Civil Society and Social Movements

(1)_________are a device for filling a governmental office through choices made by the (2)________, a designated body of qualified people.

Elections have a variety of roles and functions (7)

people who possess talents and skills relevant to electioneering—are chosen.

In the Philippines, as in any other democracy that holds elections, government officials are recruited using ______.

become the means through which people’s demands are channeled to the government.

are considered the link between the government and the people.

are considered as a venue by which people can choose officials based on policy choices.

Elections provide the _________ with abundant information during the campaign period and voting process.

Elections can influence or encourage citizens’ participation, or the “__________,” as Gabriel Almond and Sidney Verba (1963) termed.

the__________ becomes the people’s source of information regarding the candidate (even their personal and familial matters) and the timely issues to be addressed.

_________justify a system of rule and thus help in fostering legitimacy. _________ also mobilize active consent by encouraging citizens to participate in politics through elections.

officials who are given seats in the government are considered _______ as the people elected them.

is a set of rules that governs the conduct of elections

elections are guided by an __________

are how votes are translated into seats in the legislature or any other area such as the presidency.

electoral systems can be categorized into two types

more significant political parties win a higher proportion of seats than their votes in the election.

there is a guarantee of an equal or at least more equal relationship between the seats won by a party and the votes gained in the election.

electoral systems are designed to carry out three main functions (Reilly 2003)

usually offer the voters a clear choice of potential administration, invest winning parties with a policy mandate, and help promote a strong and stable government.

usually give the government a broader electoral base, promote consensus and cooperation among several parties, and establish a healthy balance between the executive and the legislature

Electoral Systems (6)

The ff. Has the Majoritarian Type:

The ff. Has the Proportional Type:

1. The country is divided into single-member constituencies (or legislative districts), usually of equal size. One district has one representative.

2. Voters select a single candidate.

3. The winning candidate needs only to gain a plurality of votes (first-past-the-post system).

1. Single-candidate constituencies are created, and single-choice voting is observed as in the first-past-the-post system.

2. A candidate needs an overall majority of the votes cast to win on the first ballot.

3. A second runoff ballot is held between the top two candidates when no candidate gains a first-ballot majority.

1. There are single-member constituencies.

2. Preferential voting is done. In the AV system, the electorate ranks candidates in order of preference: 1 for first preference, 2 for a second, and so on. In the SV system, there is only a single supplementary vote.

3. A candidate must win 50% of all the votes cast preferences.

4. Votes are counted according to the first preference. If not, a candidate gains 50%, the bottom candidate is eliminated, and his or her votes are redistributed according to the second (or subsequent).

1. proportion of seats are filled by the first-past-the-post system through single-member constituencies.

2. The remaining seats are filled using a party-list system.

3. The electorate casts two votes: one for the constituency and the other for the party.

1. There are multimember constituencies, each electing up to five members.

2. Parties may field as many candidates as there are seats to be filled.

3. Voters elect preferentially, as in the AV system.

4. Candidates are elected if they achieve a quota, the minimum number of votes needed to elect the required number of candidates.

5. Votes are counted according to first preferences. If not all seats are filled, the bottom candidate is eliminated, and his or her votes are redistributed according to second preferences and so on until all seats are filled.

1. The entire country is treated as a single constituency. In the case of regional parties, there are multimember constituencies.

2. Parties compile a list of candidates to place before the electorate in descending preferential order.

3. The electorate will vote for parties and not candidates.

4. Parties are given seats in direct proportion to the votes they gained in the election.

5. A threshold may be imposed to exclude small and possibly extremist parties from representation.

________ is a group of people that is formally organized for the purpose of winning government power through electoral or other means.

The political party is the major organizing principle of modern politics. It links the state and civil society, the institutions of the government, and the groups and interests that operate within society