Electoral Systems And Elections Ch.6 Exam Prep Vries

Chapter 6: Electoral Systems and Elections

Test Bank

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 06 Question 01

1) Single member district plurality electoral systems do all of the following except:

Feedback: Page reference: 6.2 Majoritarian Systems

a. Create a closer electoral connection between candidates and voters than proportional systems do.

b. Give significant advantage to the largest party.

c. Often create a legislative majority for a single party, even if it does not receive a majority of votes.

d. Offer voters a greater range of ideological choice at the polls than proportional systems as they tend to produce multiparty systems.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 06 Question 02

2) In closed list proportional representation electoral systems, voters:

Feedback: Page reference: 6.3 Proportional Systems

a. Cast ballots for party lists.

b. Cast ballots for individual candidates.

c. Cast ballots directly for the executive branch.

d. Are more likely to feel a close personal connection to individual elected representatives.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 06 Question 03

3) Germany uses a mixed member electoral system which combines features of single member districts and proportional representation in such a way that:

Feedback: Page reference: Box 6.3: Case Studies: The German Mixed-Member Proportional System

a. Parties' seat shares in parliament are roughly proportional to parties' vote shares.

b. Voters never vote for individual candidates.

c. Candidates are listed on an open party list.

d. Seat shares are almost never proportional to vote shares.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 06 Question 04

4) Duverger's Law states that:

Feedback: Page reference: 6.5 Electoral Systems and the Party System

a. Voters will vote for small parties in a SMD plurality system because they believe their vote will help elect that party's candidate.

b. SMD plurality creates a very low de facto threshold, allowing third parties to gain seats proportional to their vote share.

c. Proportional representation electoral systems always lead to a multi-party system, regardless of a country's underlying cleavage structure.

d. SMD plurality systems produce two party systems while proportional representation favours multiparty systems.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 06 Question 05

5) Which of the following statements about referendums is NOT correct?

Feedback: Page reference: 6.6 Direct Democracy in Europe

a. Switzerland sees by far the highest number of referendums in Europe.

b. Citizen’s initiatives are more common than other referendums.

c. Since 1990, the number of initiatives and referendums has increased.

d. The referendum in the UK about leaving the European Union was a consultative referendum and therefore technically not binding on the government.