AP Comparative Government - Unit 4.3-4.4

AP Comparative Government - Unit 4.3-4.4

By Juri Shimada

Has direct elections at the National level, but only candidates that the dominant party recognizes may run for office.

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Russia (multi-party)

​Allows only one party (CCP) to control governing power while allowing minority parties to exist to only broaden the discussion without positions of power and authority

China (one party)

There are no organized or formal political parties

Iran

Eliminating el dedazo, privatizing state-owned corporations, establishing the National Electoral Institute moved Mexico away from PRI dominance

Mexico (multi-party)

Nigeria’s multiparty system includes 30 political parties, with 2 majority parties, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress of Nigeria (APC)

Nigeria (Multi-party)

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First-past-the-post-election rules favor the major parties while catch-all political parties can earn support from groups with different regional characteristics

UK (two-party)

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Multiple Choice

Which AP6 country has a multiparty system in which the actual power resides in a single majority party?

• Iran

• China

• Russia

• Nigeria

Multiple Choice

Which AP6 country has a two-party system?

• UK

• Nigeria

• Russia

• Mexico

China🇨🇳

• CCP allows 8 minority parties GIVEN that they agree to the dominance/rule of the CCP

  ⇒ the participation of minority parties are vetted by the CCP

• ​Prior to 2012, the Standing Committee made collective decisions

  ⇒ but under Xi, more and more power resides with the President

• ​People have little to no impact on policymaking & it is mostly in the hands of the CCP

  ⇒ b/c CCP members are ​appointed from within the CCP (not directly elected by citizens)

Russia 🇷🇺

• Changed threshold rules & reinstated single-member districts affects regional parties and the representation of independent candidates

  ⇒ ∴ there is a monopoly of power by United Russia

• ​Technically a multi-party system with 48 parties

  ⇒ since 2017, only 6 of 48 parties are represented in the Duma with United Russia holding the majority with 340 of the 450 seats

Iran 🇮🇷

• Parties Law (1981) - specifies conditions according to which political parties can be established and operate

  ⇒ gives the gov't to fully vet the parties & dissolve parties that doesn't share the beliefs of the Supreme Leader

• ​Doesn't provide the citizens much, if any, influence on policymaking

  ⇒ ​multiple voices are not heard, as the political parties approved provide no opposition

UK 🇬🇧

• With single-member district plurality elections, two parties (Labour & Conservative) ​dominates the House of Commons

  ⇒ Single-member districts allow regional parties to win legislative seats

• Referendum​s allow individuals to participate or have a voice in policymaking

  ⇒ ex) Brexit - the referendum influenced politicians enough for the Parliament pass the legislation to leave the EU

Mexico 🇲🇽

• Chamber of Deputies is dominated by the National Action Party (PAN), the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD), and the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI)

  ⇒ allowed to form coalitions to nominate candidates for any particular election & all have the opportunity to win positions of power within the gov't

• Variety of voices are heard when debating policy

  ⇒ ∴ the people of Mexico have more influence over policymaking than in authoritarian states

Nigeria 🇳🇬

• INEC has continues to gain independence from the presidency through Constitutional amendments

  ⇒ protects political parties from direct control of the presidency & strict regulation

• ​The great diversity of political parties required for a de-registration of 74 out of the 92 registered political parties

  ⇒ removes a variety of parties and perhaps voices of the average citizen with fewer parties to represent them

• ​No one can run for election in Nigeria unless they are part of a political party

  ⇒​ ​∴ only the wealthiest of individuals can run and prohibits the average Nigerian from running for political office

Multiple Choice

_________ affects regional parties and the representation of independent candidates in Russia

• Single-member districts

• Multi-member districts

• One-party rule

• Multiparty rule

Multiple Choice

What is false regarding the political party system in China?

• Decisions are made collectively by the Standing Committee

• 8 minority parties are allowed to broaden discussion and consult

• An average individual may have an opportunity to move up within the CCP & have more influence on policymaking.

• Minor parties may participate in the National People’s Congress, but their participation is vetted by the CCP

Multiple Select

In which two countries can coalitions be formed to give more voice to minority groups, and political parties all have a chance to win elections at a national level?

• Nigeria & Russia

• Russia & Mexico

• UK & Mexico

• UK & Nigeria

Multiple Choice

Coalition of minority parties...

• restrict the power of the legislature

• give stronger power to the individuals in the majority party

• restrict the voice of minority parties

• provide a voice for a multitude of individuals in minority parties

Multiple Choice

Which two AP6 countries have a multi-party system facade, but in reality, are more aligned with one-party systems in which new parties must be vetted by the majority parties/individuals in control

• Nigeria & Iran

• Russia & Iran

• China & Iran

• China & Nigeria

Multiple Choice

Which of the following descriptions are true?

• The INEC's independence from the presidency allowed citizens from having a direct role in policymaking. In Mexico, only the majority party can win positions of power within the government

• The INEC was not able to gain independence from the presidency thus restricting citizens from having a direct role in policymaking while in Mexico, all parties have equal chance in winning the positions of power within the government

• Nigeria has been successful in representing all regional parties through the 1999 Nigerian Constitution while in Mexico, not all parties have equal chance in winning the positions of power within the government

• As only people in political parties are allowed to run for elections in Nigeria, only the wealthiest of individuals can run and prohibits the average Nigerian from running for political office. However in Mexico, a variety of voices are heard and gives the citizens more influence over policymaking

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is true regarding Russia and UK?

• Both countries has a single-member district system which regional parties to win legislative seats.

• Both countries are controlled by a single party

• Both countries allows regional representatives/individuals to win legislative seats in the legislature

• Both countries have a referendum system allowing citizens to participate in the policymaking process