Electoral Systems AP Comparative

A set of rules that decide how votes are cast, counted, and translated into seats in a legislature

• majoritarian system

• plurality system

• electoral system

• first-past-the-post system

a "second round" election in which voters choose between the top two candidates from the first round

• multimember district (MMD)

• proportional representation

• open party list

• runoff election

the people who are represented by elected officials

• constituents

• constituencies

• districts

• closed party list

a body of voters in a specified area who elect a representative to a legislative body.

• Constituencies

• absolute majority of votes

• majoritarian system

• plurality system

An electoral district in which voters choose one representative or official.

• single-member district

• absolute majority of votes

• first-past-the-post system

• multimember district (MMD)

A candidate must win 50 + 1 percent of total votes cast to win the election

• single-member district

• majoritarian system

• plurality system

• first-past-the-post system

An electoral system in which the winner is the person who gets the most votes, even if he or she does not receive a majority.

• plurality system

• majoritarian system

• single-member district

• runoff election

An electoral system where the candidate with the most votes wins regardless of whether that person has a majority of the votes cast; there is no runoff election.

• first-past-the-post system

• multimember district (MMD)

• proportional representation

• open party list

An electoral system in which legislative seats are awarded only to the candidates who come in first in their constituencies (2 answers)

• winner-take-all system

• first-past-the-post system

• proportional representation

• mixed electoral system

a "second round" election in which voters choose between the top two candidates from the first round

• runoff election

• plurality system

• majoritarian system

• single-member district