Post on 27-Mar-2023
Methods for selecting presidentsCountries included in the
study(170)
Republics(132)
President directly elected
(91)
Majority Method (61)
Majority Method (61)
Monarchies(38)
President Indirectly elected or non-elected
(41)
Other(12)
Plurality Method(20) Mixed or
other method(10)
Indirect Election• Occurs when office –holders are elected by a body which has itself been chosen by a wider constituency.
• Widely used within communist parties as a device for limiting democratic expression.
Three features of Presidential Elections1. The length of the term
2. The Possibility of re-election
3.The link of other elections
1. The length of the term-the presidential term is normally no shorter and sometimes longer than for
parliament2. The possibility of re-
election-term limits are often imposed restricting the incumbent to just one or two periods in
office
Methods for electing presidents: Some Examples
Country Methods of Election
Terms (Years)
Re-election Permitted?
Argentina Electoral College
6 After one term out
Brazil Run off 5 After one term out
Finland Plurality YesFrance Run off YesMexico Plurality NoRussia Run off One term out
required after two terms limit
United States
Electoral College
Two terms limit
Voting- an act of affirmation rather than choice.(Campbell
et al,.1960)United States
(Part Identification
)Party attachment was confirmed by the
traditional requirement to
register as a party support to be
eligible to vote in its primaries.
Think of themselves as Democrats ,Republicans
or in a minority cases ,as independents.
Europe(Social Group)
Voting expressed loyalty to a social group than a party
Thought of themselves as a Catholic or Protestants,
Party Identification- a long-term attachment to a particular party with anchors voters’ interpretations of the remote world of politics.Decline in Party Identification (1970s- 1990s)Decline over 10% Decline 1-10% No Decline
Austria Australia Belgium Canada Finland DenmarkFrance JapanGermany NetherlandsIreland New ZealandItaly NorwaySweden UKUnited States of America
What are caused of the decline in party loyalties?1. Political- decay was not in uniform but tended to be focused on periods of disillusionment with governing parties.2. Party Dealignment-declining Capacity of social cleavages' to fashion electoral choice.
Partisan Dealignment –refers to the weakening of bonds, between (a) electors and parties (b.)social groups and parties