Elections
An election rule in which the candidate with a plurality of votes wins a seat in the legislature
First-past-the-post (FPTP)
A clear set of rules where government officials are subject to the same laws and penalties as citizens
Rule of law
A legislature with two chambers
Bicameral
Proportional Representation
Where the law is applied arbitrarily and government officials are not subject to the same laws and penalties as citizens
Rule by law
A legislature with one chamber
Unicameral legislature
A system for electing members of the legislature that includes both SMD and PR
Mixed electoral system
A legal system in which previous written opinions serve as precedent for future cases
Common law
A system in which the executive and legislature are fused
Parliamentary system
What are the formal rules and procedures for selecting the executive or members of the legislature?
Electoral System
A legal system in which judges follow the law written by legislatures, and previous court decisions do not serve as precedent
Code law
When two or more parties form a temporary alliance when no single political party gains a majority
Coalition government
A national ballot called by the government on a policy issue
Referendum
The authority of the judiciary to decide whether a specific law contradicts a country's constitution
Judicial review
When one or both houses of the legislature are controlled by a political party other than the party of the President
Divided government