Political Participation and Civil Society Free Online FlashCards

What is political participation?

Political participation is the process through which individuals and groups influence government, including voting, campaigning, contacting officials, protesting, and civic organization.

How does institutional participation differ from noninstitutional participation?

Institutional participation uses established rules and organizations, such as voting or joining a party. Noninstitutional participation occurs outside ordinary channels, such as protests, strikes, boycotts, or civil disobedience.

What makes an election genuinely competitive?

A genuinely competitive election normally requires broad suffrage, meaningful choices, secret ballots, accurate counting, campaign freedom, information access, and a real possibility that incumbents can lose.

What is the typical effect of plurality elections?

In a plurality system, the candidate with the most votes wins even without a majority. This often favors two large parties and can produce disproportional results.

What political effects are associated with proportional representation?

Proportional representation allocates legislative seats roughly according to parties’ vote shares. It usually encourages multiparty competition and improves representation of smaller groups.

What distinguishes an interest group from a political party?

An interest group seeks to influence public policy without necessarily seeking government control by winning office. It may lobby, provide expertise, mobilize members, litigate, or organize demonstrations.

What is civil society?

Civil society consists of voluntary organizations and networks between individuals, the state, and the market. It can represent interests, educate citizens, integrate communities, and hold governments accountable.

What is a social movement?

A social movement is a large, organized, sustained effort to produce or resist significant social or political change. It generally seeks broader transformation than an interest group’s specific policy advocacy.

What is electoral authoritarianism?

Electoral authoritarianism is a system in which elections occur but are not fully competitive, often because opposition, media, civil society, or candidate access is restricted.

How is political participation structured in China?

China’s Chinese Communist Party monopolizes national political power. Lower-level elections, consultation, petitions, and controlled civic activity provide limited participation but do not permit organized challenges to party rule.

What constrains political competition in Iran?

Iran permits elections and factional competition, but unelected institutions—especially the Guardian Council—screen candidates. Restrictions on media and assembly further limit competition.

What is a key participation pattern in the United Kingdom?

The United Kingdom provides broad opportunities for competitive elections, voluntary associations, unions, media, and protest. Its first-past-the-post system can nevertheless produce disproportional representation.