Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term - Senior Secondary School 1

ELECTORAL SYSTEM

Get it on Google Play
Get it on the Apple App Store
  1. Home
  2. Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term
  3. Senior Secondary School 1
  4. ELECTORAL SYSTEM

SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT

CLASS:  SS1

DATE:

TERM: 3RD TERM

  • REFERENCE
  • Essential Government by C.C. Dibie.
  • Comprehensive Government by J.U. Anyaele.

 

WEEK TEN

TOPIC: ELECTORAL SYSTEM

CONTENT

  1. Definition and features.
  2. Types of electoral system.
  3. Merits and demerits of types.

 

DEFINITION OF ELECTORAL SYSTEM    

Electoral system can be defined as the process and procedure by which citizens of a democratic country select through either direct voting or indirectly those who will represent them in the parliament and other positions in the government.

 

FEATURES OF ELECTORAL SYSTEM

  1. An independent and impartial electoral commission.
  2. There should be regular and periodic elections as stipulated by the constitution.
  3. The country should be delimitated into constituencies.
  4. Universal adult suffrage should be adopted.
  5. Voting should be conducted in an atmosphere devoid of intimidation, molestation and victimization.
  6. All interest groups in the country should be represented in the legislature.
  7. There should be an acceptable way of nominating candidates for elections.
  8. Requirement for qualification as election candidate must be clearly stipulated.
  9. Compilation of comprehensive voters register that should embrace all qualified voters.
  10. Regular and public display of voters lists.
  11. Periodic revision of voters lists.
  12. The electorate should be given political education.
  13. There should be an independent judiciary that will handle election petitions without fear or favour.
  14. Secret ballot system should be adopted.
  15. Counting of votes should be done publicly.

 

EVALUTION QUESTIONS

  1. What is electoral system?
  2. Enumerate 7 features of electoral system.

 

TYPES OF ELECTORAL SYSTEM

Plurality System or Simple Majority System: This system is usually referred to as first past the post or simple majority system. Under this system of election, the candidate who polls the highest vote is declared the winner. Britain, USA, Canada etc are examples of countries that adopt this system.

 

MERITS OF PLURALITY SYSTEM

  1. It is simple to operate as candidate with the highest vote is declared the winner.
  2. It is less expensive because there is no second balloting.
  3. A winner is always sure to emerge at the end of the ballot.
  4. The system discourages the formation of coalition government.
  5. Minority groups have the chance of ruling through this system.
  6. It makes for political stability.
  7. It makes the elected candidate to be responsible and accountable to the voters.

 

DEMERITS OF PLURALITY SYSTEM

  1. It is undemocratic because, it neglects the wishes of the majority of the voters.
  2. Major ethnic groups can use their majority strength to secure simple majority at the expense of the minority groups.
  3. It may enthrone mediocre into power.
  4. It encourages election rigging in order to secure the highest number of votes.
  5. The elected representatives and government are not the wishes of the people.

 

EVALUATION QUESTIONS

  1. What is Simple Majority system?
  2. Mention 5 merits of the system.

 

ABSOLUTE MAJORITY SYSTEM: In this system of vote, before any candidate is declared a winner, that candidate must score more than 50 percent of the votes cast.

 

MERITS OF ABSOLUTE MAJORITY SYSTEM

  1. It is a reflection of the wishes of the people.
  2. In this system, there is no room for unpopular candidate.
  3. It produces credible candidates judging from the outcome of the election.

 

DEMERITS OF ABSSOLUTE MAJORITY

  1. It is expensive and time consuming.
  2. It is more cumbersome to operate than simple plurality system.
  3. It tends to encourage abuse in the sense that, it compels leading candidates to woo the support of other candidates.

 

SECOND BALLOT SYSTEM: This system involves two ballots. Firstly, the successful candidate is required to obtain an absolute majority of the votes cast that is 50 percent plus one. If this is not obtained by any of the candidates, a second ballot is required, and those candidates having less than 10 percent of the total votes in the first ballot will have to withdraw. The winning candidate is then required to secure a simple majority.

 

THE ALTERNATIVE SYSTEM: In this system of vote, a voter is given a ballot paper with the names of the contesting candidates. The voter has to vote by writing 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc, in order of his preference depending on the number of candidates contesting the election. If there is no absolute majority, the candidates who score least can be dropped and his vote distributed to other candidates according to the second preference of the voter.

 

MERITS OF ALTERNATIVE SYSTEM

  1. Candidates backed by the voters are elected through this system.
  2. The system represents the interest of the various different groups in a country.
  3. The system is more democratic than plurality system because it takes care of the majority of the voters
  4. It does not enthrone mediocre into power
  5. The system avoids waste of surplus votes

 

DEMERITS OF ALTERNATIVE SYSTEM

  1. The system is difficult to operate as a result of its complexities.
  2. It encourages the formation of many political parties.
  3. This system cannot operate very well in under-developed nation because, majority of the citizens are illiterates who can never understand the system.
  4. It is very difficult to ascertain election results in this system.
  5. The system is very expensive to operate and time and energy wasted.

 

EVALUATION QUESTIONS

  1. What is absolute majority system?
  2. State 4 demerits of the system 

 

PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION SYSTEM: This system is used to elect representatives in multi-member constituencies. It is a method used to elect representatives into the legislature. The total number of votes which a party or group scores is calculated in proportion to the total number of votes cast. There are two types of proportional representation. These are

  1. The List System: In this system, the electorate votes for a list of candidates presented by a political party and each party wins the number of seats in that constituency according to the votes cast for that list
  2. Single Transferable Vote: This is a system in which voters vote for parties rather than candidates. Parties prepare lists in order of which they want their candidates to be elected and these names are printed in that order on the ballot papers. After counting the votes, an electoral quota is established, i.e. the minimum number of votes needed by a candidate to win one of the seats. The surplus votes are redistributed to other candidates according to the voter’s order of preference.

 

MERITS OF PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION

  1. It gives a true reflection of popular vote.
  2. The system provides representation for all interest groups in the community.
  3. It is a more democratic system.
  4. The system protects the interest of the minority groups.
  5. The system gives the voters wider choice.
  6. It avoids waste of surplus votes.
  7. The system gives the voter the chance to choose candidates on both personal and party merits.

DEMERITS OF PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION

  1. It is a complicated form of election.
  2. The system is also very expensive to operate.
  3. The system encourages multiplication of political parties which results in election violence.
  4. The system does not create room for political stability.
  5. The multiplication of political parties makes it difficult for the voters to assess them very well before voting.

 

EVALUATION QUESTIONS

  1. What is alternative system of vote? 
  2. Mention 5 merits of alternative vote system.

 

GENERAL EVALUATION/

  1. (a) Define simple majority system of vote (b) State 5 merits of this system.
  2. Explain the following (i) Second Ballot system (ii) Alternative system of vote.
  3. (a) What is Proportional representation? (b) Highlight 5 merits of the system.
  4. What is centralization?
  5. State 5 features of centralization.  

 

READING ASSINGMENT

Comprehensive Government pages 107-110

Essential Government pages 110- 111

 

WEEKEND ASSINGMENT

  1. The process of conducting elections into public offices is called (a) electoral college (b) electoral system (c) open vote (d) voting
  2. One of the following is a type of proportional representation (a) plurality system (b) absolute majority (c) the list system (d) first past the post
  3. A system of vote in which the candidate with the highest number of votes is declared winner is called (a) Simple plurality (b) proportional representation (c) Absolute majority (d) second ballot
  4. Another name for the Simple Majority system of vote is (a) Second Ballot (b) Absolute majority (c) First-Past the Post.
  5. A system whereby parties are allocated seats in parliament is called (a) Alternative vote system (b) Absolute majority (c) Proportional representation (d) simple mjority

 

THEORY

  1. What are the merits of proportional representation?
  2. Mention the merits and demerits of Absolute majority.

   



© Lesson Notes All Rights Reserved 2023