Electoral Systems in the Caribbean - 1136 Words

Essay Question Number 4; The Electoral systems in the Caribbean needs to be changed. How real is this view? An election as a political process serves as the single most important mechanism for citizens to participate in the selection of a government. When conducted to international standards, elections tend to confer legitimacy on a government. In the Commonwealth Caribbean, the electoral experience varies and tends to reflect not only the socio-political culture of the member state but also its particular electoral system. The electoral system determines the difference between votes and seats; how votes are translated into seats. How many and what kind of votes are needed to get a seat varies from system to system. As a result,†¦show more content†¦Electoral systems in the region are mainly of the first-past-the post type. Electoral systems are essentially the electoral formula used for electing the executive and legislature. In the Anglo-Caribbean countries (except Guyana), the first-past-the-post system elects the members of parliament, a majority of whom nominate the prime minister. In the Latin Caribbean and Guyana the electoral formula is more complicated, often including proportional representation and either an indirectly or directly elected president. Caribbean electoral systems reflect the influence of the former colonial powers and national circumstances such as the racial composition of the population. Elections and electoral systems aim at converting the popular will expressed as votes into choices between candidates of political parties for political offices in the executive and legislature. The electoral system therefore reflects itself in the party system and the structure of governmental representation. This association between elections, parties and government takes different forms. Ideal electoral systems should comprise of competition, effective government, and fair representation along with free and fair voting. A review of the Caribbean electoral system show how these aims are attempted and the strengths and weaknesses encountered. In the Dominican Republic there is a mixed electoral system where theShow MoreRelatedElectoral Systems in the Caribbean1127 Words   |  5 PagesThe Electoral systems in the Caribbean needs to be changed. How real is this view? An election as a political process serves as the single most important mechanism for citizens to participate in the selection of a government. When conducted to international standards, elections tend to confer legitimacy on a government. In the Commonwealth Caribbean, the electoral experience varies and tends to reflect not only the socio-political culture of the member state but also its particular electoral systemRead MoreWomen s Suffrage During The Nineteenth Century Essay1488 Words   |  6 Pagesabove, it is clear that in all parts of the world, women have been historically discriminated against in electoral issues. [The good news is that marginalization can be addressed through concerted efforts. Thus, some countries now have female heads of government, such as Germany and Liberia. Table 1.4 Percentage of women voter Status of women in Central and South America and the Caribbean Countries in Latin America have diverse experiences in gender politics: some have been leaders in the suffrageRead MoreCosta Rica945 Words   |  4 Pages185-mile northeastern coastline by the Caribbean Sea, on the southeast by Panama, and along its 630-mile southwestern coastline by the Pacific Ocean. br brCosta Rica has a narrow Pacific coastal region that rises abruptly into central highlands. The highlands, forming the rugged backbone of the country, descend much more gradually toward the generally wider Caribbean (Atlantic) Plain. The Pacific coast is generally lowland in character, and, like the Caribbean coast, it is lined with white sandyRead MoreHonduras, The Land Of No Peace1081 Words   |  5 PagesHonduras, the land of no peace Honduras is a mountainous area located in Central America. North and northwest of the Caribbean Sea, Honduras is south of Nicaragua and west of Guatemala also being southwest of El Salvador below the Pacific Ocean. The topography of the land is mainly mountainous with some non-tropical areas on the upper climate and tropical areas on the climate on the lower parts. Honduras also has a little bit of flat land. Honduras is shaped similarly to the United States but flippedRead More Costa Rica Essay900 Words   |  4 Pages185-mile northeastern coastline by the Caribbean Sea, on the southeast by Panama, and along its 630-mile southwestern coastline by the Pacific Ocean. Costa Rica has a narrow Pacific coastal region that rises abruptly into central highlands. The highlands, forming the rugged backbone of the country, descend much more gradually toward the generally wider Caribbean (Atlantic) Plain. The Pacific coast is generally lowland in character, and, like the Caribbean coast, it is lined with white sandy beachesRead MoreWPA in Guyana Essay918 Words   |  4 Pagesrepresentation of multi-racialism in its, rank and file, the importance, in the Guyana’s context of prominent black leaders opposing mainly black regime and the engagement of sections of the Indian indo-Guyanese shifting towards was at least at the non-electoral level. note that none of this multi-racial enthusiasm was tested at the ballot box, which in 1974was far from the radar of the WPA. But how far did the new politics reach? How was it possible to fight for a democratic society amidst all the confusionRead MoreIssues Of Inequality And Poor Healthcare Essay1694 Words   |  7 Pagesoutcome of inequality. Torben Iverson and David Soskice ultimately make the claim that the type of electoral system is crucial in determining the level of redistribution, and ultimately inequality. Iverson and Soskice cite the Meltzer–Richard (1981) model is the standard, yet an insufficient, explanation for how redistribution of wealth is acquired. They believe, however, that the electoral system itself is just as instrumental in the process of determining redistribution. As a result, the middleRead MoreThe Doctrine Of The United States Essay1598 Words   |  7 Pagesof the House of Representatives; only election in which the presidency had to be decided by the House because no candidate received a majority of electoral college votes and the only election in which the presiden t with the most electoral votes was not elected president. Corrupt Bargain Election of 1824- No president received a majority of electoral votes leaving the House of Representatives to select the next president; the House selected John Quincy Adams over Andrew Jackson even though JacksonRead MoreHow Far Did The 1960s Transform The Position Of British Women?1491 Words   |  6 Pagesparliament then extended the right to vote when Representation of the People (Equal Franchise) Act 1928 was passed whereby it gives electoral equality between men and women without any regards of property ownership. This might seem commendable and appraisable but the right to vote – how does it really translate in real life? Women were said to be inexperienced in the electoral system, thus, when asked on what was their basis on voting a candidate, it is not surprising that the housewives, they answered â€Å"whoeverRead MoreVenezuela And Its Effects On The Country1190 Words   |  5 Pagesdecided to talk about in this assignment is Venezuela. Venezuela was given the name of Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela since 1999. Venezuela is located on the northern coast of South America, the country is compromised with numerous islands from the Caribbean Sea. It borders Brazil from the south,Colombia from the west and Guyana from the east. A little history about Venezuela, this country became a Spanish colony in the 1520’s. In 1830, Venezuela withdrew from Gran Colombia and became an independent