GOVERNMENT

SOCIAL- STUDIES
Electoral Systems in the Caribbean
• First-past-the-post (FPTP)
• A country is divided into geographical constituencies which are allocated a representative
from each political party. Constituencies may also have independent candidates.
• Each constituency’s electorate vote for the candidate they wish to represent them in
parliament.
• The person with the most votes wins a seat in parliament and represents their constituency
Proportional Representation (PR)
• Seats in parliament reflect the number of votes a party receives in an election.
• The electorate vote for a political party to rule their country rather than a candidate to
represent their constituency.
• Each political party prepares two lists of candidates (a national top-up list and a geographical
constituencies list).
Voter Participation in Elections
• Candidates: a voter may like/dislike, agree/disagree with a particular candidate or feel loyal
to them due to religious or cultural ties.
• Campaign issues: to engage voters, political parties must convince the public that they will
improve society. They do this by telling voters what actions they will take on various issues
• Loyalty: people might vote for a particular party because that is who they have always voted
for; in this sense they may feel a loyalty to a political party even if they are no longer happy
with its values or practices. Family influence can also affect how a person votes.
Factors Influencing the Outcome of Elections
• Media coverage: the media will report on parties’ campaigning and expose any improper
behavior. Negative media coverage may influence people’s support for a party. The media
should provide unbiased reporting on all parties.
• Voter attitude: some people may decide not to vote, others may change their mind about who
to vote for. Sometimes public opinion polls sway voters’ decisions; they may not vote for a
party that is unlikely to win.
How Political Parties Prepare for Elections
• Selecting candidates: any eligible person who is approved by their party can stand.
• Monitoring the electoral process: Parties should ensure that voters are protected from bribery
and intimidation and that they conduct themselves appropriately.
• Raising funds: these funds pay for candidates’ travel and accommodation, advertising and
staff. Funding may come through donations from individuals and businesses or fundraising.
Structures of Government
These branches are the legislature, the executive and the judiciary.

The Legislature
This is the branch of government that forms parliament and manages the day-to-day running of
the country, e.g., passing laws (legislation), debating issues and forming policies.
Legislature can have one (unicameral) or two (bicameral) parts.
A bicameral legislature has an upper house (often called the Senate) and a lower house (often
called the House of Representatives/the House of Assembly).
• The Senate is made up of senators nominated by the head of state
(independent senators), the prime minister (government senators)
and leaders of the opposition (opposition senators). Government and
opposition senators represent a political party. Independent senators
do not represent any party and are often nominated to represent a
specific area of society.
The House of
Representatives
The House of Representatives is made up of
MPs from the ruling party and opposition
parties, including the prime minister and the
leader of the opposition.
How Laws Are Made
To ensure that a proposed law is required, fair
and appropriate it must be debated, modified
if necessary and eventually agreed upon in
the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Key Persons

• The Prime Minister: appoints ministers • The Opposition: challenges and questions
and decides their responsibilities; chairs government policies and conduct; exposes
cabinet meetings; appoints the governor- weakness or corruption in government;
general (in a constitutional monarchy); proposes its own bills.
decides when elections should occur;
leads on formulating policy and
legislation.
Key Persons

• The Head of State: in countries where • The Governor-General, on the advice of

the head of state is executive president, the prime minister, will also:
they have all the same powers as the appoint/dismiss ministers; dissolve
prime minister. Where the head of state parliament; appoint judges.
is a governor-general, they have
discretionary powers to appoint the
prime minister, the leader of the
opposition, independent senators and
members of the Privy Council.
 The Executive is the branch of government that oversees the
daily running of the country. Composed of the cabinet (prime
Key Persons minister, cabinet ministers and junior cabinet ministers) and
Ministers are appointed by the civil servants; creates policies and programmes for the country
prime minister (or, in Guyana, theand ensures they are carried out; proposes legislation (laws);
president) into areas of proposes taxation (the budget).
responsibility in the cabinet. These
Civil servants ensure that government programmes are carried
areas of responsibility are known as
out. Senior civil servants advise cabinet.
a portfolio. The minister leads a
government department (ministry)
and must create, defend and
promote its policies. When a
government changes these roles, this
is known as a cabinet reshuffle.