Term 1

The study of politics within countries, often using comparisons to explain political differences.

Comparative politics studies politics within countries, while international politics studies relationships between countries.

The principle that a scientific claim must be capable of being disproved by evidence.

It allows political scientists to test theories using evidence.

Question, Theory, Hypothesis, Testing, Evaluation.

A theory explains why something happens; a hypothesis is a testable prediction based on the theory.

An in-depth investigation of one case.

Strengths include detailed understanding and tracing causes. Weaknesses include selection bias and limited generalisability.

A comparison of a small number of cases.

Controlled comparisons and attention to context.

Difficulty separating competing explanations, selection bias and limited generalisability.

A study of many cases or observations, often using statistics.

Testing theories across many cases and using statistical controls.

Data problems, invalid measures and difficulty establishing causation.

Because what matters is whether the study can identify what caused an outcome.

Plurality/majority, proportional representation (PR), and mixed systems.

The candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins, even without 50%.

An electoral system where parties receive seats broadly in proportion to their vote share.

The principle that plurality systems tend to produce two-party competition.

Smaller parties can win many votes but few seats because they fail to win individual constituencies.

Voters tactically support competitive parties rather than their preferred smaller party.

Simple voting, clear accountability and a greater likelihood of single-party governments.

Disproportionate results, wasted votes, gerrymandering and weaker representation of smaller groups.

More proportional results, greater inclusion of smaller parties and minorities, and generally higher turnout.

Coalition governments, slower government formation and potentially weaker accountability.

The number of representatives elected from a district. Larger magnitudes generally improve proportionality.

Both allocate PR seats, but D'Hondt tends to favour larger parties while Sainte-Laguë is generally more proportional.

Divide each party's votes by its seats already won plus one. The highest quotient wins the next seat.

Fewer wasted votes and greater party choice make voters more likely to feel their vote matters.

To protect their seats when growing socialist parties threatened to benefit from a split in the established parties' votes under plurality.