THE INFLUENCE OF THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND FUNCTIONING OF THE POLITICAL SYSTEM

Abstract

For one democratic society the elections are one of the most important
phenomena. That is why the creation of the electoral system is one of the most
important chains of the institutional engineering. Throughout the XX century, many
theoreticians are thoroughly examining the influence of the electoral system on the
political system. Having defined that one electoral system has been created in
accordance with the deep and essential characteristics of one political order, it is
emphasized that the electoral system in the end has a great role in the character and
development of a certain political system. This paper attempts to prove that the
electoral system influences the development and functioning of the overall political
system but that there are also other factors which can influence the development of a
political system. The main methods which are being used are the method of analysis,
historical, comparative, normative and political method. The overall conclusion is that
the electoral system influences the stability of the political system, consolidation or
fragmentation of the party system, the stability of the government, the connection
between the elected and the voters, voters turnout and citizens interest for the election
process, the corruption of the election process, the conflicts management in one
divided society, but during an analysis it is concluded that the historical development
of the societal divisions in one society, also, needs to be taken into account.