Regime Classification Criteria

POLS - 209
Tuesday Tutorial, 3pm. Group: Sarah Gosse, Yassa Ahmed, Tom Walsh, Taylor, James Upward, Kieran Nolan and James Hendrikx. (Please comment if you were part of the initial planning process but were absent for the latest tutorial so I can add you to the group.)
Tutor: Ivan Andrews

Questionnaire regards the extent of democracy (effective self-government) and personalization within a given regime.

Questions will rate democracy 0-2 generally; 0 being democratic, 1 inferring limited democracy or partial authoritarianism and 2 denoting heavy/systematic authoritarianism or totalitarianism. Plot on the graph will be based on a cumulative rating out of 10, naturally, were a state to receive an overall rating of 10 then they would qualify as extensively non-democratic, whilst a 0 would indicate substantive democracy.

Democratic Criteria Questions:

1. What proportion of the enfranchised adult population is prevented from or constrained with regards to voting and/or voting procedure? 0=universal franchise 1=limited, constrained or partial franchise and voting access 2=leadership non-elected.

2. Are there substantial means of meaningful political engagement outside of elections. e.g. local committee, referenda, plebiscite voting? (Begin at 2 work down by 0.5 for each observed point.)

3. Are there significant and/or recurring instances whereby incumbent advantage has been entrenched unfairly, relative to the opposition? (0.5 point per credible strain of unfairness up to a total of 2) Instances could include; funding disparity, coercion, libel, partisan media monopoly, gerrymandering and distinct lack or preclusion of viable electoral opposition.

• If there is no significant or recurring examples of incumbent advantage, how proportionately reflective of electoral results is the composition of the legislature and executive? (If the state fails the prior criteria (higher than 1 point) accurate recording of this value would be inherently compromised, thus is automatically given a score of 2)

4. In terms of democratic engagement through civil society, to what degree are members of such groups, political or otherwise, permitted to function free from the paternal authority of the state? 0=full freedom/no observed imposition from the political sphere. 1=certain social organizations intentionally co-opted or largely politicized if not initially political in nature. 2=full or pervasive politicization of most civil society groups and fundamental social networking.

Personalization Criteria Questions  (0-2 scale) (0=Absent Personalization, 1=Limited, 2=Credible/Observable).

1. Is there clear institutional separation of powers in government?

2. Are institutional representatives directly elected?

3. Are there any clear and substantive checks on executive power?

4. Are appointments of institutional representatives free from corruption and nepotism?

5. Is there an ability for the nation's leader to be removed from office? 

6. Are institutions apolitical where suitable and autonomous or frequently subject to top-down influence?

Note: State ratings will only be plotted discretely as "dots," as such the lines linking them on this template are worth disregarding.