Portal:Politics/Selected article/archive/2006

A polling station or polling place (the latter usage being favored in the United States) is where voters attend to cast their ballot in an election as part of the voting process in a democracy or republic. Since elections generally take place over a one- or two-day span on a periodic basis, often annual or longer, polling stations are often located in facilities used for other purposes, such as schools, sports halls or local government offices, and will each serve a similar number of people. The area may be known as a ward, precinct, polling district or constituency. The polling place is staffed with officials (who may be called election judges, returning officers or other titles) who monitor the voting procedures and assist voters with the election process. Scrutineers (or poll-watchers) are independent or partisan observers who attend the poll to ensure the impartiality of the process.

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;April 23, 2006

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The {{Nihongo|Democratic Party of Japan|民主党|Minshutō}} is a liberal party in Japan. It is Japan's second largest party and main opposition party. It grew from a small party to a major force in modern Japan. The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) was formed on April 27, 1998. It was a merger of four previously independent parties that were opposed to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (Japan) (LDP)—the previous Democratic Party of Japan, the Good Governance Party (民政党, Minseito), the New Fraternity Party (新党友愛, Shinto-Yuai), and the Democratic Reform Party (民主改革連合, Minshu-Kaikaku-Rengo). These were all new parties that were either liberal or social-democratic. The new party began with ninety-three members of the House of Representatives and thirty-eight members of the House of Councillors.

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;April 15, 2006

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The Althing (Modern Icelandic Alþingi; Old Norse Alþing) is the national parliament: literally, the "all-thing" (or Assembly of All Things) of Iceland. It was founded in 930 at Þingvellir, (the "assembly fields"), situated some 45 km east of what would later become the country's capital, Reykjavík, and this event marked the beginning of the Icelandic Commonwealth. Even after Iceland's union with Norway, the Alþing still held its sessions at Þingvellir until 1799, when it was discontinued for some decades. It was restored in 1844 and moved to Reykjavík, where it has resided ever since. The present parliament building, the Alþingishús, was built in 1881, of hewn Icelandic stone. The constitution of Iceland provides for six electoral constituencies with the possibility of an increase to seven. The constituency boundaries are fixed by legislation. Each constituency elects nine members. In addition, each party is allocated seats based on its proportion of the overall national vote in order that the number of members in parliament for each political party should be more or less proportional to its overall electoral support.

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;April 8, 2006

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The Australian constitutional crisis of 1975 is generally regarded as the most significant domestic political and constitutional crisis in Australia's history. The crisis began in the upper house of the Australian Federal Parliament, the Senate, where the opposition Liberal-National Country Party coalition had a majority. The Senate deferred voting on bills that appropriated funds for government expenditure, attempting to force the Prime Minister to dissolve the House of Representatives and call an election. The government, led by Labor's Gough Whitlam, dismissed the calls. The impasse continued for some weeks, during which the threat of the government being unable to meet its financial obligations hung over the country. The crisis was resolved in a dramatic fashion on 11 November 1975 when the Governor-General, Sir John Kerr, dismissed Whitlam as Prime Minister and appointed his Liberal opponent Malcolm Fraser as caretaker Prime Minister. Kerr did so having secured an undertaking from Fraser that he would seek a dissolution of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, thus precipitating a general election.

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;April 2, 2006

The Botswana Democratic Party is the governing conservative party in Botswana, led by president Festus Mogae. At the last election, the party won 51.7% of popular votes and 44 out of 57 seats. Before independence it was known as the Bechuanaland Democratic Party. In the first general elections in 1965 it won 28 of 31 seats. Since independence it has been in power continuously. The party's base is in the traditional Setswana communities, and it was sometimes referred to as "the Chief's party" (referring to Sir Seretse Khama). The BDP is pro-Western, and it has been accused of accepting money from the United States and diamond mining interests during political campaigns. Its supporters believe that the party has provided stability - Botswana has never experienced a coup or civil war - democratic rule and a moderately high level of development compared to some other countries in southern Africa. Since 1997, however, the party's support has been declining largely due to the declining living standards in Botswana, and faces an uncertain future in the next general elections in 2009. Recent media polls have shown that a good number of citizens, particularly the youth are turning their support to opposition parties.

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;March 30, 2006

The Canadian federal election of 1993 was held on October 25, 1993. Fourteen parties competed for the 295 seats in the Canadian House of Commons at that time. It was one of the most eventful elections in Canadian history, with more than half of the electorate switching parties from the 1988 election. The election was called by new Progressive Conservative Party leader Kim Campbell, near the end of her party's five-year mandate. Despite an unpopular legacy from the Brian Mulroney years, Conservative support had recovered in the lead-up to the election, and was near the rival Liberals when the writs were dropped. However, this momentum did not last, and the Conservatives suffered the worst defeat in their history. The PCs lost more than half their vote from 1988 and were reduced to only two seats. The Liberals, led by Jean Chrétien, won a strong majority in the House and formed the next government of Canada. The traditional third party, the New Democratic Party, also fared poorly, winning only nine seats. Two new parties emerged in this election. The sovereigntist Bloc Québécois won almost half the votes in Quebec and became the Official Opposition, while the Western-based Reform Party won nearly as many seats. The Bloc Québécois had been founded only two years before, and was competing in its first election.

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;March 26, 2006

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Kadima (Hebrew: קדימה, Qādīmāh, "forward") is a new Israeli political party with centrist aspirations. It was formed by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon after he formally left the rightist Likud party on November 21, 2005.

In its early stages, the policies of Kadima directly reflected the views of Ariel Sharon and his stated policies. Early statements from the Sharon camp reported by the Israeli media claimed that they were setting up a truly "centrist" and "liberal" party.

When Sharon suffered a stroke, however, the party was taken over by Ehud Olmert. Whether the new party sees its own centrist party mission as enabling it to be in an alignment with Shinui - Sharon had in the past agreed with its social agenda - or with the Orthodox parties - the Haredi parties mostly agree with Sharon's foreign policy - remains to be seen.

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;March 8, 2006

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From 1985 to 1996, New Zealand embarked upon a programme of Parliamentary electoral reform. All New Zealand elections from 1914 to 1996 have consistently used the British system of 'first past the post' for parliamentary elections. This system had consistently favoured the two largest parties, since 1936 being National and Labour. In 1986 The Royal Commission on the Electoral System, established in 1985, recommended changing to the Mixed Member Proportional electoral system (MMP).

In 1992 and 1993, two referenda were held to decide whether or not to change to MMP. The result was that New Zealand adopted MMP. The first election under the new system was held in 1996.

The two party system was broken and New Zealand currently has eight political parties within the Parliament.

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;January 25, 2006

Hugo Chávez is the current President of Venezuela, known for his democratic socialist governance, his anti-imperialism, and his radical criticism of neoliberal globalization and United States foreign policy. A career military officer, Chávez gained popularity following a failed 1992 coup d'état and was elected President in 1998 on promises of aiding Venezuela's poor majority. As President, Chávez has inaugurated massive Bolivarian Missions to combat disease, illiteracy, malnutrition, poverty and other social ills. Abroad, Chávez has acted against the Washington Consensus by advocating alternative models of economic development and fostering cooperation amongst the world's poor nations, especially those of Latin America. However, Venezuela's middle and upper classes have severely criticized Chávez, accusing him of repression and electoral fraud, and he has survived both a 2002 coup and a 2004 recall referendum. Chávez remains one of the most complex, controversial and high-profile figures in modern politics.

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;January 8, 2006

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The European Union is an international organisation of 25 European states, established in 1992. It originates from the Coal and Steel Community, founded in 1951 by Germany, France, Italy and the Benelux countries. However, the French-German politician Robert Schuman presented his proposal of a united Europe, known as the Schuman declaration, already in 1950, which is considered to be the beginning of what is now the European Union. The Union has many activities, the most important being a common single market, consisting of a customs union, a single currency, a Common Agricultural Policy and a Common Fisheries Policy.

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;November 9, 2005

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The Governor-General of India was the head of the British administration in India. The office was created in 1773, and gained complete authority over all of British India in 1833. In 1858, India came under the direct control of the British Crown, and the Governor-General acted as the Sovereign's representative. To reflect this role, the term "Viceroy" was informally applied; the title was abandoned when India became independent in 1947. The office of Governor-General continued to exist until India adopted a constitution in 1950.