2211+Midterm+Info


 * Pol Sci 2211 Contemporary Politics of Europe, Fall 2008 (Dr. Howard)**


 * Takehome Midterm Assignment, due in class Monday October 27**

Chapter 4 of our textbook differentiates between the following kinds of cabinets: 1. Single party majority 2. Minimal winning 3. Oversized cabinets (including ‘grand coalitions’) 4. Minority cabinets
 * Part One: Research**

Find a contemporary European example of types 2 and 3. Briefly outline answers to the following questions: 1. Which parties are in the cabinet? 2. What election results (in terms of percentage votes and seats) led to the coalition formation? 3. What posts are assigned to which party? 4. What are the major policy differences? 5. What do the parties have in common that might enable them to work together? 6. What other parties might have formed a viable coalition, if any? 7. When is the next election?


 * Part Two Write two essays of 3-5 pages (double spaced) each:**

1. How and why are Europe and the United States so different? How does Britain fit in? 2. What are the main forms of parliamentary electoral system in Europe? What are the pros and cons of each? 3. What functions do political parties serve in European parliamentary systems? How do European political parties differ ideologically from the main US parties?