Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Encyclopedia of Power |
Editors | Keith Dowding |
Place of Publication | Thousand Oaks, California |
Publisher | Sage Publications Inc |
Pages | 202-203pp |
Volume | 1 |
Edition | 1st |
ISBN (Print) | 9781412927482 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2011 |
Abstract
Parties are considered dominant if they achieve electoral dominance both vertically and horizontally. Vertical electoral dominance is achieved when a party surpasses a threshold of vote or seat shares. In the literature, the demarcation of this threshold varies from a majority of at least 40% to 70% of raw votes or lower-house seats. Horizontal electoral dominance requires such a majority to be sustained longitudinallyusually over a generation. For example, Italy's Christian Democratic Party, an archetypal dominant party, controlled the parliamentary executive for 36 years (19451981).