which of the following statements describes a difference between the political systems of Australia and New Zealand
One of the main differences between the political systems of Australia and New Zealand is their electoral systems. Australia follows a preferential voting system, also known as instant-runoff voting, where voters rank their preferred candidates in order of preference. This system allows voters to express their preferences more explicitly and can lead to more centrist outcomes.
On the other hand, New Zealand uses the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) voting system. Under this system, voters cast two separate votes, one for a political party and another for a local representative in their electorate. The MMP system is designed to ensure proportional representation, meaning that the composition of the Parliament accurately reflects the percentage of votes received by each political party. This system provides smaller parties with a better chance of gaining representation and can potentially lead to coalition governments.
Overall, while both Australia and New Zealand have democratic political systems, their electoral systems differ significantly, potentially leading to distinct outcomes in terms of representation and government formation.