R: Clode's Right Political Dictionary
“Redistributions” This is the process of redrawing the geographic boundaries of electorates from which politicians are elected. Since voters move around, some electorates become larger than others over time, so it becomes necessary to redraw the boundaries to make the seats even again. In some countries this process is administered by an independent body, acting within strict guidelines and responding to proposals made by interested parties and individuals. In other countries, competing parties use their control of parliament in order to seize control of the bodies or processes which redraw boundaries. In the latter kind of system, governing parties redraw boundaries to ensure a disproportional electoral advantage to their own party. In countries with the latter kind of system, there is often a very low incidence of sitting politicians being defeated by challengers.
“Redistricting” (See “Redistribution”) Redistricting is the term used in the United States.
“Referendum” A referendum is a vote by citizens on a particular question. Often a referendum is distinguished from plebiscites on the basis that the former produces a binding change to public policy, whereas the latter is only an indicative signal of the public mood. Some referendums involve proposals to change a national Constitution.
“Regionalization” This is a practice which only occurs within federations, or nations which have an influential tier of local governments below the national tier of government. “Regionalization” refers to the practice of states joining with other nearby states which share certain geographic and cultural traits, to maximize the effect of their region on the electoral process. For example, in the United States, states in the same region often hold their primary elections on the same day (the 50 United States are unofficially grouped into about six regions). The best example of regionalization began with the “Super Tuesday” of 1988. That year, a group of southern US states banded together to hold the first large group of primaries in order to boost the importance of southern states in the Presidential nomination process.
“Remit” This is a motion (usually a policy proposal) approved by one party body, then moved by a party delegate at a more senior a party meeting. Because the motion is sent from one level to another, it is known as a “remit”. Often at National Conferences, motions will be known as remits, and will have each originated from local branch meetings, or from state meetings, or from the youth wing of the party.
“Responsible Government” This is the Westminster form of government, under which Ministers are accountable to parliament. This differs from Presidential Government, under which executive Ministers are answerable only to the Head of State. In a bicameral parliament, a Westminister cabinet depends for its tenure on confidence votes in the lower house. Some parliaments allow a no-confidence motion to be used to unseat a single Minister, without forcing a change of government. In other parliaments a no-confidence motion will be treated as a vote against the whole government. Loss of a confidence may trigger an election, particularly where no alternative Ministry can be formed which commands majority support in parliament.