Definition

Noun: A voting system based on the principle of having only one member (as of a legislature) selected from each electoral district. It is a method for electing a single representative from a specific geographic constituency.

Usage

This term is used in political science and discussions of electoral systems to describe a specific method of voting and representation. * The country adopted a scrutin uninominal voting system to ensure each district had one clear representative in parliament. * Political scientists debated the advantages of a scrutin uninominal voting system versus proportional representation.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in comparative analyses of electoral methods, particularly in Francophone political contexts, from which the phrase originates ("scrutin uninominal").
• It is frequently discussed in relation to its tendency to create two-party systems and the concept of "first-past-the-post" outcomes.

Variants and Related Words

• First-past-the-post (FPTP): A common synonym in English, especially in the context of the United Kingdom, Canada, and other Commonwealth nations.
• Single-member district plurality (SMDP): Another technical synonym used in political science.
• Uninominal System: A shortened, less common variant of the full term.

Synonyms

• First-past-the-post system
• Single-member plurality system
• Winner-takes-all system (in a single-district context)

Related Phrases

• Electoral district: The geographic area represented by the single member elected under this system.
• Plurality vote: The winning condition in a typical scrutin uninominal system, where the candidate with the most votes (not necessarily a majority) wins.

Noun

1. based on the principle of having only one member (as of a legislature) selected from each electoral district