Presidential Elections
How direct presidential elections work around the world, from the US to France to Brazil, and the unique dynamics they create.
Electing the Executive Directly
In presidential systems, voters choose the head of state and government directly (or, in the US case, through the Electoral College). The president serves a fixed term and cannot normally be removed by the legislature except through impeachment. This separation of powers means the president and legislature may be controlled by different parties, creating 'divided government.'
Most presidential democracies use a two-round system to ensure the winner has majority support. Brazil, France (for the presidency), Chile, Colombia, and dozens of other countries require a runoff if no candidate wins over 50 percent. Mexico and the Philippines are notable exceptions that use simple plurality. The choice between these methods matters: plurality systems can produce presidents with weak mandates (Mexico's Felipe Calderon won with 35.9 percent in 2006), while runoff systems may force voters to choose between two candidates neither of whom was their first preference.