📜intro to political science review

Duverger’s law

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025

Definition

Duverger's Law suggests that a country with a single-member district plurality voting system tends to develop a two-party system. This occurs because voters strategically choose among candidates, leading to the dominance of two major political parties over time.