CHAPTER THREE: DEMOCRACY AND POLITICAL GOVERNANCE i. Summary of the CSAR 158. Multi-partyism and the electoral system. Since 1989, the Constitution has guaranteed the right of political associations and freedom of expression. This right was more restricted under the 1996 Constitution and the Organic Act visà-vis political parties, the objective being to contain past slippages. 159. Independent candidates may stand in the different types of elections and any person who enjoys civic rights may participate in them. Many parties enjoy legal recognition and perform their activities freely. The financing of parties is rigorously governed by legislation to protect them from the various interest groups; hence the ceiling on electoral expenditure. More than 20 parties have participated regularly in the various elections organised in Algeria and thus contribute to the consolidation of a pluralist democracy. 160. The electoral system is based on proportional representation and the majority vote, which is the voting system used for both local elections (municipalities and wilayas) and legislative elections (the Popular National Assembly and the National Council). The President of the Republic is elected on the basis of two rounds of majority vote. Political parties and candidates in elections receive public finance for their electoral campaigns in accordance with a scale set out by electoral legislation. Equal access to the media is guaranteed for all parties and candidates. Broadcasts for the expression of party opinions are also organised outside of the electoral campaigns and coverage of parties‟ public activities is assured by the principal media of the state. 161. Every Algerian over the age of 18 has the right to vote and registration on the electoral lists is compulsory even if no sanctions are in place. Citizens and political parties are entitled to ask for a copy of the electoral lists and, if necessary, to lodge an appeal to the appropriate administrative jurisdiction, which is free of charge. A national political commission is set up to monitor elections. It is made up of representatives of political parties and candidates and also has local divisions. 162. The Constitutional Council is responsible for judging whether the legislative and presidential elections are free and fair, whereas the administrative court is competent to rule in respect of the elections of decentralised assemblies. This institutional mechanism has allowed the state to organise a number of elections that observers have generally deemed to be free and fair. The CSAR nonetheless emphasises the need to consider how to improve representation of the people and make it more credible, and also to explore ways of removing suspicions of “media exclusion” of which the opposition claims to be a victim. 68