Majoritarian electoral systems
Mixed electoral systems
Even so....
Examples?
Obsolete?
Sources
Proportional representation electoral systems
Overview
Conventionally employ single seat districts with plurality rule, and tend to give greater representation to the two parties that receive the most votes.
- Germany: a proportional leaning mixed electoral system
- A party wins a percentage of seats nationally that is determined by applying a PR formula to the total number of parliamentary seats. Each party then fulfills its entitlement of seats by taking whatever single seat districts it has won and augmenting them off the list that it requires to reach its overall entitlement.
Employs multi-seat districts, usually with party lists, and typically produce parliamentary representation that largely mirrors the vote shares of multiple parties.
Shugart, M.S.S., and Wattenberg, M. (2003). Mixed-member Electoral Systems: The Best of Both Worlds? Oxford: OUP. Ch. 1.
E Reeve, A. and Ware, A. (1992) Electoral Systems: A Comparative and Theoretical Introduction. London: Routledge.
Most mixed electoral systems tend to lean towards either majoritarian or proportional
- One tier must allocate seats nominally, while the other must entail allocation of seats by list
- The extent to which a system favours one or the other is dependent upon whether there is a linkage between the tiers
- No linkage: majoritarian
- Linkage: proportional
Most mixed electoral systems are distinguished by a mixing of principles in the same chamber.
The ideal prototype of a mixed member system is one whereby half the seats in a legislative chamber are elected in single seat districts while the other half are elected from party lists allocated by proportional representation.
- Shugart and Wattenburg: category of multiple tier electoral systems
- An electoral system employs multiple tiers if seats are allocated in two or more overlapping sets of districts. As such, voters must cast one or more votes that are employed to allocate seats in more than one tier.
Explain the distinction between majoritarian and proportional systems. Does the emergence of mixed electoral systems render this dichotomy obsolete?
Yes:
-An emerging trend for electoral reform: there are four mixed member electoral systems with a proportional lean in existence
-Success of Germany - does this highlight the efficiency of its politics?
Where?
- Britain
- Voters pick a candidate: their first choice. The candidate with the most votes is elected.
- "Winner takes all" voting system
- Winner does not need to be a majority winner
What is it?
- Majoritarian
- Proportional
- Mixed electoral systems
Is it obsolete?
- Yes
- No
No:
- Only a small number of countries have opted for serious electoral reform: situation specific rather than an actual trend?
- Jenkins reform was rejected in Britain
- Only one political "heavyweight" has a mixed electoral system - Germany
- There is still a clear dichotomy: a choice between majoritarian and proportional
- Flavour and balance
Where?
- Greece
- Belgium
- Netherlands
Elsewhere?
- Israel: only one seat elected by the majoritarian principle
- Italy: only a quarter of seats are elected by PR