Electoral Systems: Parliamentary & Proportional

Breakdown of 2 electoral systems; Proportional Representation, and Parliamentary. Enjoy.

Proportional Representation

Decrease number of votes that are wasted, increase number of parties in legislature
Relies on electoral boundaries that create multi member districts
Voter cast their ballot for party rather than for candidate
Percentage of votes a party receives in a district determines how many of that district’s seats the party will gain
Even small percentage of the vote can result in winning seats
Political parties draw up in advance a list of their candidates for each electoral district
Smaller parties stand a better chance of winning at least some seats in legislature.
PR is most democratic form of electing officials, it wastes much smaller degree of votes, allows greater range of political interests to be expressed.
Ex. Canada.

Parliamentary

Leader of the party or coalition of parities with most support in parliament becomes the prime minister or chancellor
PM forms a cabinet usually from members of parliament, the cabinet then forms the core of gov’t.
Executive emerges directly from elected legislature and is integral part of it.
The Executive in parliamentary system is directly dependent an and accountable to, the legislature which can veto legislation with majority vote. It can also bring down executive with vote of no confidence.
PM and cabinet can dissolve parliament and call an election.
PM and cabinet are responsible to parliament.
Ex. Belgium, Canada, UK.
Strength: most of the world stable democracies are parliamentary systems. Fusion of executive and legislature can create strong and effective gov’t
Weakness: Large legislative majority with tight party discipline can produce leaders with too much power. Parliamentary systems without a legislative majority can be weak and unstable.