Electoral Systems

-Basic forms and impact on inclusiveness and stability of the democratic institutions

in a ministerial form of government –

Presented by Dr. Peter Koeppinger, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung

International Expert on Government Systems

Electoral Systems, p2The parliament in a “parliamentary system” is much more powerful than in the presidential form of government because it elects the head of government and controls the performance of the administration.

For an electoral system “suitable to a ministerial form of government” (parliamentary system) it is therefore even more important than in a presidential system that it provides all relevant groups of citizens with the opportunity, to have their representatives elected into the parliament.

Electoral Systems, p3

This is also acknowledged by the request in the FAB that the electoral system “shall allow democratic participation”. The electoral system has to avoid situations in which only the majority of the citizens in the whole area or in its divided constituencies have a real chance of getting their representatives elected.

Electoral Systems, p4

However, in order to provide the parliament with the opportunity of mustering stable majorities for the election and continuous support of a stable government the electoral system has also to avoid outcomes with a high fractionalization of the parliament into numerous small groups.

Electoral Systems, p5

So – let us have a view on the basic options for a democratic electoral system (one person, one vote):

Electoral Systems, p6• Option 1: All members of the parliament are elected in one-seat local

constituencies (districts) by simple majority. In this example you see 40 members of a regional parliament elected each one in his separate constituency. The election process is simple: each voter has one vote. Advantage: The constituencies are small, the voters know the candidates. Risk: Will the winners from the different constituencies work together in the parliament? What binds them together? Can genuine political parties play a role – or is it just about representation of local issues?

Electoral Systems, p7• Option 2: Mixed system direct election and party list, separated. Part of the

members (i.e. 50%) are elected in local districts, the other part through party lists of genuinely principled political parties for the whole country/region. Each voter has two votes: one for the representative of his local district, one for a party list.

List 1, 20

per-sons

List 2, 20

per-sons

List 3, 20

per-sons

20 directly elected district representatives

20 representatives from party lists elected

in accordance to their percentage of votes

Electoral Systems, p8Option 3

Party A (blue) wins 45% of the votes = 18 seats, Party B (green) 35% = 14 seats, Party C (pink) 20 % = 8 seats

Party A with18 seats, 15Winners in

Districts, 3 topFrom its Party list

Party B with 14 seats,

4 winners inDistricts, 10 Top from its

Party list

Party CWith 8

Seats, 1Winner From

District, 7Top from

Its party list

Mixed system direct elections and proportional elections combined, each voter has two votes, one in

His district, one for a party list

Electoral Systems, p9Option 4: All members of the regional parliament are elected through party lists of

genuinely principled political parties for the whole country/region. Simple electoral process: Each voter has one vote. Advantage: genuinely principled political parties will play a strong role. Disadvantages: Representation of regions/provinces not sure, no direct accountability to electorate.

40 representatives of party lists elected according their percentage of votes

List 1, 40 persons

List 2, 40

persons

List 3, 40 persons

List 4, 40 persons

List 5, 40 persons

Electoral Systems, p10• Option 4: The election of the members of the parliament takes place in multi-seat constituencies

within the existing provinces through provincial party lists under genuinely principled political parties in a proportional way. Simple electoral process: Each voter has one vote. Advantages: Gives parties a strong role in the provinces, where they are strong. Elected representatives are accountable to citizens in their respective provinces. 40 members of parliament are elected from provincial party lists according to their percentage of votes in the respective provinces.

Province A6 representatives

Province B4 representatives Province C

9 representatives

Province D11 representatives

Province F5 representatives

Province E5 representat.