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Civil Society and Institutional Design: Electoral Systems Plan for Today

Civil Society and Institutional Design: Electoral Systems Plan for Today. Finish group discussion activity. Understand the characteristics and democratic consequences of two (out of 3) basic types of electoral systems. Questions for Group Discussion on Civil Society.

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Civil Society and Institutional Design: Electoral Systems Plan for Today

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  1. Civil Society and Institutional Design: Electoral SystemsPlan for Today • Finish group discussion activity. • Understand the characteristics and democratic consequences of two (out of 3) basic types of electoral systems.

  2. Questions for Group Discussion on Civil Society • What characteristics of civil society would you try to promote in your programs? • How would you encourage those characteristics through specific programs? • Are you optimistic or pessimistic about your chances of success?

  3. Designing Institutions Electoral Systems

  4. Classifying according to democratic principles • Proportionality: How well does distribution of representatives reflect electorate’s votes? • Responsibility to constituency: Can voters identify someone who represents them in particular? • Voter choice: Diversity and complexity in voters’ available choices?

  5. Plurality or “First-Past-the-Post” Systems • Examples: • Britain • Canada • USA • India

  6. Plurality or “First-Past-the-Post” Systems • How the system rates: • Proportionality: Bad • Voter Choice: Bad • Responsibility to constituency: Excellent

  7. Proportional Representation (PR) Systems • Examples: • Continental European countries • Israel • South Africa

  8. Proportional Representation (PR) Systems • “Extreme PR” • “Moderate PR” • Some seats chosen by plurality method • Vote thresholds for seats • Country split into multiple districts

  9. Proportional Representation (PR) Systems • “Extreme PR”: • Italy (pre-1994), Israel, Netherlands, Denmark • “Moderate PR” • Germany, Russia, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, probably South Africa

  10. Proportional Representation (PR) Systems • How the system rates: • Proportionality: Excellent

  11. Hypothetical Election, Country XScenario 1

  12. Results of Scenario 1 with Plurality System • Overall percentage of national vote: • Red Party: 45% • Blue Party: 55% • Blue Party wins 100% of seats in the legislature

  13. Results of Scenario 1 with PR System • Overall percentage of national vote: • Red Party: 45% • Blue Party: 55% • Red Party wins 45% of seats • Blue Party wins 55% of seats

  14. Hypothetical Election, Country XScenario 2

  15. Results of Scenario 2 with Plurality System • Overall percentage of national vote: • Red Party: 50% • Blue Party: 50% • Red Party wins 27% (4/15) seats • Blue Party wins 73% (11/15) of seats

  16. Results of Scenario 2 with PR System • Overall percentage of national vote: • Red Party: 50% • Blue Party: 50% • Red Party wins 50% of seats • Blue Party wins 50% of seats

  17. Hypothetical Election, Country XScenario 3

  18. Results of Scenario 3 with Plurality System • Overall percentage of national vote: • Red Party: 45% • Blue Party: 35% • White Party: 20% • Red Party wins 100% of seats in the legislature

  19. Results of Scenario 3 with PR System • Overall percentage of national vote: • Red Party: 45% • Blue Party: 35% • White Party: 20% • Red Party wins 45% of seats • Blue Party wins 35% of seats • White Party wins 20% of seats

  20. Hypothetical Election, Country XScenario 4

  21. Implications of Examples in Plurality Systems • Voter support for small parties underrepresented in seats. • Best for small parties to focus on winning support in select regions. • Majority governments the norm.

  22. Canadian Federal Election Results 2008 (Preliminary) Source: Elections Canada

  23. Canadian Federal Election Results 2000 Source: Elections Canada

  24. Proportional Representation (PR) Systems • How the system rates: • Proportionality: Excellent • Voter Choice: Bad • Responsibility to constituency: Bad

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