The type of party system which develops, in particular the number and the relative sizes of political parties in the legislature, is heavily influenced by the electoral system. Some systems encourage, or even enforce, the formation of political parties others recognize only individual candidates. While many aspects of a country’s political framework are often specified in the constitution and can thus be difficult to amend, electoral system change often only involves new legislation and can thus be subject to manipulation by unscrupulous majority.Įven with each voter casting exactly the same vote and with exactly the same number of votes for each party, one electoral system may lead to a coalition government or a minority government while another may allow a single party to assume majority control.Ī number of other consequences of electoral systems go beyond this primary effect. In translating the votes cast in a general election into seats in the legislature, the choice of electoral system can effectively determine who is elected and which party gains power. Political institutions shape the rules of the game under which democracy is practised, and it is often argued that the easiest political institution to manipulate, for good or for bad, is the electoral system. The larger institutional framework as well as their impact on administrative
It identifies, describes andĬlassifies 12 distinct electoral systems and discusses their relationship with National, local and supranational levels. On the design, mechanisms, and effects of different electoral systems on The Electoral Systems Encyclopedia topic focuses
Influential of all political institutions, and of crucial importance to broader Electoral systems are today viewed as one of the most That the choice of political institutions can have a significant impact on the This process was encouraged by the realization The search for enduring models of appropriate representative institutions and aįresh re-evaluation of electoral systems, has increased dramatically in theĮarly years of this century. To be consciously and deliberately selected.ĭemocratic governance in the 1980s and 1990s, which stimulated a new urgency in More prevalent recently, traditionally it has been rare for electoral systems However, while conscious design has become far Life of the country concerned, and electoral systems, once chosen, often remainįairly constant as political interests solidify around and respond to the Of a particular electoral system has a profound effect on the future political One of the most important institutional decisions for any democracy.
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