The Electoral System as a Factor in Striking a Balance between Governmental Stability and Representation
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Fany Yuval
The relevant literature provides substantial empirical evident supporting the fact that the ability to govern weakens as the degree of representation increases. Democracies use various mechanisms to maintain the balance between stability and representation. Using simulation analysis, this work seeks to understand to what extent the various structures of electoral systems affect the level of governmental stability without excessively undermining the principle of representation. Can electoral systems be differentiated from one another, and which system is most advantageous? To clarify these questions, this work processed the actual results of the three last elections in Israel, for 2003-2009, using the format of various electoral systems. A comparative review of the simulations leads to the conclusion that a mixture of nationwide and regional elections, a small number of constituencies and the single-seat method will moderate the results, providing a better balance between the two democratic—the ability to rule and the degree of representation. The total representation (T.R.) system seems to be best for striking a reasonable balance between regional and national issues. It also offers a simple solution for resolving the disadvantage of majority systems in single-seat constituencies, the lack of representation for the losing votes in the constituencies. In the total representation system, the winners' votes are counted to determine the regional winner, while the losers' votes are totaled on the national party level and awarded proportional representation. This procedure makes the total representation system seem fairer than its competitors.
©2011 Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin/Boston
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- Office Allocation in the Czech Government and Chamber of Deputies in Light of Coalition Theory
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- The Electoral System as a Factor in Striking a Balance between Governmental Stability and Representation
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- Size and Equal Opportunity in the Democratic Process: The Effect of the Danish Local Government Reform on Inequality in Internal Political Efficacy
- Alterations of Voting in Lithuania's Municipal Council Elections: Macrolevel Analysis
- The Norwegian Electoral System and its Political Consequences
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Articles in the same Issue
- Article
- Sphere Effects: A History of Peter Sloterdijk's Political Architectures
- Co-Production as a Political Form
- Office Allocation in the Czech Government and Chamber of Deputies in Light of Coalition Theory
- The Impact of International Politics on Commercial Flows in the Age of Globalization
- The Electoral System as a Factor in Striking a Balance between Governmental Stability and Representation
- Non-Partisan Candidates and Lists at Slovenian Local Elections, 1994-2010
- Candidate Choice in Political Advertising: What Determines Who Gets Attention?
- Bringing the Olympic Rationality Back In? Coherence, Integration and Effectiveness of Public Policies
- Constitutional Barriers and the Privatization of Public Utilities in Rich Democracies
- Size and Equal Opportunity in the Democratic Process: The Effect of the Danish Local Government Reform on Inequality in Internal Political Efficacy
- Alterations of Voting in Lithuania's Municipal Council Elections: Macrolevel Analysis
- The Norwegian Electoral System and its Political Consequences
- The New Regional Order and Transnational Civil Society in Southeast Asia: Focusing on Alternative Regionalism from below in the Process of Building the ASEAN Community
