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Learn about the different types and attributes of PR systems, which ensure that subgroups of voters are reflected proportionately in the elected body. Compare PR with other electoral systems and see examples of countries and regions that use PR.
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proportional representation, electoral system that seeks to create a representative body that reflects the overall distribution of public support for each political party. Where majority or plurality systems effectively reward strong parties and penalize weak ones by providing the representation of a whole constituency to a single candidate who may...
Advocates for proportional representation argue that an election is like a census of opinion as to how the country should be governed, and only if an assembly represents the full diversity of opinion within a country can its decisions be regarded as legitimate. For example, proponents maintain that the plurality system can produce unrepresentative, minority governments, such as in the United Kingdom, where the two major parties governed the country for the last three decades of the 20th century with little more than 40 percent of the votes. The proportional system also is suggested as a means of redressing the possible anomaly arising under majority or plurality systems whereby a party may win more seats with fewer popular votes than its opponents, as occurred in the British elections of 1951 and February 1974.
Critics of proportional representation contend that in an election a country is making a decision, and the function of the electoral system is to achieve a consensus rather than a census of opinion. Opponents argue further that, by making it possible for small parties to be represented, proportional representation encourages the formation of splinter parties that can result in weak and unstable government.
Learn about the electoral system that seeks to create a representative body that reflects the overall distribution of public support for each political party. Explore the benefits, types, examples, and debates of proportional representation in various countries.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Dec 5, 2023 · Learn how proportional representation is an electoral system that elects multiple representatives in each district in proportion to the number of votes. Compare it with winner-take-all and explore its benefits, varieties, and challenges for the U.S.
Sep 5, 2024 · Learn how proportional representation (PR) works in different electoral systems and countries. Compare PR with the current system of First Past the Post (FPTP) and find out why PR is fairer and more representative.
Nov 18, 2023 · Supporters say proportional representation could help temper the rise of political extremism, eliminate the threat of gerrymandering and ensure the fair representation of people of...
- Hansi Lo Wang
May 29, 2018 · Learn about the definition, history, and types of proportional representation (PR), an electoral mechanism that ensures the distribution of votes and seats is proportional. Compare and contrast PR with other systems and explore its advantages and disadvantages.
Learn about proportional representation (PR), a type of electoral system that aims to ensure that citizens' votes are accurately reflected in the distribution of legislative seats. Explore chapters and articles on PR methods, advantages, limitations, and examples from various countries and regions.
