Elections and DemocracyElections and Democracy
January 29th
Last Day: “Please Vote for Me”Last Day: “Please Vote for Me”
As an experiment in holding a democratic election, was it a success?– What are your criteria
for judging?
Democratic IdealsDemocratic Ideals
political equalitymajority rule popular sovereignty political liberty (rights and freedoms)
minority rights political competition rule of law
How do we “design Democracy” to achieve these ideals?? How do we embed these ideals in institutions and processes?
Elections are critical!Elections are critical!
Popular sovereignty– citizens must be able to “throw the rascals out”
Fair political competition– key to even the most minimalist versions of democracy,
(i.e., democratic elitism) Achieving political equality
– citizens should have equal voice Organizing majority rule
– if each vote is to be counted equally, the decision of the majority must be accepted
Representing minorities– minorities must achieve equality
Fair Political CompetitionFair Political Competition
What constitutes “fair”– who chooses the candidates?
http://www.canada.com/news/Conservatives+ignoring+democracy+blocking+nomination+Guergis/2993452/story.html
– how much money may they spend? http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadavotes2011/story/2011/
03/31/cv-election-spending-limits-914.html#
– how does debate take place? http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ontario-liberal
-leadership-hopeful-alleges-his-own-party-playing-too-safe/article6221012/
What, then, are the prospects for What, then, are the prospects for achieving Political Equality?achieving Political Equality?
Organizing majority rule and Organizing majority rule and minority representation also minority representation also complicated…depends on complicated…depends on
electoral system!electoral system!
Single-Member Plurality Systems
vs.
Proportional Representation Systems
Canadian National Canadian National Election Results, 2011Election Results, 2011
Vote
(%)
Cons. 39.6%
NDP 30.6%
BQ 6.0%
Libs 18.9%
Green 3.9%
Canadian National Canadian National Election Results, 2011Election Results, 2011
Vote
(%)
Seats
(308)
Cons. 39.6% 166
NDP 30.6% 103
BQ 6.0% 4
Libs 18.9% 34
Green 3.9% 1
http://elections.ca/res/cir/maps/imhttp://elections.ca/res/cir/maps/images/Canada_large.pdfages/Canada_large.pdf
Canadian National Canadian National Election Results, 2011Election Results, 2011
Vote
(%)
Seats
(308)
Seats
(%)
Diff.
Cons. 39.6% 166 54% +14.4%
NDP 30.6% 103 33% +2.4%
BQ 6.0% 4 1.2% -4.8%
Libs 18.9% 34 11% -7.9%
Green 3.9% 1 0.3% -3.6%
Single Member Plurality Single Member Plurality System (SMPS)System (SMPS)
One representative per geographic area (riding, constituency, district)
‘First-past-the-post’, ‘winner-take-all’ system
SMPS and the Democratic Ideals…SMPS and the Democratic Ideals…
Majority government but not necessarily majority rule
Minority rights?– what prospects for minor national parties?
Political equality?– does every vote seem to count?
Popular sovereignty– direct representative-citizen link
Alternative Systems: Alternative Systems: Proportional RepresentationProportional Representation
Representation (# of seats) directly proportional to share of popular vote received (# of votes)
Mechanics:– party lists– single-transferable vote
PR PR and the Democratic Idealsand the Democratic Ideals
Majority government unlikely Minorities better represented Political equality?
– every vote seems to count
Popular sovereignty– no direct representative-citizen link
More political competition – more choice!– more representative of public opinion, minorities,
diverse interests
Hypothetical Results Under Different Hypothetical Results Under Different Electoral Systems - 2011 Can. ElectionElectoral Systems - 2011 Can. Election
% Vote Seats: SMPS
Seats: PR
Cons. 39.6% 166 121
NDP 30.6% 103 94
BQ 6.0% 4 18
Libs 18.9% 34 58
Green 3.9% 1 12
Other Alternative SystemsOther Alternative Systems
German ‘Hybrid’Model– mixed member proportional system– 2 votes: candidate, party list– 5% rule
PR and the Democratic Ideals…PR and the Democratic Ideals…
Majority rule – but perhaps not majority government
Minority representation easierPolitical equality
– every vote seems to count?
Popular sovereignty– no direct representative-citizen link
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