POLI 201 Lecture Notes - Proportional Representation
2 Mar 2014
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Electoral based on geographical boundaries (small local constituencies). Districts similar number of voters in each electoral district. Single member one person is elected for each electoral district. Candidate with most votes becomes representative for that electoral district. Smp tends to produce majority governments, in which one party wins a majority of the seats in the house. Over-rewards major parties: large parties can win seats simply because they have more votes in a riding than other parties. Under-rewards minority parties: smaller parties struggle to get more votes than major parties in a riding as such will not win a seat, even though they have moderate support. Majority government = stable government: prime minister/cabinet is very government can make policy decisions quickly, without secure in the exercise of power. Predictable policy making: radical ideological or policy shifts (will not be bogged down in partisan politics) or bad policy. (example: economic policy 2008-2009)
