Proportional Representations Pros and Cons

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Proportional Representations Pros and Cons

Proportional representation is a system of political representation that has been growing by leaps and bounds. It is widely used in Europe and has both advantages and disadvantages. The closest comparative system would be the representative republic, such as used in the United States.

Proportional Representation

To really understand proportional representation, let us compare it to two other systems. A true democracy is impossible in today’s world. There are too many people and too many laws. In a true democracy, each and every person would get a vote in each and every aspect of government. A new law about a traffic light on one side of the country would need to be voted upon by everyone, including those that live nowhere near the actual traffic light. Nothing would ever happen because each and every citizen would spend hours each day reviewing and voting.

Therefore, the representation republic was formed. This allows for the nation to elect representatives that will vote for them. Each state or portion of the nation is represented by a set number of elected officials and they vote on the specific laws and regulations. In the United States, each state is represented by two senators and a number of representatives in the “house,” these are elected officials and determine laws for the state and the nation.

Representative Republic

The main drawback to the representative republic is that the officials represent a majority of voters. As senators are elected over a number of years are elected, if 51 percent of the people choose democrats, then there are democrats. If 99 percent choose democrats, then there are still democrats. In proportional representation, if 51 percent choose democrat, then 51 percent of the above mentioned would be democrats. If 99 percent choose democrat, then 99 percent of the would be democrat.

The proportion of the vote determines the proportion of the representation. That means that a nation that is 75 percent democrat and 25 percent Republican is represented in that way. The pro of this system is that it gives a more accurate picture of what the nation desires. This does count on the voters to show up at the polls and it does make for a more complex system of elections, but many countries are moving to this system than ever.

At the other side of the coin, the system becomes very complex with a staggered system of elections. That is the type of system that the United States uses and it prevents a completely “green” influx of representation. Rather than elect senators all of the same time and have a possible group of highly inexperienced politician, the senators are elected in small groups over several years. Using this staggered system, along with proportional representation would skew the system. The “proportion” would really represent voters from up to six years back, rather than a current proportion.

There are both reasons to support this type of system and reasons to not. Some countries have thrown away systems of government in support of this and others are holding fast to their current systems. It is hard to say what the future may bring.