Is Majority System of Representation Better Than Proportional System of Representation

2105 Introduction to Political Science.

Is Majority System of representation better than Proportional System of representation?

Name: Aidaswani Veenie Mahesh

SSID :54046529

Date of Submission : 26th November 2015

Is majority system of representation better than proportional system of representation?

Abstract

This paper aims at explaining the two electoral systems namely: Majority system of representation and Proportional system of representation, the consequences under each electoral system, and the situational perspective of which electoral system is better under which situation and lastly doing a case study on Canada’s electoral system and South Africa’s electoral system.

Introduction:

Government elections are usually one of the most important events in every country or city. This is because the future of the city of country or state lies in the government election. According to Lam (2014), elections provide a peaceful method which allows the transfer of political authority and power from one person to another. Peaceful in the sense that it is a legal process to elect a government which allows the elected leaders derive their legitimacy to govern from the election. Lam ( 2014) further explains that another main function of election is that, election is also a mean to check on the performance of the government. Say for example, the government is not performing well; the citizens can choose other representatives to take over the position of the government in the next election. In other words, election protects the interests of the citizens’.

There are two main types of electoral systems adopted by almost all democratic governments which are: Majority system of representation and proportional system of representation. Personally I would say, it depends on different situation of different countries, when determining which electoral system is better. This is because; there is no absolute perfect system. One electoral system may be favorable and...