Institutional Design: Institutional Design: Electoral Systems and Electoral Systems and Executive-Legislative Executive-Legislative RelationsRelationsPlan for TodayPlan for Today

1. Understand the characteristics and democratic consequences of preferential voting systems.

2. Understand other governance consequences of electoral systems.

3. Link electoral systems to party system outcomes.

4. Consider which electoral system is best for new democracies.

5. Distinguish between presidential and parliamentary forms of government.

6. Learn the “pro” and “anti” presidentialism cases re: democracy.

Preferential Voting: Preferential Voting: Single Transferable Vote (STV) Single Transferable Vote (STV)

This was the system recommended for BC by the recent BC Citizens’ Assembly.

Referendum on question held May 17, 2005.

Preferential Voting: Preferential Voting: Single Transferable Vote (STV) Single Transferable Vote (STV)

How the system rates:◦Proportionality: Excellent◦Voter Choice: Excellent

Australian Senate STV Australian Senate STV Sample BallotSample Ballot

Source: Australian Electoral Commission

Preferential Voting: Preferential Voting: Single Transferable Vote (STV) Single Transferable Vote (STV)

How the system rates:◦Proportionality: Excellent◦Voter Choice: Excellent◦Responsibility to constituency: Moderately Good

Preferential Voting: Preferential Voting: Alternative VoteAlternative VoteAustralian House of Reps, Fiji.Rank order candidates in single-member districts. Candidate wins through gaining “majority” of votes.

Worse for proportionality than STV or PR.

Better for voter choice, constituency representation.

NonNon-Preferential Voting: -Preferential Voting: Single Non-Transferable VoteSingle Non-Transferable Vote

Multiple representatives elected per constituency, but voters only cast 1 vote choice.

Japan (until 1994).Taiwan.

Effects of Electoral Systems on Effects of Electoral Systems on Party Systems (Duverger’s Party Systems (Duverger’s Law)Law)Plurality systems 2-party systems, 1-party majority governments.

PR systems multiparty systems, coalition governments.

Effects of Electoral Systems Effects of Electoral Systems on Other Political Valueson Other Political Values

1. Accountability: Who can the public hold accountable for policies?

• Plurality system better.

Effects of Electoral Systems Effects of Electoral Systems on Other Political Valueson Other Political Values

2. Effectiveness: How quickly and efficiently can governments make decisions?

• Plurality system better.

Effects of Electoral Systems Effects of Electoral Systems on Other Political Valueson Other Political Values

3. Stability: How predictable is the government’s existence?

• Plurality system better?

Choices for New DemocraciesChoices for New Democracies

Electoral systems really a spectrum rather than sharply divided.

Once a system is chosen, hard to change.

What is the best system for new What is the best system for new democracies? democracies?

Pro-PR: In systems with a lot of divisions, PR can represent interests in a fair way.

What is the best system for What is the best system for new democracies? new democracies?

Pro-PR: PR is a good way to encourage creation of political parties.

What is the best system for What is the best system for new democracies? new democracies?

Pro-plurality: May be best to minimize societal divisions.

What is the best system for new What is the best system for new democracies? democracies?

Pro-plurality: PR allows representation and encouragement of extremist groups.

What is the best system for new What is the best system for new democracies? democracies?

Pro-plurality: Encourages majority governments and strong policy leadership.

ConclusionConclusion

Best to have system that:◦Has stable, efficient, majority governments?

◦Or more accurately represents diverse interests?

Electoral systems have consequences – all depends on the values one prefers.

DESIGNING DESIGNING EXECUTIVE EXECUTIVE INSTITUTIONSINSTITUTIONS

Branches of GovernmentBranches of Government

Executive◦ implement or “execute” laws

Legislative◦ debate and pass laws

Judicial◦ courts system

Presidential vs. Presidential vs. Parliamentary InstitutionsParliamentary Institutions

Parliamentary GovernmentParliamentary Government

Parliament only democratically legitimate institution.

Executive and legislative institutions basically fused.

PM dependent on parliament confidence (usually).

Parliamentary GovernmentParliamentary Government

Some variations:◦Westminster model: e.g. Canada, Britain. PM & cabinet truly dependent on

legislature confidence.◦Consensus model: e.g. Switzerland. Executive more sheltered from

legislative approval.

Presidential GovernmentPresidential Government

Executive leader (president) has considerable constitutional powers.

Directly elected by the people for fixed term.

Parliament’s role only legislative: debating and passing laws.

Is presidential Is presidential government good or bad government good or bad for new democracies?for new democracies?

Pro-Presidential CasePro-Presidential Case

1. Democratic: executive directly elected by the people.

2. Strong check on power of legislature.

Anti-Presidential CaseAnti-Presidential Case

1. Anti-democratic implications:

1. “Aura” of president. E.g. Venezuela, Russia.

2. Where strong powers, heavy “winner-take-all” character (“hyperpresidencies”).

3. Where history of dictators, danger of antidemocratic behaviour.

Anti-Presidential CaseAnti-Presidential Case

2. Weakens government effectiveness.

1. Legislative “deadlock.”2. Discontinuity due to fixed

term and power concentration.

3. “Lame-duck” syndrome.

How different are prime How different are prime ministers from presidents?ministers from presidents?

Isn’t a PM with party discipline & plurality just as powerful and irremovable as a president?

How different are prime How different are prime ministers from presidents?ministers from presidents?

Cabinet shuffling equally powerful in each system, but different.

ConclusionConclusionCertainly some dangers in too-strong presidencies.

Next class:◦Ways to mitigate presidential powers.

◦Is presidentialism the culprit?◦New constitutions: explaining choices.