The Mixed-member Proportional Representation System - Essay Example

REVIEW OF THE MIXED MEMBER PROPORTIONAL SYSTEM REVIEW OF THE MIXED MEMBER PROPORTIONAL SYSTEM There are several voting systems usedaround the world, such as the mixed-member proportional representation system. This system was initially used to vote in German Bundestag representatives, but was later adopted by other legislatures all over the world. In this system, the total number of party members elected is meant to show the total proportion of received votes.1 The only difference elicited in this system is that it includes a number of members voted in via geographical constituency and is not included in party totals in order to keep proportionality.2 The procedure used in this system is that a voter casts twice; one vote is for the party and the other is for a representative of the constituency. If a preferred candidate listed on the party emerges victorious of the constituency seat, they are not given two seats but are immediately eliminated from the party list and their slot taken by another candidate on the party list. There are different calculation methods used in voting system. The one characteristic of mixed-member proportionality system is that the overall seats number in the assembly inclusive of single-member seats are given to parties according to the votes each party had received during the ballot as per the party portion.3 In some cases, overhang seats come in handy. This is when a party emerges victorious in winning more seats in constituencies than it’s granted in its vote’s proportion. In circumstances where a party wins more seats above its stipulated votes’ proportion, the land tag size increases resulting to full vote’s proportion and other parties get extra seats’ list to achieve that. Election threshold is also very essential, since it’s stipulated that, a party must get a certain percent of the overall party vote to qualify for a seats’ list. The MMP (mixed-member proportion) system in New Zealand began in 1993.4 Since then, it has triggered a series of criticism. For instance, it seems like the constituency representatives are becoming insensitive of public opinion. This is because they no longer lose their parliamentary seat even after the electorate loss, as a result of the two vote casting.5 Another thing is that the party leaders are more powerful and this is because they are in a position to influence ranking of seats’ list and can there sabotage decision making. Accountability is also degraded since parties claim not to have majority of their partners in government and therefore having disagreements with their coalition partners. The issue of electorates MPs is another challenge since with their large numbers; the communities from the rural areas find accessibility to their local MPs impossible. This comes along with the feeling of inadequate representation. Another negative aspect of the electorates is that; after they lose, they are taken back on the list instead of other contestant hopefuls. The constituency representatives from the list as opposed to their electorate counterparts do not usually exhibit thought independence from their party because it could be fatal.6 Minor parties can also pose a challenge in this system. The costs of their demands are usually very high; therefore it can be very difficult for the government to assume fiscal responsibility. The same minor parties can be incited to be divisive and extreme because with just 5% votes, representation is guaranteed and therefore their demands could prevail at the expense of the 90% of the rest of the population. These minor parties usually have a tendency of getting wiped out or disintegrating. At times they get to decide the majority of parties that form the government, thus given greater power in regardless of them having fewer votes. All aspects of the MMP system have been put into consideration and several amendments recommended in New Zealand. In fact, a review of this system has been launched by the New Zealand’s Electoral Commission and it seeks lots of public input geared towards all possible changes to the MMP operations and how to improve it. An electoral Referendum was conducted in 2011 and the majority of the New Zealander’s voted to maintain the MMP system, and this triggered need for review.7 Amongst the issues to be reviewed is what threshold a party should have in order to be approved for parliamentary seats allocation list. There are formal or effective thresholds. In New Zealand, there are two legal thresholds. Their purpose is provision for effective government by preventing major hurdles from interfering with upcoming political forces. The percentage laid down is debatable to ensure that everyone is incorporated, from the very small, smaller parties and the extremist groups.8 The list MPs quest for candidacy in a by election is also in question and a subject for review. In New Zealand, by-elections are conducted to fill vacant electorate seats in parliament after death or resignation of a member. Their rules do not hinder either electorate or list members from vying as candidates in a by-election. In MMP, a sitting constituency representative can vie in a by-election without giving up their parliamentary seat. Dual candidacy is another concern. In New Zealand, it is common for parties to have a candidate vying for both list and electorate parliamentary slots. It was viewed as a problem with unsuccessful incumbent members going back to parliament as list members. The royal commission thought that by creating two types of members could allow a party to protect members in marginal seats. The other key thing in the review process is determining whose mandate it is of deciding the order of candidates on list, if it lies with political parties or voters themselves. There are closed and open lists.9 In New Zealand, the reason of using the list is to act as an equalizer of the lack of proportionality during elections, so as to provide total proportional representation. It is therefore the responsibility of a political party to grade and rank their candidates as per their preference on their lists.10 Democratic selection processes must be followed while doing this. In New Zealand, party lists are closed, and therefore voters are not in a position to alter party ranks on candidates or make any changes that could alter what had been determined by the party. In some cases, a party might emerge victorious with more than the set electorate seats it’s entitled to under party vote share. In the MMP system, each party has a set number of seats depending on the overall nationwide party votes. If a party wins more than the stipulated, the extra seats are referred to as an overhang. In New Zealand, this usually happens when candidates from certain parties have very strong support locally than their party is supported nationally.11 Population growth has its effects on the proportionality of seats of the electorate and those of list seats. At some point, list seats’ numbers will be insufficient to enhance proportionality because the ratio of a party’s seats of electorate versus the vote will surpass the ratio of overall parliamentary seats.12 In 1993, an Electoral Act was passed in New Zealand indicating that they should split the major seats between the South and North Island as per section 35 and 36. The North Island’s population is growing faster than the South Island.13 There are other electoral systems such as Supplementary Member (SM) Electoral System, which differs with the MMP in that, the electoral seats number is raised to 90 and the vote of the party only determine the portion a party gets from the 30 remaining seats as opposed to determining the portion of all the parliamentary seats a party gets as per the MMP. In comparison of the two, SM would be applicable in New Zealand bearing in mind that 90 electoral seats are bigger than the present 70. SM allows decisive discussions and proper decisions that are discouraged by MMP. SM take s into consideration views from represented minor partners and removes MMP’s overhang. Conclusion The total number of party members elected is meant to show the total proportion of received votes. The only difference elicited in this system is that it includes a number of members voted in via geographical constituency and is not included in party totals in order to keep proportionality.14 The procedure used in this system is that a voter casts twice; one vote is for the party and the other is for a representative of the constituency. If a preferred candidate listed on the party emerges victorious of the constituency seat, they are not given two seats but are immediately eliminated from the party list and their slot taken by another candidate on the party list. The communities from the rural areas find accessibility to their local MPs impossible; this comes along with the feeling of inadequate representation. Another negative aspect of the electorates is that; after they lose, they are taken back on the list instead of other contestant hopefuls. The constituency representatives from the list as opposed to their electorate counterparts do not usually exhibit thought independence from their party because it could be fatal. There are closed and open lists.15 In New Zealand, the reason of using the list is to act as an equalizer of the lack of proportionality during elections, so as to provide total proportional representation.16 Bibliography Cain, B., Ferejohn, J. The Personal Vote: Constituency Service and Electoral Independence. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997. Cox, G. Making Votes count: Strategic Co ordination in the world’s electoral system. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000. Epstein, Richard A. MMP: the right decision? New Zealand Business Roundtable. New Zealand: Wellington. 1999. Levine, S. and N.S. Roberts. A wider view: MMP ten years on’, in S. Levine and N.S Roberts (eds), The Baubles of Office: The New Zealand General Election of 2005. Wellington: Victoria University Press, 2007. Vowles, J.P, Aimer, J., Karp, S and A. Sullivan. Proportional Representation on Trial. New Zealand: Auckland University Press, 1999. Read More