The document discusses various electoral systems suitable for a parliamentary form of government, emphasizing the importance of inclusiveness and stability in democratic institutions. It outlines four basic options for democratic electoral systems, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of each, including single-seat local constituencies, mixed systems, and party list elections. The key takeaway is the need to balance representation of diverse citizen groups with the need for stable majorities in parliament.

1. Electoral Systems
-Basic forms and impact on inclusiveness and
stability of the democratic institutions
in a ministerial form of government –
Presented by Dr. Peter Koeppinger,
Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung
International Expert on Government Systems

2. Electoral Systems, p2
The parliament in a “parliamentary system” is much
more powerful than in the presidential form of
government because it elects the head of government
and controls the performance of the administration.
For an electoral system “suitable to a ministerial form
of government” (parliamentary system) it is therefore
even more important than in a presidential system that
it provides all relevant groups of citizens with the
opportunity, to have their representatives elected
into the parliament.

3. Electoral Systems, p3
This is also acknowledged by the request in
the FAB that the electoral system “shall allow
democratic participation”.
The electoral system has to avoid situations
in which only the majority of the citizens in
the whole area or in its divided constituencies
have a real chance of getting their
representatives elected.

4. Electoral Systems, p4
However, in order to provide the parliament
with the opportunity of mustering stable
majorities for the election and continuous
support of a stable government
the electoral system has also to avoid
outcomes with a high fractionalization of the
parliament into numerous small groups.

5. Electoral Systems, p5
So – let us have a view on the basic options for
a democratic electoral system (one person,
one vote):

6. Electoral Systems, p6
• Option 1: All members of the parliament are elected in one-seat local
constituencies (districts) by simple majority. In this example you see 40 members of
a regional parliament elected each one in his separate constituency. The election
process is simple: each voter has one vote. Advantage: The constituencies are
small, the voters know the candidates. Risk: Will the winners from the different
constituencies work together in the parliament? What binds them together? Can
genuine political parties play a role – or is it just about representation of local
issues?

7. Electoral Systems, p7
• Option 2: Mixed system direct election and party list, separated. Part of the
members (i.e. 50%) are elected in local districts, the other part through party lists
of genuinely principled political parties for the whole country/region. Each voter
has two votes: one for the representative of his local district, one for a party list.
List
1, 20
per-
sons
List 2,
20
per-
sons
List
3, 20
per-
sons
20 directly elected district representatives
20 representatives from party lists elected
in accordance to their percentage of votes

8. Electoral Systems, p8
Option 3
Party A (blue) wins 45% of the votes = 18 seats, Party B (green)
35% = 14 seats, Party C (pink) 20 % = 8 seats
Party A with
18 seats, 15
Winners in
Districts, 3 top
From its
Party list
Party B with
14 seats,
4 winners in
Districts, 10
Top from its
Party list
Party C
With 8
Seats, 1
Winner
From
District, 7
Top from
Its party list
Mixed system direct elections and proportional
elections combined, each voter has two votes, one in
His district, one for a party list

9. Electoral Systems, p9
Option 4: All members of the regional parliament are elected through party lists of
genuinely principled political parties for the whole country/region. Simple electoral
process: Each voter has one vote. Advantage: genuinely principled political parties will
play a strong role. Disadvantages: Representation of regions/provinces not sure, no
direct accountability to electorate.
40 representatives of party lists elected according their percentage of votes
List 1,
40
persons
List
2, 40
persons
List
3, 40
persons
List
4, 40
persons
List
5, 40
persons

10. Electoral Systems, p10
• Option 4: The election of the members of the parliament takes place in multi-seat constituencies
within the existing provinces through provincial party lists under genuinely principled political
parties in a proportional way. Simple electoral process: Each voter has one vote. Advantages:
Gives parties a strong role in the provinces, where they are strong. Elected representatives are
accountable to citizens in their respective provinces. 40 members of parliament are elected
from provincial party lists according to their percentage of votes in the respective provinces.
Province A
6 representatives
Province B
4 representatives Province C
9 representatives
Province D
11 representatives
Province F
5 representatives
Province E
5 representat.