Legal Definitions - proportional representation

Proportional representation is an electoral system designed to ensure that the distribution of seats in a legislative body closely reflects the proportion of votes cast for each political party or group. The fundamental goal is to create a legislature that mirrors the overall political preferences of the electorate, so that if a party receives, for instance, 25% of the total votes, it should ideally secure approximately 25% of the available seats. This system aims to give smaller parties a voice and reduce the likelihood of a party winning a majority of seats with only a minority of the popular vote.

Here are some examples illustrating how proportional representation works:

• National Parliamentary Election: Imagine a country with 100 parliamentary seats holding a general election. In this election, Party A receives 40% of the national vote, Party B receives 30%, Party C receives 20%, and Party D receives 10%. Under a proportional representation system, Party A would likely be allocated around 40 seats, Party B around 30 seats, Party C around 20 seats, and Party D around 10 seats. This outcome directly reflects the percentage of votes each party garnered nationwide, ensuring that the legislative body accurately represents the electorate's political diversity.

• Local City Council Election: Consider a city that uses proportional representation to elect its 20-member city council. After the votes are counted, the "Green Future" party receives 15% of the votes, the "Urban Progress" party receives 45%, and the "Community First" party receives 40%. With proportional representation, the Green Future party would likely secure 3 seats (15% of 20), Urban Progress would get 9 seats (45% of 20), and Community First would receive 8 seats (40% of 20). This ensures that even a party with significant minority support, like Green Future, has a voice and representation on the council, reflecting its base among the city's residents.

• Professional Association Board Election: A large professional association with 50 board seats decides to use proportional representation for its annual elections. Three main caucuses compete: the "Innovation & Growth Caucus," the "Member Welfare Caucus," and the "Ethical Practice Caucus." In the election, the Innovation & Growth Caucus wins 30% of the votes, the Member Welfare Caucus wins 50%, and the Ethical Practice Caucus wins 20%. Under this system, the Innovation & Growth Caucus would secure 15 seats (30% of 50), the Member Welfare Caucus would get 25 seats (50% of 50), and the Ethical Practice Caucus would receive 10 seats (20% of 50). This ensures that the board accurately reflects the diverse priorities and support levels of the different member groups, giving each a voice proportionate to their electoral strength within the association.