CONTENTS
List of Tables and Figures = ⅷ
Preface and Acknowledgements = xi
1 The Study of Electoral Systems = 1
1.1 Why study electoral systems? = 1
1.2 Classifying electoral systems = 4
1.3 Conflicting views on the meaning of 'representation' = 11
1.4 Built-in distortions to electoral systems = 12
1.5 Conclusion = 18
2 The Single Member Plurality System and its Cousins = 19
2.1 The single member plurality system in practice = 21
2.2 Britain's long road to electoral reform = 31
2.3 The electoral reform debate in other SMP countries = 37
2.4 Other plurality systems = 44
2.5 Conclusion = 47
3 Majoritarian Electoral Systems : Two-Round Systems and the Alternative Vote = 49
3.1 The two-round system = 50
3.2 The alternative vote system = 55
3.3 Assessing majoritarian electoral systems = 60
3.4 Conclusion = 67
4 The List Systems of Proportional Representation = 68
4.1 The origins of PR list systems = 70
4.2 Electoral formulas : largest remainders and highest averages = 71
4.3 District magnitude : constituency size and two-tier districting = 79
4.4 Ballot structure : closed and open lists = 82
4.5 The operation of two list systems = 89
4.6 Conclusion = 95
5 Mixed Electoral Systems = 97
5.1 The operation of Germany's mixed electoral system = 98
5.2 Proportionality, parties and politics in Germany = 106
5.3 Other mixed electoral systems = 112
5.4 Conclusion = 119
6 The Single Transferable Vote System of Proportional Representation = 121
6.1 STV in Ireland = 123
6.2 How STV works = 126
6.3 The consequences of STV for the political system = 139
6.4 Conclusion = 150
7 The Consequences of Electoral Systems = 153
7.1 Proportionality profiles of different electoral systems = 153
7.2 Electoral systems and party systems = 161
7.3 Parliament as a 'microcosm'? = 165
7.4 The strategic effects of electoral systems = 168
7.5 Conclusion = 174
8 Electoral Reform and the Choice of an Electoral System = 175
8.1 The politics of electoral system design = 176
8.2 Conflicting academic advice to electoral engineers = 181
8.3 Measuring voter attitudes towards electoral systems = 183
8.4 Conclusion = 190
9 Electoral Systems and Stability = 192
9.1 PR and government stability and accountability = 193
9.2 PR and the rise of extremist parties = 198
9.3 System complexity, voter confusion and electoral behaviour = 201
9.4 Is there a trade-off between proportionality and stability? = 204
9.5 Conclusion = 207
Glossary = 208
Notes and References = 213
Bibliography = 217
Index = 234
