Combining proportional and majoritarian democracy: An institutional design proposal
The article proposes a new way to combine the “proportional” and “majoritarian” visions of democracy. The proposal blends elements of mixed electoral systems, parliamentarism, presidentialism and bicameralism. Voters are given a single vote to make two simultaneous choices: one about the proportiona...
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/2053168016665640 |
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doaj-446ce5ca276c4b55bfa3e02786249f5e2020-11-25T02:50:02ZengSAGE PublishingResearch & Politics2053-16802016-08-01310.1177/205316801666564010.1177_2053168016665640Combining proportional and majoritarian democracy: An institutional design proposalSteffen GanghofThe article proposes a new way to combine the “proportional” and “majoritarian” visions of democracy. The proposal blends elements of mixed electoral systems, parliamentarism, presidentialism and bicameralism. Voters are given a single vote to make two simultaneous choices: one about the proportional composition of the legislature and one about the two top parties forming a majoritarian “confidence chamber” embedded within the legislature. Only the majority in this chamber has the power to dismiss the cabinet in a vote of no-confidence. The proposed system virtually guarantees the feasibility of identifiable and stable one-party cabinets governing with shifting, issue-specific majorities in a highly proportional legislature. It is illustrated with respect to the 2013 federal election in Germany.https://doi.org/10.1177/2053168016665640 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Steffen Ganghof |
spellingShingle |
Steffen Ganghof Combining proportional and majoritarian democracy: An institutional design proposal Research & Politics |
author_facet |
Steffen Ganghof |
author_sort |
Steffen Ganghof |
title |
Combining proportional and majoritarian democracy: An institutional design proposal |
title_short |
Combining proportional and majoritarian democracy: An institutional design proposal |
title_full |
Combining proportional and majoritarian democracy: An institutional design proposal |
title_fullStr |
Combining proportional and majoritarian democracy: An institutional design proposal |
title_full_unstemmed |
Combining proportional and majoritarian democracy: An institutional design proposal |
title_sort |
combining proportional and majoritarian democracy: an institutional design proposal |
publisher |
SAGE Publishing |
series |
Research & Politics |
issn |
2053-1680 |
publishDate |
2016-08-01 |
description |
The article proposes a new way to combine the “proportional” and “majoritarian” visions of democracy. The proposal blends elements of mixed electoral systems, parliamentarism, presidentialism and bicameralism. Voters are given a single vote to make two simultaneous choices: one about the proportional composition of the legislature and one about the two top parties forming a majoritarian “confidence chamber” embedded within the legislature. Only the majority in this chamber has the power to dismiss the cabinet in a vote of no-confidence. The proposed system virtually guarantees the feasibility of identifiable and stable one-party cabinets governing with shifting, issue-specific majorities in a highly proportional legislature. It is illustrated with respect to the 2013 federal election in Germany. |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1177/2053168016665640 |
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