presence of a democratic regime expressly provides for selection of the optimum system of elections.Depending on how you organize the process of appointment to public management positions, distinguish the types of electoral systems: proportional, majoritarian, and mixed.But what are the principles of differentiation, what are their advantages and disadvantages?Let's consider.
Concept and types of electoral systems
As noted earlier, democracy means that the part of the authorities (or sovereignty) sends people to their representatives.This process is carried out directly or indirectly.Direct transfer process based on elections, and indirectly - through representatives of previously selected (for example, the election of the president in a parliamentary republic or procedure primaries).
As a rule, in a democratic country there is the body of law that regulates the transfer of the sovereignty.It includes rules and techniques that can be recognized as legitimate, and as a result of which form the legitimate government.All of the above leads to the conclusion:
electoral system - a specific, regulated by law, the process of selecting representative bodies .
Variety of techniques and rules allows us to derive the following types of electoral systems: proportional, majoritarian, and mixed.
proportional system is characterized by the maximum account of the views of the electorate.The essence of this kind lies in the fact that voters give their votes for the parties participating in the elections.At the same time in the first place there is the reputation of the party as a whole, rather than individual participants.The Party drew attention to electoral list of party members representing the interests of the electors in the elected bodies of power.Also for this type is characterized by the establishment of "electoral threshold" in the elections.Such a rule allows the passage of the larger parties.It should be noted that depending on the rules of the state, the threshold may be set as a 1% (as, for example, in Israel) and 12% (Sweden).This means that the party which has received a vote of sympathy smaller percentage of the electorate does not pass in the elected body and dialed her voice go to those parties that passed this threshold.It is worth noting that the transfer process is carried out in proportion to the number dialed sympathy voters.Hence the name of the system.
Majority .Unlike the first not based on the reputation of the party, but on the personal qualities of the candidate nominated by it.The election takes place in the so-called "single-member districts."Moreover, for any one district party nominates one representative.Elections take place in two rounds: the first two are determined by the favorite, the second - the next representative of single-mandate districts.
Mixed system.The appearance of it was due to the imperfection of the first two types.As a rule, the state adopted the style, apply two systems at once - and the proportional and majoritarian.
Types of electoral systems - the shortcomings
Political scientists and legal scholars have noted that the use of only majoritarian or proportional systems lead only to the creation of some of the problems.
When attaching and functioning only majority system violates one of the basic features of democracy - "taking into account the opinion of the majority to a minority position."Is the provision that the victory belongs to the person in the elections, gaining 50% plus one vote.It is understood that the winner will be considered in view of the activity of the remaining electors.
In contrast to this lack of proportional system operates.But it is not flawless.Its main drawback appears possible set of parties that won the elections.Despite the fact that in this case reflects a real political situation, you can create a situation in which it would be impossible to elect a president (for example, in a parliamentary republic), or to form a government.
These types of electoral systems can be compensated only when you use a third type - a mixed election method.And more and more states are inclined to use it, including the Russian Federation.
Types of electoral systems in the Russian Federation
Depending on which body is formed, the legislation of the Russian Federation applies different methods of election.So, to determine the President of the Russian Federation to use the majority system.In the formation of the State Duma - mixed, and to the Federation Council - the nomination of heads of legislative and executive bodies of subjects of the Federation.
In turn, the subjects of the federation as well use a mixed system, characteristic of the State Duma.At the same time 50% are elected by the majority system, 50% - by the proportional.Consequently, the types of electoral systems in the Russian Federation are represented by two types - majority and mixed.This approach is driven by practical necessity of effective formation of authorities in semi-presidential republic, and the way is the Russian Federation.
Summarizing all the above, it should be noted: concept and types of electoral systems play a crucial role in the formation of government and transfer of powers of representation and management of the affairs of the country .
