LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Proportional Representation: Voting
built 607 days ago
More recently, the Democratic Audit of Australia, a group of academics from the Australian National University... called for the introduction of an upper house and proportional representation. In a paper entitled "An upper house for Queensland: an idea whose time has come" [PDF], they cited a lack of responsibility amongst government ministers, a culture of government secrecy and an inability to scrutinise the actions of the government as arguments in favour of reform. They note that "the introduction of proportional representation would not only make the parliament more democratically representative, but would also help to strengthen its capacity to hold the government to account", but also comment that a PR-elected unicameral parliament would still need the oversight of a second house of parliament dedicated to reviewing the actions of the government of the day.
Source:
A form of proportional representation has been used in Belgium since 1899. Besides Belgium, Italy and Israel, some form of PR is used in Australia, Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Venezuela and many other countries around the world.
Source:
The article discusses the book "Proportional Representation. Its Dangers and Defects," by George Horwill. As a hangover from utilitarianism one still speculates upon the problem of who shall be represented in a representative government. Inspired by John Stuart Mill, critics lament that popular government is a lying phrase when parliaments reflect only the majority will. Analysis may have shown that public opinion is a mere euphemism for public prejudice, yet men stubbornly fret to give it expression.
Source:
What seems most familiar is that the Island used to have its own form of proportional representation. The first use of dual member ridings began in 1893 and continued in different forms until nine years ago.
Source:
There are many other electoral reform campaigns already in the works -- so why add proportional representation to an already substantial list? In short, because other reforms won't do what PR does: open the two-party duopoly to third, fourth, and fifth parties winning representation.
Source:
MORE ABOUT
Voting