Types of electoral systems: shortcomings and advantages

The existence of a democratic regime directly provides for the possibility of selecting the optimal system of elections. Depending on how the appointment process is organized for a public management position, the types of electoral systems are distinguished : proportional, majority and mixed. But what are the principles of their differentiation, what are their shortcomings and advantages? Let's try to consider.

The concept and types of electoral systems

As noted earlier, democracy implies that part of the power (or sovereignty) of the people passes to their representatives. Such a process is carried out directly or indirectly. The direct process of transfer is based on elections, and indirect - through previously selected representatives (for example, presidential elections in a parliamentary republic or procedure of primaries).

As a rule, in a democratic state there is a set of legal norms that regulates the transfer of a part of sovereignty. It includes rules and techniques that can be recognized as legal, and as a result of which legitimate authorities are formed. All of the above allows us to conclude:

The electoral system is a certain process of selecting bodies of representative power regulated by law .

The variety of methods and rules allows us to derive the following types of electoral systems: proportional, majority and mixed.

The proportional system is characterized by the maximum consideration of the opinion of the electorate. The essence of this type is that voters cast their votes for the party participating in the elections. At the same time, the reputation of the party as a whole, and not of its individual members, comes first. At the same time, the party proposes to the attention of the electorate a list of party members representing the interests of electors in the elected body of government. Also for this species is characteristic of the establishment of an "electoral threshold" in elections. Such a rule ensures the passage of the largest parties. It should be noted that, depending on the norms of the state, the threshold can be set at 1% (for example, in Israel), and in 12% (Sweden). This means that the party that received as a result of voting a smaller percentage of the electorate's sympathies does not go to the elected body, and the votes recruited go to those parties that have passed the threshold. It should be noted that the transfer process is carried out in proportion to the number of voters' sympathy. Hence the name of the system.

The majority . Unlike the first, it is 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". At the same time, for one district, any party nominates 1 representative. Elections take place in two rounds: the first determines two favorites, in the second - the future representative of a single-member district.

The mixed system. Its appearance was due to the imperfection of the first two species. As a rule, states that have adopted this type, apply at once two systems - both proportional and majority.

Types of electoral systems - shortcomings

Political scientists and jurists note that the use of only majority or only proportional systems leads to the creation of some problems.

With the consolidation and functioning of only the majority system, one of the basic features of democracy is violated - "the majority's acceptance of the position of the minority". This provision is concluded that the victory in the elections belongs to the person who collected 50% plus one vote. It is understood that the winner will take into account in his activity the opinion of the remaining voters.

In contrast to this shortcoming, a proportional system functions. But it is not perfect either. Its main drawback is the possible many parties that won elections. Despite the fact that in this case a real political situation is reflected, a situation can arise in which it will be impossible to elect a president (for example, in a parliamentary republic) or form a government.

These types of electoral systems can be compensated only when using 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 various methods of election. Thus, the majority system is used to determine the President in the Russian Federation . When forming the State Duma - mixed, and for the Federation Council - the nomination of heads of legislative and executive power of the subjects of the Federation.

In turn, the subjects of the federation also apply a mixed system, characteristic of the State Duma. At the same time, 50% are elected by majority system, 50% by proportional. Consequently, the types of electoral systems in the Russian Federation are represented by two types - majority and mixed. This approach is due to the practical need for effective formation of authorities in the semi-presidential republic, which is the Russian Federation.

Summarizing all of the above, it should be noted: the concept and types of electoral systems play a decisive role in the establishment of authorities and the transfer of authority to them to represent and manage the affairs of the country .