Quotes & Sayings About Proportional Representation

There is nothing wrong with someone who receives less than a majority of the vote being elected a representative. This is almost by definition the result in a system of proportional representation that elects multiple representatives from the same geographical unit and adopts voting rules that allow numerical minorities without the voting clout ever to win a race in a single-member district to elect a favorite in a multimember district. The designof multi-member institutions, like legislatures, offers many possibilities for creativity if one's desire is to maximize the number of people who feel some sense of genuine linkage with their putative "representatives. — Sanford Levinson

I used to be a fan of proportional representation, but I am not at all now I have seen it in action. — Helen Suzman

Many Americans do not realize that we could institute proportional representation for most elections in the U.S. without amending the Constitution. In helping to educate the public about the potential for voting system reform, CVD can play a central role in a pro-democracy movement right here in America! — John Anderson

The way it had originally worked was that each of the three estates got an equal say: each had an equal number of "deputies" to represent it. This meant that the clergy and the nobility together could outvote anything that the rest, collectively known as "the Third Estate," wanted; the idea of proportional representation - or any meaningful voice for the people - was — Tom Reiss

Bisexuality is the proportional representation of sexuality in a world where most of us - straight or gay - operate a first-past-the-post system. — Mark Steyn

An American parliamentary system with proportional representation wouldn't immediately or inexorably lead to a flourishing social democracy, but it would at least correct the overrepresentation of an ideological minority and cut down on intentional tactical economic sabotage. — Alex Pareene

We have a Scottish Parliament and National Assembly for Wales, both elected by fairer votes - involving proportional representation. — Charles Kennedy

I myself share with the Conservative Party a profound dislike for such fandangles as proportional representation. — Hugh Dalton

You know," he added reflectively, "we've got a much easier job now than we should have had fifty years ago. If we'd had to modernise a country then it would have meant constitutional monarchy, bicameral legislature, proportional representation, women's suffrage, independent judicature, freedom of the press, referendums ... "
"What is all that?" asked the Emperor.
"Just a few ideas that have ceased to be modern. — Evelyn Waugh

There is no proportional representation requirement in the Equal Protection Clause. — Cass Sunstein

[Proportional representation is a] device for defeating democracy, the principle of which was that the majority should rule, and for bringing faddists of all kinds into Parliament, and establishing groups and disintegrating parties. — David Lloyd George