Is the UK governance system different to rest of europe's? It seems they all have ''coalition governments''. what's that mean anyway?
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Anonymous2009-12-28 8:06
In the UK, for Westminster elections, we use an electoral system called 'first past the post'. What that basically means is that our political parties field candidates who compete for the 646 seats across the nation. The party that gains the majority of these seats forms the government, even if they haven't received a majority of the overall vote. e.g., Labour, despite only receiving a 35.3% share of the vote, won the 2005 election due to winning the most seats.
However in some European countries their electoral system is one of Proportional Representation. Unlike first past the post, you cannot be the sole party in power unless you receive a 50%+ share of the vote. As such, countries that practice PR often find themselves governed by a coalition of parties.
Those that are for PR argue that it is a more pure and representative form of democracy; whereas those against would likely retort that PR creates a weak government as well as giving legitimacy to extremist parties.
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Anonymous2009-12-28 11:27
>>2
Thanks so much! Which system do you prefer PR or first past the post?
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Anonymous2009-12-28 19:27
>>3
Well I don't have any experience living under a government of PR but, having said that, I'd personally quite like to see the UK experiment with a Single Transferable Vote form of PR in Westminster elections; though I've no idea if it would be successful.
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Anonymous2009-12-31 11:33
>>4
American here. Nothing wrong with Westminster, what you people need to do is have REQUIRED PRIMARIES. Take the power away from party bosses and nominate your own candidates for your party.
That is the only thing that Britain needs fixing.
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Anonymous2009-12-31 13:47
I think we should have a piratocracy, rule by pirates. Every so often they come together to elect a pirate king but it's always a draw because all the pirates vote for themselves.