FOUNDATION FOR NATIONAL RENEWAL

Crafting a Model Constitution

TASK TEN - Electorates and Voting Systems

1. In comparison with the last few tasks, the Task for this month will be relatively simple. A choice between two alternatives.

2. Your responses to previous tasks have indicated a preference for a two-tiered system of government. That is, somewhere between 50 and 100 regional parliaments based more on natural boundaries rather than on numbers of voters; with a National Parliament as the sole law-making body in the country.

3. Because the regions would be delineated using natural features or for socio-economic reasons, it is probable that some regions would be different in terms of voter population. Consequently, there may be more 'basic electorates' in one region than in another and therefore, slightly larger parliaments. Furthermore, representation in the National Parliament could continue to be based on approximate numbers of voters in each region.

4. The following paragraphs outline two systems. It seems advisable to make a tentative choice between these two systems now to facilitate discussion of the tasks that are to follow. The Task for this month is to choose between these two systems.

Proposal A

5. Approximately 40, single-representative electorates of about 5000 voters would be used to elect single-house, Regional Parliaments. Representatives would be elected for a term of four years using the 'voluntary-preferential' voting system. Elections would be staggered to avoid the disruption of 'national election time' and to provide a steady stream of new talent into the parliaments.

6. Each electorate would have the power to recall their representative from the Regional Parliament in the event of misconduct, incompetence or for consistently voting in a way unacceptable to the electorate. Such a recall would be triggered by the submission of a petition containing 2500 voter signatures (50%).

7. The National Parliament, consisting of a House of Representatives and a Senate, would be elected by the Regional Parliaments from among the members of the regional parliaments. Each Region would have two Representatives in the Lower House and one Senator. All would be elected for a term of four years using 'voluntary-preferential' voting.

8. Representatives would be eligible for election to the National Parliament after two years in the Regional Parliament. (But would probably have served closer to four years before being elected to the National Parliament.)

9. Regional Parliaments would have the power to recall and replace any member guilty of misconduct, incompetence or for consistently voting in a manner unacceptable to the Region.

10. Senators and Members of the National Parliament would be required to brief their Regional Parliament on two days per month. This would facilitate the accountability of representatives to the Regional Parliaments.

11. When a member of a regional parliament is elected to the National Parliament, a new election would be conducted in that representative's 'basic electorate'.

12. Elections to the National Parliament would also be staggered to avoid disruption and to provide a steady stream of new talent into the parliament.

Proposal B

13. Approximately eight electorates of 25,000 voters would be used to elect single-house, Regional Parliaments. The 'proportional-representation' voting system would be used to elect five representatives from each electorate.

14. The bi-cameral, National Parliament would consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The Senate would be elected using the 'proportional-representation' system to elect 50 Senators. Five Senators would be elected from each of 10 electorates formed by grouping regions to provide electorates of approximately 1,250,000 voters.

15. The House of Representatives would also be elected using the 'proportional-representation' system to elect 125 representatives. Five Representatives would be elected from each of 25 electorates of 500,000 voters (a grouping of twenty 'basic electorates').

16. Senators and Representatives would be elected for four years. Elections would be staggered to avoid the 'national election time' disruption but there would be no provision for recall.

Advantages and Disadvantages

17. The obvious advantage of the 'proportional-representation' voting system in allowing representation of minorities must be weighed against the intimate representation and immediate accountability possible with small electorates.

18. It could also be argued that minorities may be better served by good governance recognising the needs of minorities rather than by having representatives in parliament (who may well be ineffective).

19. Furthermore, elections conducted using 'proportional-representation' voting are not conducive to the recall of a representative for unacceptable performance. This is because, to be fair, a new election would need to be held for all five representatives from that electorate.

20. 'Direct election' of representatives to the National Parliament would be the first choice of most people. However, the obvious attraction of this must be weighed against the disadvantages of having overly large parliaments or overly large electorates.

21. Small electorates allow independents and small parties with limited means to adequately contest elections. Large electorates advantage major political parties because small parties and independents usually do not have the resources necessary to campaign across large electorates.

The Task

22. The Task for this month is to choose between these two models. If you prefer some other model, please provide sufficient detail to allow assessment.

23. However, we should not get bogged down on this issue. The detail could well change as we progress through other aspects of governance.

24. Your response by the end of February would be appreciated.