Final answer:
Proportional representation ensures that the political makeup of a legislature reflects the electorate's preferences more accurately than plurality systems, giving a voice to smaller parties and diverse perspectives. When not implemented, the consequence is often political dominance by a few large parties, leading to a lack of representation for a significant portion of voters.
Step-by-step explanation:
Justification for Proportional Representation
Implementing proportional representation in elections is often justified as it creates a more equitable reflection of voters' preferences in the legislature. In a system of proportional representation, if a political party receives a certain percentage of the vote, they are awarded the same percentage of seats in the government. This contrasts with the plurality or 'first-past-the-post' systems, where a candidate can win with less than a majority vote if multiple candidates split the vote.
When proportional representation is not employed, there can be significant consequences. One of the key concerns is that smaller parties are typically unable to gain representation, which discourages political diversity and can consolidate power within two dominant parties, as seen in the United States. This can lead to voter dissatisfaction because a proportion of the electorate will feel their views are not being represented. Furthermore, in plurality systems, it is possible for a candidate to be elected despite a majority of voters preferring other candidates, as their votes are divided among multiple options. Plurality rule thus sometimes undermines the democratic principle that the composition of the legislature should mirror the electorate's preferences.
Proportional representation encourages multi-party systems, giving voters more options and ensuring that minority viewpoints are represented in the legislature. It also has the potential to foster political stability by encouraging coalition governments, where different parties must work together to find common ground. Nonetheless, critics point out that proportional representation can also lead to fragmentation in politics and indecisive governance if too many small parties gain seats and complicate the legislative process.
Example of Proportional Representation
To illustrate, under a hypothetical proportional system, smaller parties would stand a chance to gain seats in the legislature, based on their share of the vote. For instance, if the Green Party secures 7 percent of the vote, they would receive 7 percent of the legislative seats, enabling them to present their issues in Congress and build support over time.