Final answer:
To accurately represent a variety of political views in a legislature, a proportional representation system is more effective than a single-member district, plurality electoral system. Proportional representation ensures even small parties obtain seats proportional to their vote share, whereas plurality systems may lead to larger parties dominating and minor parties being underrepresented.
Step-by-step explanation:
Choosing Between Electoral Systems
If your concern is to have an accurate representation of the greatest variety of political views in a national legislature, a proportional representation system would be the preferable choice. In this system, the percentage of votes a party receives is directly reflected in the number of seats they secure in the legislature, ensuring that even smaller parties have the opportunity to be represented. This stands in contrast to a single-member district, plurality electoral system, commonly known as 'first-past-the-post', where the candidate with the most votes wins, often leading to a predominance of larger parties and underrepresentation of minor parties. In the Minnesota Senate race example, a candidate won with less than a majority vote, illustrating the potential for misrepresentation with plurality systems.
Many countries have implemented mixed electoral systems that combine elements of both proportional representation and plurality methods to address this issue. For example, a mixed system may allow for most seats to be filled by plurality voting in single-member districts, with additional seats at the national level filled using proportional representation. Such a system seeks to balance out distortions in representation and ensure that the legislature more accurately reflects the national electorate's preferences.
It is important to consider that while proportional representation may offer a wider reflection of political views, there may be thresholds set to prevent very small parties from gaining representation, and the relationship between legislators and constituents can differ based on whether single-member or multimember districts are used.