Semi-proportional representation in the context of "Mixed electoral system"

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⭐ Core Definition: Semi-proportional representation

Semi-proportional representation characterizes multi-winner electoral systems which allow some representation of smaller parties or candidates, but don't reflect the strength of the competing political forces close to proportional to the votes they receive. Semi-proportional voting systems are between proportional systems like party-list proportional representation or single transferable vote and winner-take-all systems. Examples of semi-proportional systems include the single non-transferable vote, limited voting, and parallel voting.

Because there are many measures of proportionality, and because there is no objective threshold, opinions may differ on what constitutes a semi-proportional system as opposed to a non-proportional one or a fully proportional system.

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👉 Semi-proportional representation in the context of Mixed electoral system

A mixed electoral system is one that uses different electoral systems to elect different seats in a legislature. Most often, this involves a First Past the Post combined with a proportional component. The results of the combination may be mixed-member proportional (MMP), where the overall results of the elections are proportional, or mixed-member majoritarian, in which case the overall results are semi-proportional, retaining disproportionalities from the majoritarian component. Systems that use multiple types of combinations are sometimes called supermixed.

Mixed-member systems also often combine local representation (most often single-member constituencies) with regional or national (multi-member constituencies) representation, having multiple tiers. This also means voters often elect different types of representatives who might have different types of constituencies. Some representatives may be elected by personal elections where voters vote for candidates, and some by list elections where voters vote for electoral lists of parties.

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Semi-proportional representation in the context of House of Representatives (Japan)

The House of Representatives (衆議院, Shūgiin; Japanese pronunciation: [ɕɯː.ɡʲiꜜ.iɴ, -ŋʲiꜜ-]) is the lower house of the National Diet of Japan. The House of Councillors is the upper house.The composition of the House is established by Article 41 [ja] and Article 42 [ja] of the Constitution of Japan. The House of Representatives has 465 members, elected for a four-year term. Of these, 176 members are elected from 11 multi-member constituencies by a party-list system of proportional representation, and 289 are elected from single-member constituencies.

The overall voting system used to elect the House of Representatives is a parallel system, a form of semi-proportional representation. Under a parallel system, the allocation of list seats does not take into account the outcome in the single seat constituencies. Therefore, the overall allocation of seats in the House of Representatives is not fullly proportional, to the advantage of larger parties.

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Semi-proportional representation in the context of Single non-transferable vote

Single non-transferable vote or SNTV is a multi-winner electoral system in which each voter casts a single vote. Being a semi-proportional parallel to first-past-the-post voting, under SNTV small parties, as well as large parties, have a chance to be represented. Under SNTV, a single party seldom will take all seats in a city or district. SNTV is a combination of multi-member districts and each voter casting just one vote.

SNTV can be considered a variant of dot voting where each voter has only one point to assign. It can also be seen as a variant of limited voting where each elector has one vote, or as a simple version of Single Transferable Voting where votes are not transferred. Unlike block voting or limited voting, where voters can cast multiple votes, under SNTV each voter casts just one.

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Semi-proportional representation in the context of National Assembly of Hungary

The National Assembly (Hungarian: Országgyűlés, lit.'Country Assembly' [ˈorsaːɡɟyːleːʃ]) is the parliament of Hungary. The unicameral body consists of 199 (386 between 1990 and 2014) members elected to four-year terms. Election of members is done using a semi-proportional representation: a mixed-member majoritarian representation with partial compensation via transfer votes and mixed single vote; involving single-member districts and one list vote; parties must win at least 5% of the popular vote in order to gain list seats. The Assembly includes 25 standing committees to debate and report on introduced bills and to supervise the activities of the ministers. The Constitutional Court of Hungary has the right to challenge legislation on the grounds of constitutionality.

Under communist rule, the National Assembly existed as the supreme organ of state power as the sole branch of government in Hungary, and per the principle of unified power, all state organs were subservient to it. Since 1902, the assembly has met in the Hungarian Parliament Building in Budapest.

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Semi-proportional representation in the context of Majority bonus system

A majority bonus system (MBS, also called a minority-friendly majoritarian system) is a mixed-member, partly-proportional electoral system that gives extra seats in a legislature to the party with a plurality or majority of seats. Typically, this is done with the aim of providing government stability, particularly in parliamentary systems.

The size of the majority bonus can vary substantially, is usually a fixed number of seats, and may be conditional on the number of votes for each party. However, a relatively small majority bonus (such as in the reinforced proportionality system of Greece) may not always guarantee that a single party can form a government. At the same time, as the majority bonus is allocated in a non-compensatory manner, if the majority bonus is as high as 50%, and the largest party which has 50% of the popular vote receives it, this party may win as many as 75% of all seats available. This differentiates it from the similar majority jackpot system.

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Semi-proportional representation in the context of Mixed-member proportional representation

Mixed-member proportional representation (MMP or MMPR) is a type of representation provided by some mixed electoral systems which combine local winner-take-all elections with a compensatory tier with party lists, in a way that produces proportional representation overall. Like proportional representation, MMP is not a single system, but a principle and goal of several similar systems. Some systems designed to achieve proportionality are still called mixed-member proportional, even if they generally fall short of full proportionality. In this case, they provide semi-proportional representation.

In typical MMP systems, voters get two votes: one to decide the representative for their single-seat constituency, and one for a political party, but some countries use single vote variants. Seats in the legislature are filled first by the successful constituency candidates, and second, by party candidates based on the percentage of nationwide or region-wide votes that each party received. The constituency representatives are usually elected using first-past-the-post voting (FPTP). The nationwide or regional party representatives are, in most jurisdictions, drawn from published party lists, similar to party-list proportional representation. To gain a nationwide representative, parties may be required to achieve a minimum number of constituency seats, a minimum percentage of the nationwide party vote, or both.

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