The Democratic DeficitThe Democratic Deficit

Doug BrownDoug Brown

St Francis Xavier UniversitySt Francis Xavier University

Jan. 2006Jan. 2006

Democratic DeficitDemocratic Deficit

What is the Democratic Deficit?What is the Democratic Deficit?

Causes and EffectsCauses and Effects

Reform proposalsReform proposals

Prospects and potential for changeProspects and potential for change

What is the Democratic Deficit?What is the Democratic Deficit?

Original term referred to European Union Original term referred to European Union institutions that had little or no electoral institutions that had little or no electoral legitimacylegitimacy

Broader use of term, to mean widespread Broader use of term, to mean widespread dissatisfaction with representative dissatisfaction with representative democracy.democracy.

Key Indicators of Key Indicators of the “democratic deficit”the “democratic deficit”

Declining trust in Government Declining trust in Government

Declining sense of “efficacy” by votersDeclining sense of “efficacy” by voters

Declining voter turn-out, especially youthDeclining voter turn-out, especially youth

Alternative Explanations for Alternative Explanations for Democratic Decline (Perlin)Democratic Decline (Perlin)

Inability of Governments to deliver to Inability of Governments to deliver to economic expectations, since c. 1975 economic expectations, since c. 1975 Unprecedented degree and pace of social Unprecedented degree and pace of social changechangeGreater personal and family insecurityGreater personal and family insecurityMedia trends: aggressive investigation, Media trends: aggressive investigation, fragmented audiencefragmented audienceSocio-econ correlations: income + education Socio-econ correlations: income + education (+ age) = participation(+ age) = participation

Reform ProposalsReform Proposals

Electoral systemElectoral system

Fixed election datesFixed election dates

Internal Party democracy Internal Party democracy

Party financingParty financing

House of Commons processHouse of Commons process

Senate electionSenate election

Deliberative democracyDeliberative democracy

Electoral System Reform:Electoral System Reform:Do we need it?Do we need it?

Parties with thresholds of support under Parties with thresholds of support under 20% nationally do not get many seats if 20% nationally do not get many seats if support evenly spreadsupport evenly spread

Poor representation by women, Poor representation by women, aboriginalsaboriginals

1993, 1997 and 2000 elections:1993, 1997 and 2000 elections: Concentration by region: Liberals in Ontario; Concentration by region: Liberals in Ontario;

BQ in Quebec; Alliance in westBQ in Quebec; Alliance in west

Electoral System Reform Electoral System Reform AlternativesAlternatives

Majority / PluralityMajority / PluralityFPTP – USA, Canada, UK, IndiaFPTP – USA, Canada, UK, India

Alternative & Two-Ballot systems – Australia, Alternative & Two-Ballot systems – Australia, FranceFrance

Proportional RepresentationProportional RepresentationParty lists – Spain, ScandinaviaParty lists – Spain, Scandinavia

Transferable vote – Australia SenateTransferable vote – Australia Senate MixedMixed

Territorial Districts plus Party Lists – Germany, Territorial Districts plus Party Lists – Germany, Ireland, New ZealandIreland, New Zealand

Characteristics of Current Electoral Characteristics of Current Electoral System (SMP/FPTP)…System (SMP/FPTP)…PRO’s PRO’s

Superior representation of individual Superior representation of individual districts districts

Produces a majority 7 out of 10 timesProduces a majority 7 out of 10 times

Relatively simple to understand, quickly Relatively simple to understand, quickly countedcounted

Characteristics of Current Electoral Characteristics of Current Electoral System (SMP/FPTP)…System (SMP/FPTP)…ConsCons

Does not accurately reflect party support Does not accurately reflect party support (especially NDP). Huge constraint on entry (especially NDP). Huge constraint on entry of new partiesof new partiesConstrains other-than “majority” Constrains other-than “majority” candidates (women, visible minorities, etc)candidates (women, visible minorities, etc)Probably contributes to Liberal Party Probably contributes to Liberal Party dominancedominanceDistorts regional representation, adding Distorts regional representation, adding tensions to national unitytensions to national unity

PR ModelsPR ModelsComparing results in 38Comparing results in 38thth Parliament Parliament

ActualActual

LIbs LIbs 135135 ConsCons 99 99 BlocBloc 54 54 NDPNDP 1919 IndepIndep 1 1 TOTAL 308TOTAL 308

Pure PR results (5% Pure PR results (5% party threshold)*party threshold)*

LibsLibs 121 121 ConsCons 9696 BlocBloc 4040 NDPNDP 5151 OthersOthers 0 0 TOTAL TOTAL

308308*If 3% threshold, Greens *If 3% threshold, Greens

get 14 seatsget 14 seats

Chrétien’s reform of party financing Chrétien’s reform of party financing

Restricts corporate and union donationsRestricts corporate and union donations

Encourages more individual donationsEncourages more individual donations

Spending limits for candidatesSpending limits for candidates

More reimbursement for candidate More reimbursement for candidate expensesexpenses

$ 1.75 per vote, per year as funds to each $ 1.75 per vote, per year as funds to each party between elections party between elections

Paul Martin’s 2004 AgendaPaul Martin’s 2004 Agenda

Free votes in Parliament and looser party Free votes in Parliament and looser party discipline overall discipline overall

Bigger role for parliamentary committees Bigger role for parliamentary committees

Open to more input to Senate and Open to more input to Senate and Supreme Court appointmentsSupreme Court appointments

More consultation and deliberation by/with More consultation and deliberation by/with the general publicthe general public

[but no commitment re electoral system][but no commitment re electoral system]

Harper ConservativesHarper Conservatives (2006 election platform) (2006 election platform)

Further controls on party and candidate financing Further controls on party and candidate financing (see Accountability Act) (see Accountability Act)

Fairer party nomination racesFairer party nomination races

Fixed election datesFixed election dates

Senate elections (proposed 8-year terms)Senate elections (proposed 8-year terms)

Free parliamentary vote on same sex marriageFree parliamentary vote on same sex marriage

More free votes in generalMore free votes in general

More power to parliamentary committeesMore power to parliamentary committees

More “rep by pop” in House of CommonsMore “rep by pop” in House of Commons