Democracy, Parliament and Electoral Systems

Mary Anne Griffith-Traversy is former Deputy Clerk of the Canadian House of Commons and is the author of Democracy, Parliament and Electoral Systems (Pluto Press, 2003).

Foreword by Arthur Donahoe, QC, Secretary-General, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, 1992 — 2001


Preface


1. Introduction: Democracy, Parliaments and Electoral Systems


PART I – BUILDING DEMOCRACY


2. Enhancing democracy: A Caribbean Perspective


3. Improving Transparency and Integrity in Political Processes


4. The Spanish Transition: Dictatorship to Democracy


PART II – MAKING PARLIAMENTS MORE EFFECTIVE


5. Strengthening Parliament’s Role


6. Do Unicameral or Bicameral Parliaments Function More Effectively?


7. Information Technology and Parliamentary Effectiveness


PART III – ELECTORAL SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES


8. Alternative Electoral Systems


9. Mandatory Voting: Pros and Cons


10. Gender Equality and Electoral Systems


11. Holding Elections: The Mechanics


12. External Influences on Electoral Processes


i) Exit Polls, Time Zones and Election Length


ii) Opinion Polls and the Media


PART IV – COUNTRY BASED INSIGHTS ON ELECTORAL ISSUES


13. Ethnically Divided Polities: The Case of Sri Lanka


14. The United States Presidential Election: Year 2000


15. Disputed Election Results: Various African Experiences


16. Evolving Electoral Systems: The Experience of Poland


17. The New Zealand Experience of Changing Electoral Systems


Afterword


Appendices