Audit of Institutional Structures and Electoral Systems at Local Level in six EU member states. Elva Hannan

Size: px
Start display at page:

Download "Audit of Institutional Structures and Electoral Systems at Local Level in six EU member states. Elva Hannan"

Transcription

1 FIFTH FRAMEWORK RESEARCH PROGRAMME ( ) Democratic Participation and Political Communication in Systems of Multi-level Governance Audit of Institutional Structures and Electoral Systems at Local Level in six EU member states Elva Hannan Public Opinion and Political Behaviour Programme Institute for the Study of Social Change University College Dublin Belfield Dublin 4 Work in Progress March 2003 Draft text not to be quoted without permission of the author.

2 Introduction Both institutional structures and electoral systems operate at an institutional and at an individual level 1. The factors affecting electoral participation can be divided into voter facilitation and voter mobilisation (Blondel, Sinnott and Svensson, 1998: ). This paper focuses on the institutional level with a view to describing the following variables in six EU member states: day of voting, age of franchise, candidacy, electoral systems, and municipal funding and expenditure. The comparison is limited to the six core EU member states of the Fifth Framework Research Programme project Democratic participation and political communication in systems of multi-level governance, namely Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Spain and United Kingdom. Day of voting in local elections Voting takes place on a Sunday in France, Germany and Spain. It takes place on a weekday in Denmark, Ireland and United Kingdom. Research suggests that, in the case of European Parliament elections, Sunday voting facilitates voter participation and it may be assumed that the same effect operates in the case of local elections (Blondel, Sinnott and Svensson, 1998; Eijk, Franklin et al., 1996). 1 For a discussion of the typology of variables affecting participation that results from combining these two distinctions, see Sinnott,

3 Table 1: Day of voting in local elections Denmark France Germany Ireland Spain United Kingdom Weekday Sunday Sunday Weekday Sunday Weekday Age of franchise at local level The age at which citizens are entitled to vote may affect both voter facilitation and voter mobilisation. A lower age qualification may increase facilitation (voters under eighteen being more likely to be residentially stable) but may reduce the level of mobilisation (voters under eighteen being more difficult to motivate politically). The qualifying age for voting in elections at local level is eighteen in most cases. The only exception occurs in the German Land of North-Rhine Westphalia where the voting age at local level is sixteen. 2

4 Table 2: Age of franchise at local level Denmark 18 France 18 Germany 16, 18 Ireland 18 Spain 18 United Kingdom 18 Source : (data from) Council of Europe, 1999 Candidacy at Local Level The range of candidate options available may also affect electoral participation at local level. Candidacy varies, first of all, between political parties, groups and independents. France has all three forms of candidacy. Candidacy in Denmark, Ireland, Spain and United Kingdom consists of only parties and independents. The age for qualification to stand for elections at local level is eighteen in five of the six countries. The exception is the United Kingdom, where the qualifying age is twentyone. The term of the office to which candidates are elected can be regarded as another variation in type of candidacy. It ranges from four to six years, with the most common term being four years, which is the case in Denmark, Spain and United Kingdom, while it is five years in Ireland and six years in France. The term of office 3

5 in local government in Germany varies between five and six years. It is five years in North-Rhine Westphalia and six years in Bavaria. Table 3: Candidacy at local level Type of candidacy Age of candidacy Term of office Denmark France Germany Ireland Spain United Kingdom Parties and independents Parties, groups and independents Parties and independents Parties and independents Parties and independents Parties and independents 18 4 years 18 6 years 18 5/6 years 18 5 years 18 4 years 21 4 years Source : (data from) Council of Europe,

6 Electoral Systems at Local Level Electoral systems contribute to greater or lesser degrees of mobilisation. There are substantial differences in the electoral systems at local level. This paper compares the types of electoral system at local level and the formula or method of vote distribution. The different types of list system are also compared to show the difference in the voters degree of freedom to choose between parties and between individual candidates, such freedom being a factor that may mobilise electoral participation. In Denmark, the electoral system is the d Hondt method of proportional representation (PR), which operates on the basis of largest remainder. Voters can vote for a party or an individual candidate, and a vote for a candidate who fails to get elected is added to the party list on which the candidate s name is included. The electoral system in France depends on the size of the municipality. In municipalities with more than 3,500 inhabitants, the first half of the seats are allocated on the basis of absolute majority, and the d Hondt method of PR is used to distribute the second half of the seats between lists that received at least five per cent of the votes. Municipalities with up to 3,500 inhabitants elect councils on the basis of absolute majority. Germany operates a modified system of PR, which works on the basis of highest average or d Hondt method. In Ireland, the electoral system operates a Droop quota with the single transferable vote (STV) in multi-seat constituencies. In Spain, there are two electoral systems in operation depending on the size of the municipality. Where the population in the municipality is greater than or equal to 250 inhabitants, 5

7 the d Hondt method of the PR system is in operation. The majority system with limited vote operates in municipalities with less than 250 inhabitants. There are two electoral systems in the United Kingdom. Northern Ireland uses the STV system and Great Britain uses the simple plurality electoral system of first-past-the-post, where the candidate who receives most votes wins. Table 4: Electoral systems at local level Type Formula List Denmark PR d'hondt Party lists France >3500 inhabitants d'hondt >3500 closed blocked absolute majority/pr </=3500 inhabitants </=3500 inhabitants open absolute majority Germany Modified system of PR d'hondt Party lists Ireland PR STV - Spain >/=250 inhabitants PR d'hondt Closed lists <250 inhabitants majority system with limited vote United Kingdom Relative majority/ Plurality - STV (NIrl) Source : (data from) Council of Europe, 1999; Norton,

8 The question of the wider effects of the electoral system is beyond the scope of this paper. However, Rallings, Thrasher and Stoker (2000: 10-11) provide a useful summary in the context of local elections by arguing that the simple plurality electoral system is usually more effective than the system of proportional representation in producing a winning party with a working majority. PR systems more often result in no single party getting an overall majority, so coalition becomes necessary making government less stable. However, the distribution of seats in the simple plurality electoral system is not an accurate reflection of the pattern of voting so the first-pastthe-post system often results in disproportional outcomes. Municipal Funding and Expenditure In order to place voting in local elections in its political and institutional context, it is important to examine the main sources of municipal funding. The assumption is that the greater the proportion of local funding deriving from local sources, the higher the incentive to vote and the higher the level of mobilisation. In Figure 1, the six countries have been arranged in descending order of the proportion of municipal funding made up of exclusive local taxes. The proportion of municipal funding that is made up of exclusive local taxes ranges from fifty-one per cent in Denmark down to eleven per cent in United Kingdom. If exclusive local taxes were combined with fees and charges, which can be regarded as another form of taxation, Denmark would still have the highest proportion of municipal funding made up of such taxes and charges. The most significant other source of municipal funding is financial transfers from central government, such as earmarked grants, block grants and shared taxes. The 7

9 United Kingdom has the highest proportion of municipal funding made up of such transfers, and Denmark has the smallest proportion of municipal funding made up of financial transfers from central government. In each country, a small proportion of municipal funding is made up of other sources such as borrowing. Figure 1: Sources of municipal funding 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Denmark France Spain Germany Ireland United Kingdom Other Transfers Fees and charges Exclusive local taxes Source: (data from) Council of Europe, 1997 Electoral participation at the local level may also be affected by the powers of local government. In some countries, there has been a post-war decentralisation of government that has led to the growth in importance of local government. In countries other than Ireland and United Kingdom, local government plays a major role in the provision of services to the public at the local level (Hesse and Sharpe, 1991: 608). In Table 5, the six countries have been arranged in descending order of the percentage of general government expenditure made up of municipal expenditure. It ranges from over thirty-one per cent in Denmark, which as already stated, also has the greatest proportion of municipal funding made up of exclusive local taxes, down to just over twelve per cent in Spain. 8

10 Table 5: Municipal expenditure as % of general government expenditure Denmark Germany France United Kingdom Ireland Spain Source : (data from) Council of Europe, 1997 Conclusion The institutional structures and electoral systems differ greatly at local level across the six member states of the European Union considered in this paper. The structures and systems described may affect electoral participation in terms of either facilitation or mobilisation. Focusing on the six cases for which extensive data on participation in local elections has been gathered, this paper has catalogued the facilitation and mobilisation factors of day of voting, age of franchise, candidacy, electoral systems, municipal funding and expenditure at local level. 9

11 Bibliography Blondel, Jean, Richard Sinnott and Palle Svensson, People and Parliament in the European Union: Democracy, Participation and Legitimacy. Oxford: Oxford University Press, Council of Europe, Local finance in Europe: Local and regional authorities in Europe, No. 61. Strasbourg: Council of Europe, Council of Europe, Electoral Systems and Voting Procedures at Local Level: Local and regional authorities in Europe, No. 68. Strasbourg: Council of Europe, Eijk, Cees van der, Mark N. Franklin et al., Choosing Europe? The European Electorate and National Politics in the Face of Union. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, Hesse, Joachim Jens and Laurence J. Sharpe, Local Government in International Perspective: Some Comparative Observations in Joachim Jens Hesse (ed.) Local Government and Urban Affairs in International Perspective: Analyses of Twenty Western Industrialised Countries. Baden-Baden: Auflage, Norton, Alan, International Handbook of Local and Regional Government. Aldershot: Edward Elgar, Rallings, Colin, Michael Thrasher and Gerry Stoker, Proportional representation and local government: Lessons from Europe. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Sinnott, Richard, Electoral participation/abstention: a framework for research and policy-development,

The Electoral System in Denmark

The Electoral System in Denmark The Electoral System in Denmark European Parliamentary Elections European Parliamentary elections are held in the EU member states every five years. 13 Danish members were elected at the European Parliamentary

More information

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: ELECTORAL PROCEDURES

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: ELECTORAL PROCEDURES THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: ELECTORAL PROCEDURES The procedures for electing the European Parliament are governed both by European legislation defining rules common to all Member States and by specific national

More information

Submission to the European Parliament Constituencies Committee on the Constituencies for the European Parliament Elections 2019

Submission to the European Parliament Constituencies Committee on the Constituencies for the European Parliament Elections 2019 Submission to the European Parliament Constituencies Committee on the Constituencies for the European Parliament Elections 2019 European Movement Ireland August 2018 European Movement Ireland European

More information

Indicator 2: Free and fair elections

Indicator 2: Free and fair elections A Democratic Audit of the European Union Christopher Lord Indicator 2: Free and fair elections How far and how equally can citizens exercise public control through free and fair voting? Amongst measures

More information

The Scottish Parliament and the European Parliament who does what?

The Scottish Parliament and the European Parliament who does what? The Scottish Parliament and the European Parliament who does what? This leaflet explains the different roles of the Scottish Parliament and the European Parliament. How does the European Union (EU) work?

More information

Small Districts with Open Ballots:

Small Districts with Open Ballots: Small Districts with Open Ballots: A New Electoral System for the European Parliament 1 Sara Hagemann Policy Analyst, PhD European Policy Centre (S.Hagemann@epc.eu / http://www.epc.eu) Simon Hix Professor

More information

Electoral Reform in Canada: The Shape of Things to Come An Executive Summary March 2016

Electoral Reform in Canada: The Shape of Things to Come An Executive Summary March 2016 Electoral Reform in Canada: The Shape of Things to Come An Executive Summary March 2016 We are committed to ensuring that 2015 will be the last federal election conducted under the first- past- the- post

More information

Distribution of UK MEPs between electoral regions. Recommendation

Distribution of UK MEPs between electoral regions. Recommendation Distribution of UK MEPs between electoral regions Recommendation July 2013 Translations and other formats For information on obtaining this publication in another language or in a large-print or Braille

More information

The Electoral System in Denmark

The Electoral System in Denmark The Electoral System in Denmark Local and Regional Government Elections The local and regional electoral system is regulated by the Local and Regional Government Elections Act. Section 88 of the Constitutional

More information

Composition of the European Parliament

Composition of the European Parliament C 227 E/132 Official Journal of the European Union P6_TA(2007)0429 Composition of the European Parliament European Parliament resolution of 11 October 2007 on the composition of Parliament (2007/2169(INI))

More information

Dr Derek Hutcheson (University College Dublin)

Dr Derek Hutcheson (University College Dublin) REPORT ON FRANCHISE AND ELECTORAL PARTICIPATION OF THIRD COUNTRY CITIZENS RESIDING IN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND OF EU CITIZENS RESIDING IN THIRD COUNTRIES: The external voting rights of non-resident first

More information

THE FUTURE FOR ENGLAND

THE FUTURE FOR ENGLAND THE FUTURE FOR ENGLAND DECENTRALISATION AND ENGLISH VOTES FOR ENGLISH LAWS 1 The Future for England DECENTRALISATION IN ENGLAND: The Conservative position on further devolution within England is based

More information

Financing of Political Parties: Methods of Funding

Financing of Political Parties: Methods of Funding a) Public Austria Parties, parliamentary groups (federal and state levels). (approx. 50%). (undisclosed, only contributions above 7,730 must be declared). "Kickbacks" (1998: 9%). Donations from corporations

More information

LEGAL BASIS COMMON RULES

LEGAL BASIS COMMON RULES THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: ELECTORAL PROCEDURES The procedures for electing the European Parliament are governed both by European legislation defining rules common to all Member States and by specific national

More information

Council of the European Union Brussels, 12 April 2018 (OR. en)

Council of the European Union Brussels, 12 April 2018 (OR. en) Council of the European Union Brussels, 12 April 2018 (OR. en) Interinstitutional File: 2015/0907 (APP) 7597/18 NOTE PE 41 INST 134 FREMP 40 JUR 160 AG 4 From: Permanent Representatives Committee (Part

More information

Mixed Systems. Combining Local Representation with Proportionality

Mixed Systems. Combining Local Representation with Proportionality Mixed Systems Combining Local Representation with Proportionality Objectives to demonstrate how the family of mixed system works to identify the difference between mixed-member proportional (MMP) and parallel

More information

What Would be The Impact of Changing the Voting System in European Elections?

What Would be The Impact of Changing the Voting System in European Elections? What Would be The Impact of Changing the Voting System in European Elections? Jack Blumenau, LSE Andy Eggers, LSE Dominik Hangartner, LSE Simon Hix, LSE 24 July 2013 European Parliament Elections Each

More information

Single Transferable Vote (STV) Combining Preference Voting, Proportionality and Local Representation

Single Transferable Vote (STV) Combining Preference Voting, Proportionality and Local Representation Single Transferable Vote (STV) Combining Preference Voting, Proportionality and Local Representation Objectives to demonstrate how Single Transferable Vote works to illustrate how proportionality can be

More information

The UK s proportional electoral system: the single transferable vote (STV)

The UK s proportional electoral system: the single transferable vote (STV) 69 2.3 The UK s proportional electoral system: the single transferable vote (STV) Patrick Dunleavy examines the proportional (PR) electoral system now used for smaller UK elections: the Northern Ireland

More information

Ulrich Karpen, University of Hamburg

Ulrich Karpen, University of Hamburg Subnational Constitutionalism in Germany Ulrich Karpen, University of Hamburg 1. The Basic Law, Germany s constitution, came into force on May 23 rd, 1949, established the federal system as an integrative

More information

EUROPEAN COUNCIL Brussels, 31 May 2013 (OR. en)

EUROPEAN COUNCIL Brussels, 31 May 2013 (OR. en) EUROPEAN COUNCIL Brussels, 31 May 2013 (OR. en) Interinstitutional File: 2013/0900 (NLE) EUCO 110/13 INST 234 POLG 69 OC 295 LEGAL ACTS Subject: DRAFT EUROPEAN COUNCIL DECISION establishing the composition

More information

FEDERAL PUBLIC SERVICE DOMESTIC AFFAIRS EUROPEAN CITIZENS VOTE FOR THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT. ON THE 13th JUNE 2004 (+ LOGO INTERIEUR)

FEDERAL PUBLIC SERVICE DOMESTIC AFFAIRS EUROPEAN CITIZENS VOTE FOR THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT. ON THE 13th JUNE 2004 (+ LOGO INTERIEUR) VERSION : 18 NOVEMBRE 2003 (page 1) DRAFT FOLDER 2004 EU CITIZENS - ENGLISH ------ FEDERAL PUBLIC SERVICE DOMESTIC AFFAIRS EUROPEAN CITIZENS VOTE FOR THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ON THE 13th JUNE 2004 (+ LOGO

More information

Foundations of the UK s Government

Foundations of the UK s Government Foundations of the UK s Government United Kingdom Overview Tradition of Democracy Evolutionary to the current state of an Advanced Democracy Parliamentary Democracy Unitary Monarchy official head of UK

More information

REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION

REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION EUROPEAN COMMISSION Brussels, 27.10.2010 COM(2010) 605 final REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION Report on the election of Members of the European Parliament (1976 Act as amended by Decision 2002/772/EC, Euratom)

More information

Act CXIII of 2003 on the election of members of the European Parliament

Act CXIII of 2003 on the election of members of the European Parliament Act CXIII of 2003 on the election of members of the European Parliament The accession of Hungary requires that the Hungarian Parliament elaborate the rules of filling the positions reserved to the representatives

More information

Regional Conference on Gender Equality in Electoral Processes Tbilisi (Georgia), 25 th to 2th November 2015

Regional Conference on Gender Equality in Electoral Processes Tbilisi (Georgia), 25 th to 2th November 2015 Regional Conference on Gender Equality in Electoral Processes Tbilisi (Georgia), 25 th to 2th November 2015 The impact of electoral systems, including gender candidate quotas, on women s representation

More information

Facts about the European Parliament Elections 2009

Facts about the European Parliament Elections 2009 European Parliament Elections BRIEFING PAPER 1 Facts about the European Parliament Elections 2009 When are the Elections? The European Parliament Elections take place over a period of 4 days from 4 to

More information

Mixed Rules, Mixed Strategies

Mixed Rules, Mixed Strategies Mixed Rules, Mixed Strategies Candidates and Parties in Germany s Electoral System Philip Manow Contents List of Figures and Tables List of Abbreviations Acknowledgements Preface vii xv xvii xix Chapter

More information

Electoral System Change in Europe since 1945: Germany

Electoral System Change in Europe since 1945: Germany Electoral System Change in Europe since 1945: Germany Authored by: Elwin Reimink Compiled with the assistance of: Rebecca Teusch With thanks to: 1 Section 1: Overview of German Electoral System Changes

More information

Elections and the election law. Electoral System

Elections and the election law. Electoral System Elections and the election law Electoral System Electoral System Characteristic of the (current) Dutch electoral system - in international perspective - is its accessibility. Citizens and political parties

More information

UNITARY SYSTEM. (Levels of Government) If one central government runs the nation, the system is said to be a

UNITARY SYSTEM. (Levels of Government) If one central government runs the nation, the system is said to be a UNITARY SYSTEM (Levels of Government) If one central government runs the nation, the system is said to be a unitary system. The central government makes laws for the entire nation; local governments have

More information

Scouting Ireland National Council Voting Procedure

Scouting Ireland National Council Voting Procedure No. SID 137/16 Gasóga na héireann/scouting Ireland Issued Last Amended 14 th May 2016 Next Review Date May 2019 Source: National Management Committee and Chief Teller Scouting Ireland National Council

More information

Creating a Parliament for Wales: Consultation document

Creating a Parliament for Wales: Consultation document National Assembly for Wales Assembly Commission Creating a Parliament for Wales: Consultation document This consultation begins on 12 February 2018 and closes on 6 April 2018 www.futuresenedd.wales The

More information

The Danish Parliament and EU Affairs

The Danish Parliament and EU Affairs OPAL Country Reports The Danish Parliament and EU Affairs Mette Buskjær Christensen, PhD Student, University of Southern Denmark To cite this report: M. Buskjær Christensen (2012), OPAL Country Reports:

More information

The European Citizens Initiative

The European Citizens Initiative The European Citizens Initiative What is Democracy International? Democracy International (DI) is a global coalition of individual citizens and non-governmental organisations promoting direct and participatory

More information

CONSTITUTION SPECIFICATION: Shabna.Begum

CONSTITUTION SPECIFICATION: Shabna.Begum SPECIFICATION: Nature of the constitution a knowledge and understanding of the features of a constitution and of the benefits of constitutional government, including the differences between codified and

More information

President of the National Election Office

President of the National Election Office President of the National Election Office Report by the President of the National Election Office on the organisation and implementation of the state duties related to the 2014 European Parliament elections

More information

ITALY. Dates of Elections: June 20 and 21, 1976

ITALY. Dates of Elections: June 20 and 21, 1976 ITALY Dates of Elections: June 20 and 21, 1976 Purpose of Elections Elections were held for all the members of Parliament following premature dissolution of the legislature on May 1, 1976. Previous general

More information

WOMEN as DECISION MAKERS. Dr. Arzu ÖZYOL

WOMEN as DECISION MAKERS. Dr. Arzu ÖZYOL WOMEN as DECISION MAKERS Dr. Arzu ÖZYOL Ih the 20th century, one of the greatest changes to democracy around the World was the inclusion of increasing numbers of women, both as voters and as members of

More information

Instruments of environmental policy

Instruments of environmental policy Instruments of environmental policy Instruments of environmental policies are related to methods, environmental legislation and administrative procedures developed with a view to reduce negative impacts

More information

NEW BRUNSWICK COMMISSION ON LEGISLATIVE DEMOCRACY

NEW BRUNSWICK COMMISSION ON LEGISLATIVE DEMOCRACY NEW BRUNSWICK COMMISSION ON LEGISLATIVE DEMOCRACY THESE TWO ARE NOT THE SAME New Brunswick Ontario New Brunswick Ontario New Brunswick Ontario New Brunswick Ontario 55 electoral districts 107 electoral

More information

EU citizens engagement initiative and Digital platforms for Open policy making in Finland, United Kingdom and Republic of Macedonia

EU citizens engagement initiative and Digital platforms for Open policy making in Finland, United Kingdom and Republic of Macedonia EU citizens engagement initiative and Digital platforms for Open policy making in Finland, United Kingdom and Republic of Macedonia Ganka Cvetanova, PhD - University Ss. Cyril and Methodius, Skopje Veno

More information

Democracy at work: THE ONTARIO CITIZENS ASSEMBLY ON ELECTORAL REFORM a record of Ontario s first citizens assembly process.

Democracy at work: THE ONTARIO CITIZENS ASSEMBLY ON ELECTORAL REFORM a record of Ontario s first citizens assembly process. Extract from Democracy at work: THE ONTARIO CITIZENS ASSEMBLY ON ELECTORAL REFORM a record of Ontario s first citizens assembly process the Ontario Citizens Assembly Secretariat PART IV: DESCRIPTION OF

More information

Government, you say? European governments

Government, you say? European governments Government, you say? European governments Why do we have governments? All countries require governments to function. Governments provide laws, structure, public services, and national defense. There are

More information

GERMAN GOVERNMENT BUNDESREGIERUNG / THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT APCGP

GERMAN GOVERNMENT BUNDESREGIERUNG / THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT APCGP GERMAN GOVERNMENT BUNDESREGIERUNG / THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT APCGP Germany is a republic with a parliamentary democracy and a bicameral system of government. The Federal Government consists of the Chancellor

More information

Min Shu Waseda University. 2013/10/15 European Public Policy-Week 3 1

Min Shu Waseda University. 2013/10/15 European Public Policy-Week 3 1 Min Shu Waseda University 2013/10/15 European Public Policy-Week 3 1 The Institutional Structure of the EU European Commission Council of Ministers European Council European Parliament European Central

More information

2.6 let s be responsible

2.6 let s be responsible CHAPTER 2? 2.6 let s be responsible focus QuesTIOns: what are the purposes and functions of government? how are individual rights protected and challenged within the context of majority rule? what are

More information

Democracy Heroes Script

Democracy Heroes Script Democracy Heroes Script [ Door canvassing start here] My name is and this is We re volunteers with a non-profit group called Leadnow. We re in your neighborhood [tonight] because we re calling on our MP

More information

Governments collect tax dollars to pay for the services they provide.

Governments collect tax dollars to pay for the services they provide. Local Government Collects Taxes Governments collect tax dollars to pay for the services they provide. Revenue - the money the government collects. Also called 'income'. Expenditures - the money the government

More information

Report. of the. Independent Review Commission on the General Elections held in Kenya on 27 December 2007

Report. of the. Independent Review Commission on the General Elections held in Kenya on 27 December 2007 Report of the Independent Review Commission on the General Elections held in Kenya on 27 December 2007 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ix CHAPTER 1: THE ELECTIONS IN KENYA: INTRODUCTION Page 1 1.1

More information

A Submission by The Rt Hon Frank Field MP DL and Lord Armstrong of Ilminster

A Submission by The Rt Hon Frank Field MP DL and Lord Armstrong of Ilminster A Representative House of Lords A Submission by The Rt Hon Frank Field MP DL and Lord Armstrong of Ilminster 1. The House of Lords Pre-Legislative Committee is considering the bill presented to it by the

More information

Decision of the 67th Conference of the Ministers for European Affairs of the German Federal States 29/30 January Courtesy translation -

Decision of the 67th Conference of the Ministers for European Affairs of the German Federal States 29/30 January Courtesy translation - Decision of the 67th Conference of the Ministers for European Affairs of the German Federal States 29/30 January 2015 - Courtesy translation - TOP 4: Europe of the Regions Rapporteurs: Bavaria, Berlin,

More information

Index. anti-government vote, 47, 57 78, 212, 242. See also antigovernment; support; vote against the. government

Index. anti-government vote, 47, 57 78, 212, 242. See also antigovernment; support; vote against the. government Index A about Europe, 7 9, 24, 172 3, 181, 185 7, 224 5, 240, 242, 246. See also vote against Europe accession, 61, 105 7, 109, 111 13, 115, 117 19, 126. See also EU enlargement accountability, 10, 203,

More information

The European Union is a body probably unlike any other that exists in the world

The European Union is a body probably unlike any other that exists in the world Nicholas O Toole Re: Federalization of the European Union The European Union is a body probably unlike any other that exists in the world today: It exists in the twilight zone between a confederation and

More information

Statements at the European Council on Denmark (Edinburgh, 11 and 12 December 1992)

Statements at the European Council on Denmark (Edinburgh, 11 and 12 December 1992) Statements at the European Council on Denmark (Edinburgh, 11 and 12 December 1992) Caption: Following the Edinburgh European Council held on 11 and 12 December 1992, the Heads of State and Government of

More information

ELECTIONS TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT June 2004

ELECTIONS TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT June 2004 ODIHR.GAL/40/04 3 June 2004 ENGLISH only Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights ELECTIONS TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 10-13 June 2004 OSCE/ODIHR PRE-ELECTION OVERVIEW Warsaw 3 June 2004 TABLE

More information

DRAFT OPINION ON LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS CONCERNING EARLY ELECTIONS IN UKRAINE. on the basis of comments by

DRAFT OPINION ON LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS CONCERNING EARLY ELECTIONS IN UKRAINE. on the basis of comments by Strasbourg, 29 May 2007 Opinion no. 439 / 2007 CDL(2007)047* Engl. only EUROPEAN COMMISSION FOR DEMOCRACY THROUGH LAW (VENICE COMMISSION) DRAFT OPINION ON LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS CONCERNING EARLY ELECTIONS

More information

Athenian Democracy. To what extent was Athenian democracy an incomplete and restricted form of political suffrage? DISSECTING DEMOCRACY PLII001

Athenian Democracy. To what extent was Athenian democracy an incomplete and restricted form of political suffrage? DISSECTING DEMOCRACY PLII001 Athenian Democracy To what extent was Athenian democracy an incomplete and restricted form of political suffrage? DISSECTING DEMOCRACY PLII001 1 To what extent was Athenian democracy an incomplete and

More information

3. According to the text. Europe invented sovereignty. Therefore, using this as context, sovereignty can be defined as:

3. According to the text. Europe invented sovereignty. Therefore, using this as context, sovereignty can be defined as: Name AP Comparative Government Directions: Use the readings from your summer assignment packet on the European Union, and your own knowledge in order to answer the following questions. These questions

More information

THE EUROPEAN UNION A This is the EU facts and figures B Stages in the process of European integration

THE EUROPEAN UNION A This is the EU facts and figures B Stages in the process of European integration THE EUROPEAN UNION A This is the EU facts and figures The European Union (EU) is a political, social and economic community, the outcome of a long process of integration between an increasing number of

More information

Distribution of Power. Unitary, Confederation, & Federal

Distribution of Power. Unitary, Confederation, & Federal Distribution of Power Unitary, Confederation, & Federal Teachers Print off the following slide for each student. The students will complete the chart while discussing the presentation. Governments So

More information

1 Format for a plebiscite question

1 Format for a plebiscite question Dear Committee, Please allow me the opportunity to make a further submission in advance of your report due in April. I wish to address 3 topics: 1. The format of the question, 2. The options of electoral

More information

RESOLUTION RES (2002) 3 ADOPTING THE REVISED STATUTE OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION FOR DEMOCRACY THROUGH LAW

RESOLUTION RES (2002) 3 ADOPTING THE REVISED STATUTE OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION FOR DEMOCRACY THROUGH LAW Strasbourg, 27 February 2002 CDL (2002) 27 Or. Eng. EUROPEAN COMMISSION FOR DEMOCRACY THROUGH LAW (VENICE COMMISSION) RESOLUTION RES (2002) 3 ADOPTING THE REVISED STATUTE OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION FOR

More information

BSR INTERREG III B project. Promoting Spatial Development by Creating COMon MINdscapes

BSR INTERREG III B project. Promoting Spatial Development by Creating COMon MINdscapes Project part-financed by the European Union BSR INTERREG III B project Promoting Spatial Development by Creating COMon MINdscapes DENMARK 1. Constitutional system 1.1 General description and key data of

More information

International Perspectives on Elections Systems The German Perspective 08/07/2017 ANGELA FREIMUTH, MDL -

International Perspectives on Elections Systems The German Perspective 08/07/2017 ANGELA FREIMUTH, MDL - International Perspectives on Elections Systems The German Perspective 08/07/2017 ANGELA FREIMUTH, MDL - ANGELA.FREIMUTH@LANDTAG.NRW.DE 1 Outline First part: How does voting work in Germany? Voter registration

More information

Green Party Political Reform Policy

Green Party Political Reform Policy Green Party Political Reform Policy October 2015 Table of Contents 1. POLITICAL REFORM POLICY... 1 1.1. THE CONSTITUTION... 1 1.2. OIREACHTAS REFORM... 1 1.3. ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION... 3 1. Political

More information

The Impact of Electoral System Reform. The New Zealand example

The Impact of Electoral System Reform. The New Zealand example The Impact of Electoral System Reform The New Zealand example The present cabinet http://www.dpmc.govt.nz/cabinet/cabinet /index.html Reasons for change: View that minor parties were unfairly treated 1978

More information

Chapter 3: Decision making. Nothing is more difficult, and therefore more precious, than to be able to decide. Napoleon Bonaparte

Chapter 3: Decision making. Nothing is more difficult, and therefore more precious, than to be able to decide. Napoleon Bonaparte Chapter 3: Decision making Nothing is more difficult, and therefore more precious, than to be able to decide. Napoleon Bonaparte The McGrawHill Companies, 2015 Task allocation Which level of government

More information

Comparative Federalism Experiences from Germany

Comparative Federalism Experiences from Germany Comparative Federalism Experiences from Germany Conference Constructing Tomorrow s Federalism 25/26 March 2004 Regina, Saskatchewan presented by Julian Würtenberger Office of the Premier of Baden-Württemberg,

More information

European Parliament Elections 2009

European Parliament Elections 2009 European Parliament Elections 2009 Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher September 2009 LGC Elections Centre University of Plymouth Drake Circus Plymouth PL4 8AA Introduction Elections to choose members

More information

Implementing Women s Representation in Afghanistan s Electoral Law:

Implementing Women s Representation in Afghanistan s Electoral Law: Implementing Women s Representation in Afghanistan s Electoral Law: Options for reserved seats Pippa Norris Harvard University Prepared for the Afghanistan Reconstruction Project Center on International

More information

EPP loses votes and seats but remains the first party in the European Parliament

EPP loses votes and seats but remains the first party in the European Parliament EPP loses votes and seats but remains the first party in the European Parliament Vincenzo Emanuele 30 May 2014 1 In the end, the European People s Party (EPP) made it. It is the first political party in

More information

EN Official Journal of the European Communities

EN Official Journal of the European Communities 23.12.1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 374/15 3.14. It is also essential that EU technological choices nation of publications and information through those channels. comply fully

More information

Committee on Constitutional Affairs

Committee on Constitutional Affairs European Parliament 2014-2019 Committee on Constitutional Affairs 2015/2035(INL) 30.6.2015 DRAFT REPORT on a proposal for amendment of the Act of 20 September 1976 concerning the election of the Members

More information

Genesis of the F-Gas Regulation

Genesis of the F-Gas Regulation Genesis of the F-Gas Regulation ECSLA Fall Conference October 16-17,2012 Madrid Genesis of the F-Gas Regulation 2000-2000 First working group on F-gases set up by the Commission NL recommends to adapt

More information

Elections in Ukraine October 28 Parliamentary Elections

Elections in Ukraine October 28 Parliamentary Elections Elections in Ukraine October 28 Parliamentary Elections Europe and Asia International Foundation for Electoral Systems 1850 K Street, NW Fifth Floor Washington, D.C. 20006 www.ifes.org October 25, 2012

More information

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION. European elections 2004

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION. European elections 2004 COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES Brussels, 12.12.2006 COM(2006) 790 final COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION European elections 2004 Commission report on the participation of European Union citizens

More information

Comparison of indices of disproportionality in PR systems

Comparison of indices of disproportionality in PR systems Computer Science Journal of Moldova, vol.20, no.2(59), 2012 Comparison of indices of disproportionality in PR systems Ion Bolun Abstract Comparative analysis of 12 indices of disproportionality by such

More information

INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF EU LAW PROFESSOR SIR DAVID EDWARD

INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF EU LAW PROFESSOR SIR DAVID EDWARD INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF EU LAW PROFESSOR SIR DAVID EDWARD TOPICS TO BE COVERED IN THIS LECTURE Origins of the European Union The Treaties The Institutions Nature and Sources of EU Law The Main Provisions

More information

2004 / 01. The Treaty of Nice A Deadlock for Europe? The institutions of an EU-25 after the failed constitutional summit in Brussels

2004 / 01. The Treaty of Nice A Deadlock for Europe? The institutions of an EU-25 after the failed constitutional summit in Brussels The Treaty of Nice The institutions of an EU-25 after the failed constitutional summit in Brussels Thomas Fischer and Almut Metz The European Constitution, the first substantial common project of the EU-25,

More information

Central Government. Political Unit. Central Government. Political Unit

Central Government. Political Unit. Central Government. Political Unit POL 110HA Module 5 Lecture Notes Three Primary Forms of Democratic Governments Let s begin by addressing the three primary forms that democratic governments take, in terms of the relationship between the

More information

SYRACUSE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LAW REPORTER VOLUME 19. Wind Power in Europe: Politics, Business and Society

SYRACUSE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LAW REPORTER VOLUME 19. Wind Power in Europe: Politics, Business and Society SYRACUSE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LAW REPORTER VOLUME 19 Wind Power in Europe: Politics, Business and Society By: Joseph Szarka Citation: JOSEPH SZARKA, WIND POWER IN EUROPE: POLITICS, BUSINESS AND SOCIETY

More information

The Economics of the European Union

The Economics of the European Union Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University The Economics of the European Union Professor George Alogoskoufis Lecture 1: From the European Economic Community to the European Union Europe After

More information

Voter s Guide Referendum on Electoral Reform. Look for your voting package in the mail between October 22 and November 2

Voter s Guide Referendum on Electoral Reform. Look for your voting package in the mail between October 22 and November 2 Voter s Guide 2018 Referendum on Electoral Reform Look for your voting package in the mail between October 22 and November 2 elections.bc.ca / 1-800-661-8683 TABLE OF CONTENTS 2018 Referendum on Electoral

More information

The fiscal and economic case for localism

The fiscal and economic case for localism www.taxpayersalliance.com Research Note 59 1 The fiscal and economic case for localism As we face up to a decade of public spending cuts, our key challenge is to find ways of achieving those cuts without

More information

COMPILATION OF VENICE COMMISSION OPINIONS AND REPORTS CONCERNING THRESHOLDS WHICH BAR PARTIES FROM ACCESS TO PARLIAMENT 1

COMPILATION OF VENICE COMMISSION OPINIONS AND REPORTS CONCERNING THRESHOLDS WHICH BAR PARTIES FROM ACCESS TO PARLIAMENT 1 Strasbourg, 22 December 2015 CDL-PI(2015)022 Engl. only EUROPEAN COMMISSION FOR DEMOCRACY THROUGH LAW (VENICE COMMISSION) COMPILATION OF VENICE COMMISSION OPINIONS AND REPORTS CONCERNING THRESHOLDS WHICH

More information

Articles of the EU draft Constitution related to Agriculture

Articles of the EU draft Constitution related to Agriculture Articles of the EU draft Constitution related to Agriculture I) GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF EU LAW 1. Fundamental Principles 2.Primacy of EU law 3. Jurisdiction on competence II) AGRICULTURE 1. Definition of

More information

Co.Co.A. Constitutional Rights of Local Government. Lithuania. Prepared by: Vitalija Tamavičiūt

Co.Co.A. Constitutional Rights of Local Government. Lithuania. Prepared by: Vitalija Tamavičiūt Co.Co.A. Comparing Constitutional Adjudication A Summer School on Comparative Interpretation of European Constitutional Jurisprudence 2nd Edition - 2007 Constitutional Rights of Local Government Lithuania

More information

The local elections of 2 May 1996

The local elections of 2 May 1996 The local elections of 2 May 1996 7 May 1996 This paper provides a brief summary of the local elections which took place in many parts of England on 2 May 1996. There were no elections in Scotland or Wales,

More information

Association of Secretaries General of Parliaments COMMUNICATION. from. Mr. Philippe SCHWAB Secretary General of the Federal Assembly of Switzerland

Association of Secretaries General of Parliaments COMMUNICATION. from. Mr. Philippe SCHWAB Secretary General of the Federal Assembly of Switzerland UNION INTERPARLEMENTAIRE INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION Association of Secretaries General of Parliaments COMMUNICATION from Mr. Philippe SCHWAB Secretary General of the Federal Assembly of Switzerland on The

More information

Republika e Kosovës Republika Kosovo-Republic of Kosovo Kuvendi - Skupština - Assembly ON LOCAL ELECTIONS IN THE REPUBLIC OF KOSOVO

Republika e Kosovës Republika Kosovo-Republic of Kosovo Kuvendi - Skupština - Assembly ON LOCAL ELECTIONS IN THE REPUBLIC OF KOSOVO Republika e Kosovës Republika Kosovo-Republic of Kosovo Kuvendi - Skupština - Assembly Law No. 03/L-072 ON LOCAL ELECTIONS IN THE REPUBLIC OF KOSOVO The Assembly of Republic of Kosovo, Based on Article

More information

Chapter-3 Why do we need a Parliament

Chapter-3 Why do we need a Parliament Chapter-3 Why do we need a Parliament 1. Why do you think our national movement supported the idea that all adults have a right to vote? Our national movement supported the idea that all people should

More information

Germany s election results in charts and maps

Germany s election results in charts and maps German federal election 2017 German election Germany s election results in charts and maps Voters create a large and fractured Bundestag as Merkel enters fourth term Bloomberg 7 HOURS AGO by FT Reporters

More information

Part 1: The electoral dimension

Part 1: The electoral dimension The UK Party System and Party Politics Part 1: The electoral dimension Patrick Dunleavy Gv 311: British Politics course, Lecture 9 Michaelmas Term 2014-15 London School of Economics P. Dunleavy 2014 A

More information

COMMENTS ON LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVE IN EUROPE. Ms Angelika NUSSBERGER (Substitute Member, Germany)

COMMENTS ON LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVE IN EUROPE. Ms Angelika NUSSBERGER (Substitute Member, Germany) Strasbourg, 30 September 2008 Study no. 446 / 2007 * Eng.only EUROPEAN COMMISSION FOR DEMOCRACY THROUGH LAW (VENICE COMMISSION) COMMENTS ON LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVE IN EUROPE by Ms Angelika NUSSBERGER (Substitute

More information

Live DMA European Network's STATUTES

Live DMA European Network's STATUTES Live DMA European Network's STATUTES CONTENT 1. Preface > Name > Domicile > Language > Purpose & goals > Duration 2. Membership 3. Member's Rights & duties 4. Organs > General assembly > Board > Audit

More information

Electoral Reform in Canada

Electoral Reform in Canada Electoral Reform in Canada POLI 101: Friday 1 April Lecture outline Canada s s current electoral system - strengths and weaknesses Electoral reform in Canada - federal and provincial reform BC Citizens

More information

Election Commission and Elections

Election Commission and Elections Election Commission and Elections NCERT Democratic Politics 1. Chapter 4 Class 9 10x10learning.com 1 What is an Election? Election is the process by which citizens in a democracy choose their representatives

More information

German participation in the Sixth European Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development

German participation in the Sixth European Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development German participation in the Sixth European Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development Imprint Published by Federal Ministry of Education and Research Orders Federal Ministry of Education

More information

National Electoral Commission (NEC) OAU Drive, Tower Hill. Freetown. Sierra Leone

National Electoral Commission (NEC) OAU Drive, Tower Hill. Freetown. Sierra Leone National Electoral Commission (NEC) OAU Drive, Tower Hill Freetown Sierra Leone Position Paper on the Implications of the Postponement of the 2014 National Census from April 2015 to December 2015 on the

More information