The Jenkins commission and the implications of electoral reform for the UK constitution

Government and Opposition

Volumn 34, Issue 2, 1999, Pages 143-160

  McLean, Iain ^a  

^a NONE

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 0040036837     PISSN: 0017257X     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1111/j.1477-7053.1999.tb00475.x     Document Type: Article

References (50)

1. Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed. (CD-Rom), 'represent', senses 2a and 8a.
2. Sophisticated defences of the plurality rule along these lines include W. H. Riker, Liberalism against Populism, San Francisco, W. H. Freeman, 1982, p. 113; M. Pinto-Duschinsky, 'Send the Rascals Packing', Times Literary Supplement, 25 September 1998, pp. 10-12. For a sophisticated attack, see Report of the Independent Commission on the Voting System, Chairman Lord Jenkins of Hillhead, London, The Stationery Office 1998, Cm 4090-I, paras 33-8.
3. Sophisticated defences of the plurality rule along these lines include W. H. Riker, Liberalism against Populism, San Francisco, W. H. Freeman, 1982, p. 113; M. Pinto-Duschinsky, 'Send the Rascals Packing', Times Literary Supplement, 25 September 1998, pp. 10-12. For a sophisticated attack, see Report of the Independent Commission on the Voting System, Chairman Lord Jenkins of Hillhead, London, The Stationery Office 1998, Cm 4090-I, paras 33-8.
4. Sophisticated defences of the plurality rule along these lines include W. H. Riker, Liberalism against Populism, San Francisco, W. H. Freeman, 1982, p. 113; M. Pinto-Duschinsky, 'Send the Rascals Packing', Times Literary Supplement, 25 September 1998, pp. 10-12. For a sophisticated attack, see Report of the Independent Commission on the Voting System, Chairman Lord Jenkins of Hillhead, London, The Stationery Office 1998, Cm 4090-I, paras 33-8.
5. Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed. (CD-Rom), 'represent', sense 6a.
6. Mirabeau: in D. Nohlen, 'Two Incompatible Principles of Representation', in A. Lijphart and B. Grofman (eds), Choosing an Electoral System: Issues and Alternatives, New York, Praeger, 1984, pp. 83-9, quoted at p. 89; my translation. Adams: in H. Pitkin, The Concept of Representation, Berkeley, University of California Press, 1967, p. 60. For fuller discussion see I. McLean, 'Forms of Representation and Systems of Voting' in D. Held (ed.), Political Theory Today, Cambridge, Polity Press, 1991, pp. 172-96.
7. Mirabeau: in D. Nohlen, 'Two Incompatible Principles of Representation', in A. Lijphart and B. Grofman (eds), Choosing an Electoral System: Issues and Alternatives, New York, Praeger, 1984, pp. 83-9, quoted at p. 89; my translation. Adams: in H. Pitkin, The Concept of Representation, Berkeley, University of California Press, 1967, p. 60. For fuller discussion see I. McLean, 'Forms of Representation and Systems of Voting' in D. Held (ed.), Political Theory Today, Cambridge, Polity Press, 1991, pp. 172-96.
8. Mirabeau: in D. Nohlen, 'Two Incompatible Principles of Representation', in A. Lijphart and B. Grofman (eds), Choosing an Electoral System: Issues and Alternatives, New York, Praeger, 1984, pp. 83-9, quoted at p. 89; my translation. Adams: in H. Pitkin, The Concept of Representation, Berkeley, University of California Press, 1967, p. 60. For fuller discussion see I. McLean, 'Forms of Representation and Systems of Voting' in D. Held (ed.), Political Theory Today, Cambridge, Polity Press, 1991, pp. 172-96.
9. Labour Party National Executive Committee, The Plant Report: a Working Party on Electoral Reform (Chairman, Lord Plant of Highfield) London, The Guardian, 1991; Labour Party, Second Interim Report of the Working Party on Electoral Systems, London, Labour Party, 1992; Labour Party, Report of the Working Party on Electoral Systems, London, Labour Party, 1993; and see the symposium on the Plant Report (especially articles by Plant and Lamport), Representation, special issue 'Plant in Retrospect', 33:2 (1995).
10. Labour Party National Executive Committee, The Plant Report: a Working Party on Electoral Reform (Chairman, Lord Plant of Highfield) London, The Guardian, 1991; Labour Party, Second Interim Report of the Working Party on Electoral Systems, London, Labour Party, 1992; Labour Party, Report of the Working Party on Electoral Systems, London, Labour Party, 1993; and see the symposium on the Plant Report (especially articles by Plant and Lamport), Representation, special issue 'Plant in Retrospect', 33:2 (1995).
11. Labour Party National Executive Committee, The Plant Report: a Working Party on Electoral Reform (Chairman, Lord Plant of Highfield) London, The Guardian, 1991; Labour Party, Second Interim Report of the Working Party on Electoral Systems, London, Labour Party, 1992; Labour Party, Report of the Working Party on Electoral Systems, London, Labour Party, 1993; and see the symposium on the Plant Report (especially articles by Plant and Lamport), Representation, special issue 'Plant in Retrospect', 33:2 (1995).
12. Labour Party National Executive Committee, The Plant Report: a Working Party on Electoral Reform (Chairman, Lord Plant of Highfield) London, The Guardian, 1991; Labour Party, Second Interim Report of the Working Party on Electoral Systems, London, Labour Party, 1992; Labour Party, Report of the Working Party on Electoral Systems, London, Labour Party, 1993; and see the symposium on the Plant Report (especially articles by Plant and Lamport), Representation, special issue 'Plant in Retrospect', 33:2 (1995).
13. Scottish Constitutional Convention, Scotland's Parliament, Scotland's Right: Presented to the People of Scotland by the Scottish Constitutional Convention on the 30th day of November 1995, Edinburgh, SCC, 1995, pp. 22-3.
14. Jenkins Report, para. 8.
15. Entry-level summaries include Riker, Liberalism against Populism; I. McLean, Democracy and New Technology, Cambridge, Polity Press, 1989; M. Dummett, Voting Procedures, Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1984 and his Principles of Electoral Reform, Oxford University Press, 1997. The most useful intermediate book is J. S. Kelly, Social Choice Theory, Berlin, Springer-Verlag, 1987.
16. Entry-level summaries include Riker, Liberalism against Populism; I. McLean, Democracy and New Technology, Cambridge, Polity Press, 1989; M. Dummett, Voting Procedures, Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1984 and his Principles of Electoral Reform, Oxford University Press, 1997. The most useful intermediate book is J. S. Kelly, Social Choice Theory, Berlin, Springer-Verlag, 1987.
17. Entry-level summaries include Riker, Liberalism against Populism; I. McLean, Democracy and New Technology, Cambridge, Polity Press, 1989; M. Dummett, Voting Procedures, Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1984 and his Principles of Electoral Reform, Oxford University Press, 1997. The most useful intermediate book is J. S. Kelly, Social Choice Theory, Berlin, Springer-Verlag, 1987.
18. Entry-level summaries include Riker, Liberalism against Populism; I. McLean, Democracy and New Technology, Cambridge, Polity Press, 1989; M. Dummett, Voting Procedures, Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1984 and his Principles of Electoral Reform, Oxford University Press, 1997. The most useful intermediate book is J. S. Kelly, Social Choice Theory, Berlin, Springer-Verlag, 1987.
19. Entry-level summaries include Riker, Liberalism against Populism; I. McLean, Democracy and New Technology, Cambridge, Polity Press, 1989; M. Dummett, Voting Procedures, Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1984 and his Principles of Electoral Reform, Oxford University Press, 1997. The most useful intermediate book is J. S. Kelly, Social Choice Theory, Berlin, Springer-Verlag, 1987.
20. For explanations of the original proofs, see any of the entry-level books on social choice listed above. The original proofs cited are in K. J. Arrow, Social Choice and Individual Values, New York, John Wiley, 2nd edn, 1963; A. Gibbard, 'Manipulation of Voting Schemes: a General Result', Econometrica, 41 (1973), pp. 587-601; M. A. Satterthwaite, 'Strategy-proofness and Arrow's Conditions', Journal of Economic Theory, 10 (1975), pp. 187-217; R. D. McKelvey, 'General Conditions for Global Intransitivities in Formal Voting Models', Econometrica, 47 (1979), pp. 1085-111; N. Schofield, 'Generic Instability of Majority Rule', Review of Economic Studies, 50 (1983), pp. 695-705.
21. For explanations of the original proofs, see any of the entry-level books on social choice listed above. The original proofs cited are in K. J. Arrow, Social Choice and Individual Values, New York, John Wiley, 2nd edn, 1963; A. Gibbard, 'Manipulation of Voting Schemes: a General Result', Econometrica, 41 (1973), pp. 587-601; M. A. Satterthwaite, 'Strategy-proofness and Arrow's Conditions', Journal of Economic Theory, 10 (1975), pp. 187-217; R. D. McKelvey, 'General Conditions for Global Intransitivities in Formal Voting Models', Econometrica, 47 (1979), pp. 1085-111; N. Schofield, 'Generic Instability of Majority Rule', Review of Economic Studies, 50 (1983), pp. 695-705.
22. For explanations of the original proofs, see any of the entry-level books on social choice listed above. The original proofs cited are in K. J. Arrow, Social Choice and Individual Values, New York, John Wiley, 2nd edn, 1963; A. Gibbard, 'Manipulation of Voting Schemes: a General Result', Econometrica, 41 (1973), pp. 587-601; M. A. Satterthwaite, 'Strategy-proofness and Arrow's Conditions', Journal of Economic Theory, 10 (1975), pp. 187-217; R. D. McKelvey, 'General Conditions for Global Intransitivities in Formal Voting Models', Econometrica, 47 (1979), pp. 1085-111; N. Schofield, 'Generic Instability of Majority Rule', Review of Economic Studies, 50 (1983), pp. 695-705.
23. For explanations of the original proofs, see any of the entry-level books on social choice listed above. The original proofs cited are in K. J. Arrow, Social Choice and Individual Values, New York, John Wiley, 2nd edn, 1963; A. Gibbard, 'Manipulation of Voting Schemes: a General Result', Econometrica, 41 (1973), pp. 587-601; M. A. Satterthwaite, 'Strategy-proofness and Arrow's Conditions', Journal of Economic Theory, 10 (1975), pp. 187-217; R. D. McKelvey, 'General Conditions for Global Intransitivities in Formal Voting Models', Econometrica, 47 (1979), pp. 1085-111; N. Schofield, 'Generic Instability of Majority Rule', Review of Economic Studies, 50 (1983), pp. 695-705.
24. For explanations of the original proofs, see any of the entry-level books on social choice listed above. The original proofs cited are in K. J. Arrow, Social Choice and Individual Values, New York, John Wiley, 2nd edn, 1963; A. Gibbard, 'Manipulation of Voting Schemes: a General Result', Econometrica, 41 (1973), pp. 587-601; M. A. Satterthwaite, 'Strategy-proofness and Arrow's Conditions', Journal of Economic Theory, 10 (1975), pp. 187-217; R. D. McKelvey, 'General Conditions for Global Intransitivities in Formal Voting Models', Econometrica, 47 (1979), pp. 1085-111; N. Schofield, 'Generic Instability of Majority Rule', Review of Economic Studies, 50 (1983), pp. 695-705.
25. Except that the chaos theorems are not as general as was thought when they were first proved.
26. See Dummett, Principles of Electoral Reform, pp. 99-103, on what this means and why it matters.
27. None of the methods of electing the Mayor of London put up in the Government's 1997 consultation paper is Condorcet-efficient (New Leadership for London: The Government's Proposals for a Greater London Authority: A Consultation Paper, London, The Stationery Office, 1997, Cm 3724, p. 10). Not surprisingly, therefore, neither is the method chosen.
28. For most of these cases see S. M. Lipset and S. Rokkan (eds), Party Systems and Voter Alignments, New York, The Free Press, 1967, pp. 30-3; for Australia, I. McLean, 'E. J. Nanson, Social Choice, and Electoral Reform', Australian Journal of Political Science, 31:3 (1996), pp. 369-85 at p. 379; for New Zealand, J. Boston et al., From Campaign to Coalition: the 1996 MMP Election, Palmerston North, The Dunmore Press, 1997.
29. For most of these cases see S. M. Lipset and S. Rokkan (eds), Party Systems and Voter Alignments, New York, The Free Press, 1967, pp. 30-3; for Australia, I. McLean, 'E. J. Nanson, Social Choice, and Electoral Reform', Australian Journal of Political Science, 31:3 (1996), pp. 369-85 at p. 379; for New Zealand, J. Boston et al., From Campaign to Coalition: the 1996 MMP Election, Palmerston North, The Dunmore Press, 1997.
30. For most of these cases see S. M. Lipset and S. Rokkan (eds), Party Systems and Voter Alignments, New York, The Free Press, 1967, pp. 30-3; for Australia, I. McLean, 'E. J. Nanson, Social Choice, and Electoral Reform', Australian Journal of Political Science, 31:3 (1996), pp. 369-85 at p. 379; for New Zealand, J. Boston et al., From Campaign to Coalition: the 1996 MMP Election, Palmerston North, The Dunmore Press, 1997.
31. For more detail, see I. McLean, 'The Semi-Detached Election: Scotland' in A. King (ed.), New Labour Triumphs: Britain at the Polls, Chatham, NJ, Chatham House, 1997, pp. 145-75; J. Mitchell, 'The Evolution of Devolution: Labour's Home Rule Strategy in Opposition', Government and Opposition, 33:4 (1998), pp. 479-96.
32. For more detail, see I. McLean, 'The Semi-Detached Election: Scotland' in A. King (ed.), New Labour Triumphs: Britain at the Polls, Chatham, NJ, Chatham House, 1997, pp. 145-75; J. Mitchell, 'The Evolution of Devolution: Labour's Home Rule Strategy in Opposition', Government and Opposition, 33:4 (1998), pp. 479-96.
33. Roy Jenkins, Mr Balfour's Poodle: An Account of the Struggle between the House of Lords and the Government of Mr Asquith, London, Heinemann, 1954; 2nd ed., Collins, 1968; Roy Jenkins, Asquith, London, Collins, 1964; Roy Jenkins, Gladstone, London, Macmillan, 1995.
34. Roy Jenkins, Mr Balfour's Poodle: An Account of the Struggle between the House of Lords and the Government of Mr Asquith, London, Heinemann, 1954; 2nd ed., Collins, 1968; Roy Jenkins, Asquith, London, Collins, 1964; Roy Jenkins, Gladstone, London, Macmillan, 1995.
35. Roy Jenkins, Mr Balfour's Poodle: An Account of the Struggle between the House of Lords and the Government of Mr Asquith, London, Heinemann, 1954; 2nd ed., Collins, 1968; Roy Jenkins, Asquith, London, Collins, 1964; Roy Jenkins, Gladstone, London, Macmillan, 1995.
36. Roy Jenkins, Mr Balfour's Poodle: An Account of the Struggle between the House of Lords and the Government of Mr Asquith, London, Heinemann, 1954; 2nd ed., Collins, 1968; Roy Jenkins, Asquith, London, Collins, 1964; Roy Jenkins, Gladstone, London, Macmillan, 1995.
37. Jenkins Report, p. v.
38. Jenkins considers the 'weighted vote' surely for the sole purpose of getting in the following (para. 89): 'whether they would carry these numbers round their necks or on their backs, rather like prize bulls at an agricultural show, is not clear, but what is clear is that there would be great problems if one of these vote-heavy beasts were . . . permanently to lumber off across the floor. There would inevitably be the most excited attempts to re-corral him.'
39. The academic evidence to Jenkins is in the supplementary volume Cm 4090-11 or, more conveniently, in the Web version at http://www.official-documents.co.uk/ document/cm40/4090/volume-2/contents.htm. Those unable to access the site directly can reach it by following links from www.open.gov.uk, selecting 'Organisation Index', and clicking on 'Independent Commission on the Voting System'.
40. D. Lipsey, 'How We Made up our Minds', Economist, 31 October 1998, pp. 30-1.
41. http://www.official-documents.co.uk/docuraent/cm40/4090/volume-2/ contents.htm; Cm 4090-I, paras 40-3.
42. Ibid., Butler consensus report, and evidence of P. Dunleavy and H. Margetts; Cm 4090-I, paras 81-5 and Annex A.
43. Jenkins Report, Recommendations 1 and 2.
44. On the properties of d'Hondt allocations, see R. Taagepera and M. S. Shugart, Seats and Votes: The Effects and Determinants of Electoral Systems, (New Haven, Yale University Press, 1989, pp. 32, 112-16.
45. Jenkins Report, Recommendation 15.
46. Fifth Report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life: The Funding of Political Parties in the UK, Chairman, Lord Neill of Bladen, Cm 4057-I or http//www.official-documents.co.uk/document/cm40/4057/4057.htm, ch. 11.
47. V. Bogdanor, Devolution, Oxford University Press, 1979, pp. 51-2.
48. I. McLean, 'Are Scotland and Wales Over-represented in the House of Commons?', Political Quarterly, 66 (1995), pp. 250-68.
49. Ibid; also I. McLean and D. Butler (eds), Fixing the Boundary: Defining and Redefining Single-Member Electoral Districts, Aldershot, Dartmouth Publishing Co., 1996.
50. Ibid; also I. McLean and D. Butler (eds), Fixing the Boundary: Defining and Redefining Single-Member Electoral Districts, Aldershot, Dartmouth Publishing Co., 1996.