Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

proportional-representation

Noun

/prəˈpɔːrʃənəl ˌrɛprɪˈzɛnˌteɪʃən/

Definition

A system of electing representatives in which the number of seats held by a party or group reflects the percentage of votes they received in an election.

Examples

Countries like Sweden and Israel use proportional representation to elect their parliaments.
Under a proportional representation system, even smaller parties have a chance to gain seats.
The system can lead to coalition governments due to multiple parties gaining representation.

Meaning

Proportional representation aims to ensure that the distribution of seats in a legislature matches the overall distribution of public support for each party, leading to a more accurate reflection of voters’ preferences.