Definition
An electoral system where parties gain seats in proportion to their vote share rather than winner-take-all. Makes third parties viable but often requires coalition governments, trading two-party dysfunction for multi-party dysfunction.
Example Usage
Under proportional representation, the Green Party won 12% of the seats with 12% of the national vote.
Origin
Developed in 19th-century Europe as alternative to first-past-the-post systems
Fun Fact
Only two democracies still use pure plurality voting nationwide: the United States and the United Kingdom, explaining much about both countries.
Source: Comparative electoral systems documentation
Related Terms
Translate This Term
See “proportional representation” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
Try the Translator