Topic > Electoral System and Party System - 1777

If an electoral system produces too small a district size, the result can have negative effects on party discipline and cooperation. While some countries have large districts and safe multiple districts with multiple seats, there are examples of single-district systems, such as the Netherlands. This lack of broader representation can push representatives against their party line, clarify to me (ASSD,212223, 126). In addition to the size of the district, how candidates are elected can also impact intraparty relations. When a vote encourages the selection of a candidate, or selection from a party list it has huge implications on the MP's relationship with their party. If a constituency can be won exclusively by the candidate, it may increase the need for party discipline, but if a representative's position in government relies on the people who make up the party list, there is an incentive for conformity (asdfg, 127 ). There may be an increase in party discipline and intraparty agreements in proportional systems that use both party lists and representatives, such as mixed-member proportional representation. The cohesion needed to communicate and obey party lines increases with the opportunity to run for representative and secure a position on a party list. Candidates must essentially cooperate along party lines or risk their position in most electoral systems. Strategically, it is in a party's best interest to keep its members willing to advance its agenda and have a lasting base for when they must interact with other parties in a party.