Parliamentary government formation: Difference between revisions

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There is not really a winning party in a [[Representative Government]] but merely a party who forms the government. For the unity of the government, its formation is done largely by the discretion the Prime Minister. The leader of the party who has the most seats is typically selected as the prime minister and tries to form the government. If the leader of the largest party does not have enough members in their party to have a majority, a coalition of other parties may form. Coalition governments are formed by two or more parties combining to govern together and blocking the confidence in the leader of the largest party.
There is not really a winning party in a [[Representative Government]] but merely a party who forms the government. For the unity of the government, its formation is done largely by the discretion the Prime Minister. The leader of the party who has the most seats is typically selected as the prime minister and tries to form the government. If the leader of the largest party does not have enough members in their party to have a majority, a coalition of other parties may form. Coalition governments are formed by two or more parties combining to govern together and blocking the confidence in the leader of the largest party.


===Criticism and alternate method for Prime Minister Selection===
===Criticism and alternate methods for Prime Minister Selection===


(This section has some opinions from various advocacy groups).
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It would be unexpected for the leader of any party to be the member with the highest confidence of the house. Because of which, the standard process of government formation does not adhere particularly well to the concept of a representative government where all representatives have equal power. Instead, it would be desirable to choose a Prime Minister through election by the members in a similar manner as the members were chosen in the first place. In principle, this could be a member which leads no party but has broad general support of the parliament. The role of the official opposition in the Westminster System is an important check on governmental power. The leader of the opposition must also be selected to form this opposition. It would be desirable if the government and the opposition were optimally polarized to each other so that opposition could be ensured.


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It would be unexpected for the leader of any party to be the member with the highest confidence of the house. Because of which, the standard process of government formation can be claimed to not adhere particularly well to the concept of a representative government where all representatives have equal power. Instead, it would be desirable to choose a Prime Minister through election by the members in a similar manner as the members were chosen in the first place. In principle, this could be a member which leads no party but has broad general support of the parliament. The role of the official opposition in the Westminster System is an important check on governmental power. The leader of the opposition must also be selected to form this opposition. It would be desirable if the government and the opposition were optimally polarized to each other so that opposition could be ensured.
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There is much desire to find a leader who would have high confidence of the house but this is difficult to select. Forming coalitions which comprise a majority has been known to take a very long time as well. There is likely no way to force a majority of members to agree on a leader so minority governments are unavoidable.

⚫
There is much desire to find a leader who would have high confidence of the house but this is difficult to select. Forming coalitions which comprise a majority has been known to take a very long time as well. There is likely no way to force a majority of members to agree on a leader so minority governments are unavoidable. (One possible majority rule-based alternative would be to use [[Condorcet voting]] to find a [[Beats-all winner|beats-all winner]] or at least a [[Smith set]] of viable candidates to lead the government, possibly by using [[Smith//Approval]] to find the candidate with the largest majority approval in the Smith set. Candidates not in the Smith set could be eliminated over [[Repeated balloting|repeated ballotings]].)


There are notable examples of government formation through methods without reference to any party. An interesting example in Canada is “Consensus Government” in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. There are no parties and the legislature elects first the speaker, then the premier, and finally the cabinet members from amongst themselves.
There are notable examples of government formation through methods without reference to any party. An interesting example in Canada is “Consensus Government” in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. There are no parties and the legislature elects first the speaker, then the premier, and finally the cabinet members from amongst themselves.
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One of the major motivations for [[Proportional Representation]] stems from wanting the party which forms the government to also be the party with the greatest proportion of the popular vote. This motivation can be eliminated under different government formation systems which are less partisan. The current method makes the level of [[Proportional Representation]] crucial to the formation of the government. An alternative method which is more democratic and representative would be preferred and greatly decrease issues with low [[Proportional Representation]].
One of the major motivations for [[Proportional Representation]] stems from wanting the party which forms the government to also be the party with the greatest proportion of the popular vote. This motivation can be eliminated under different government formation systems which are less partisan. The current method makes the level of [[Proportional Representation]] crucial to the formation of the government. An alternative method which is more democratic and representative would be preferred and greatly decrease issues with low [[Proportional Representation]].


A common suggestion is a bottom up method where the selection of the Prime Minister is done by a vote from among the members themselves. This then returns us to considering the balloting methods like any other election. When designing a selection method, the goal would be to select a broadly appealing member as the leader and another which opposes their general stance to lead the opposition. The most polarizing systems are [[Single Plurality Voting]] and [[Rank Voting]] so one might think that these would produce a good Prime Minister and opposition leader. However, in both these systems it is highly likely that the winner and runner-up would be leaders of parties. If the idea is to find a candidate who can get the highest approval of the house, a different system must be used.
A common suggestion is a bottom up method where the selection of the Prime Minister is done by a vote from among the members themselves. This then returns us to considering the balloting methods like any other election. When designing a selection method, the goal would be to select a broadly appealing member as the leader and another which opposes their general stance to lead the opposition. Most voting reform advocates would argue that [[Single Plurality Voting]] is a very polarizing method (with many [[Cardinal method|cardinal method]] advocates further arguing that [[IRV]] is also polarizing) so one might think that these types of methods would produce a good Prime Minister and opposition leader. However, in both these systems it is highly likely that the winner and runner-up would be leaders of parties. If the idea is to find a candidate who can get the highest approval of the house, a different system must be used.


Unlike in general elections where multiple rounds would be logistically and economically infeasible this is not the case for elections within the members of the assembly. There could be one vote to elect the Prime Minister, and then from the remaining members a second to elect the leader of the opposition. It is typically suggested that a form of Score Voting would be optimal since it has been established as the best system for single winner elections. It would be desirable that the leader of the opposition is chosen by those members who did not vote for the leader of the government as it would optimize polarization. In a [[Score Voting]] system with more than two gradations, it becomes unclear who those members should be. As such, the version of score voting with a binary choice is best, otherwise known as [[Approval Voting]]. It would also help the public see their representation if the vote was public and open so the electorate can see who their representative supported.
Unlike in general elections where [[Repeated balloting|multiple rounds]] would be logistically and economically infeasible this is not the case for elections within the members of the assembly. There could be one vote to elect the Prime Minister, and then from the remaining members a second to elect the leader of the opposition. [[Cardinal method]] advocates typically advise that a form of [[Score Voting]] would be optimal since they argue it to be the best system for single winner elections (based on metrics such as [[Bayesian regret]] i.e. social [[utility]]). It would be desirable that the leader of the opposition is chosen by those members who did not vote for the leader of the government as it would optimize polarization. In a [[Score Voting]] system with more than two gradations, it becomes unclear who those members should be. As such, the version of score voting with a binary choice is likely best, otherwise known as [[Approval Voting]]. It would also help the public see their representation if the vote was public and open so the electorate can see who their representative supported.


In summary, the most common suggested replacement method of government formation is to have an Approval Vote for the Prime Minister. Those who vote for the winning candidate form the government. The leader of the opposition would then be chosen by a second round of Approval Voting from those who are not already in the government. The Prime Minister and the opposition leader would then be free to choose their cabinets as in the current system.
In summary, the most common suggested replacement method of government formation by cardinal method advocates is to have an Approval Vote for the Prime Minister. Those who vote for the winning candidate form the government. The leader of the opposition would then be chosen by a second round of Approval Voting from those who are not already in the government. The Prime Minister and the opposition leader would then be free to choose their cabinets as in the current system.


The most common rebuttal to this is change is that there would be [[Strategic voting]] in these elections. The consequences of strategic voting for Approval Voting would be for all members to vote for any member they could work with. This would be all members of their own party and for all but the largest party, several select candidates from other parties. Typical results would be the same as the current system but in a minority of cases a more unifying leader would be chosen. This would solve the problem of minority governments and coalitions. It can be thought of as a method to find the best coalition government to rule. It also would eliminate the need for Proportional Representation to justify the government formation.
The most common rebuttal to this is change is that there would be [[Strategic voting]] in these elections. The consequences of strategic voting for Approval Voting are argued to be for all members to vote for any member they could work with. This would be all members of their own party and for all but the largest party, several select candidates from other parties. Typical results would be the same as the current system but in a minority of cases a more unifying leader would be chosen. This would solve the problem of minority governments and coalitions. It can be thought of as a method to find the best coalition government to rule. It also would eliminate the need for Proportional Representation to justify the government formation.


This system does make a large change in that being an independent would not be nearly as detrimental. There could arise situations where the vote for the leader came down to the independents. The independent’s ability to choose any member without being restricted by a party could in fact give an independent more power than they would have when in a party. This is the second most common criticisms of this change to government formation since it would make the independents "King Makers". While potentially true it has never been seen in practice and may be a more stable situation than coalitions since a coalition can threaten to break the government over sub-partisan issues. Coalitions are often formed through agreements but this system would be binding and not down to the bickering of factions. As with the current system, the government could always be dissolved by a vote of non confidence.
This system does make a large change in that being an independent would not be nearly as detrimental. There could arise situations where the vote for the leader came down to the independents. The independent’s ability to choose any member without being restricted by a party could in fact give an independent more power than they would have when in a party. This is the second most common criticisms of this change to government formation since it would make the independents "King Makers". While potentially true it has never been seen in practice and may be a more stable situation than coalitions since a coalition can threaten to break the government over sub-partisan issues. Coalitions are often formed through agreements but this system would be binding and not down to the bickering of factions. As with the current system, the government could always be dissolved by a vote of non confidence.
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