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Articles

Vol. 26 No. 1 (2006)

Las virtudes del sistema binominal

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-090X2006000100016
Submitted
January 8, 2020
Published
2020-01-08

Abstract

Chile’s unique system of legislative elections, in which each district elects two representatives (M=2), has been subject to controversy and a target for reform proposals since it was imposed on the country by the outgoing authoritarian regime in 1990. Most reform advocates call for greater proportionality. This essay argues that, desipte its undemocratic origins, the M=2 system has performed quite well relative to systems used in many other countries. In particular, M=2 in Chile delivers a reasonable mix of representativeness, governability, and individual legislator accountability. The essay goes on to consider various alternatives for reform and outlines some potential problems each would entail. If the Chilean system is to be reformed, the essay recommends incrementalism - a moderate increase in district magnitude, perhaps, but maintaining open lists, and no change to a mixed-member system (MMS).

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