Quoting Rick Froman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > OK, except that if the electoral college does not provide for democratic > elections, election of a Prime Minister by the Parliament also would not > be considered democratic. Are members of Parliament bound by law not to > switch parties or to vote for someone other than the nominee their party > supports? If not, I don't see a big difference between the two systems. > At least the electors are elected for a specific purpose (the election > of the president) that doesn't get bound up in all kinds of other > variables (is the person I support for Parliament the one who will get > my Prime Minister candidate elected?).
The term "democratic" is a litle more inclusive than the one process by which everyone gets to vote on every issue. Both systems are "democratic" though not directly so. Both systems are historical compromises. Both systems, as it turns out, under-represent city-dwellers, though I think the problem is worse in the US where small, rural states are systematically over-represented in the electoral college. In answer to your question, although there is no legal injunction against MPs voting against their own party's position, they often get thown out of hte party for doing so. There is much heavier party discipline in Canada than in the US (or Britain, for that matter). > Christopher Green York University Toronto, ON --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
