Thesis (M.A.)--Villanova University, 2007. / Political Science Dept. Includes bibliographical references.

In a representative democracy the people's representatives are expected to do what the people would do if they were present in person. To attain this ideal requires that the legislature in its composition embodies the politically relevant diversity that exists within society, and that the legislature has power to act. These two requirements are prevalent among significant theories of representation, post- Charter court rulings, and the commonly accepted expectations of the people themselves. Typically, the composition of the BC legislature is not representative; and the legislature lacks power to act. The Single Member Plurality electoral system manufactures majorities in the legislature where none exist among the people. Most voters are not represented in the legislature, and the artificial majorities give cabinet undue power. When cabinet has too much power, the concept of responsible government is subverted, MLAs lose their independence, and are beholden to their political party, instead of their constituents. Replacing the Single Member Plurality system with the Single Transferable Vote has the potential to give voters more choice, waste fewer votes, bring greater diversity into the legislature, lessen party discipline, weaken the power of the Premier and cabinet, increase the power of the legislature, restore responsible government, render government more responsive to changing public demands, reconnect government to the people, and give voters power over their representatives. Our electoral system is designed to benefit political parties - not people. Therefore, change will not likely originate with parties and party activists. It must come from the people themselves, aided perhaps by the courts. / Arts, Faculty of / Political Science, Department of / Graduate

Thesis (M.A.)--Ohio University, June, 2009. / Title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (doctoral)--Universität, Bayreuth, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. [411]-432) and index.

Univ., Diss.--Gießen, 2004.

published_or_final_version / Law / Master / Master of Laws

by Susan Blumberg Liu. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 112-116). / ACKNOWLEDGMENTS / ABSTRACT / DECLARATION / CHAPTER / Chapter I. --- NTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Civil Society as a Theoretical Concept / Relevance of Thesis / Organization of Thesis / Chapter II. --- CIVIL SOCIETY AND LATE IMPERIAL CHINA --- p.11 / Habermas and the Public Sphere / Habermas as Applied to the Chinese Case / Recent Debate on Civil Society in Late-Qing China / Rankin versus Wakeman / Rowe versus Wakeman / Recent Discussion on Civil Society in Contemporary China / The Question of Autonomy / Civil Society with Chinese Characteristics / Gathered Comments / Chapter III. --- THE DYNAMICS OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN THE LATE-QING ERA --- p.44 / The Emergence of a New Public / Social Class Correlation / The Constitutionalists / Women in Late-Qing China / The Press and Public Opinion / Chapter IV. --- THE MOVEMENT FOR ESTABLISHING PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLIES --- p.63 / Getting Started / The Elections / Chapter V. --- THE PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLIES COMMENCE --- p.75 / The Nature of the Assemblies / Interaction and Organization of the Assembly Members / Chapter VI. --- TWO CASE STUDIES FROM THE PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLIES --- p.83 / The Jiangsu Assembly / Organization and Preparation / The Assembly Commences / Zhang Jian: Example of the New Gentry in Late-Qing China / The Hubei Assembly / Organization and Preparation / The Assembly Commences / Chapter VII. --- CONCLUSION --- p.107 / The Fate of the Assemblies / Analysis of Findings / Lasting Implications of Civil Society in China / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.112

published_or_final_version / Public Administration / Master / Master of Social Sciences

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2000. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 292-296). Also available on the Internet.