LegislaturesChambers of Representation?

March 4th, 2004

Structure

legislatures designed as mechanisms of representation who, or what, are they intended to

represent?

Structure

unicameralism vs. bicameralism unicameralism

Israeli (Knesset), Denmark (Folketing), Norway (Sorting), Sweden (Riksdag)

bicameralism Canada -- House of Commons, Senate US – House of Representatives, Senate Germany – Bundestag, Bundesrat Britain – House of Commons, House of

Lords France – National Assembly, Senate

Structure bicameralism

lower house is typically elected on the basis of representation by population

always is an attempt to represent interests that would not be represented in a elected lower house based on representation by population

may be elected or non-elected examples...

British House of Lords Canadian Senate American Senate German Bundesrat

Issues of Representation can interests of a group be

represented by someone who is not a member of that group??? elite democrats? majoritarian democrats?

Gender Representation in National Legislatures female representation in legislatures

is low female representation decreases as

the importance of the position increases

representation of women tends to be concentrated in certain types of roles

female representation varies significantly even within western industrialized countries

Gender Representation

Members of Parliament -- World, 2002

85%

15%

Male Female

Gender Representation

Members of Executive (Ministers) -- World, 2002

86%

14%

Male Female

Gender Representation

Presiding Officer of Parliament -- World, 2002

89%

11%

Male Female

Gender Representation

Head of State or Head of Government -- World, 2002

95%

5%

Male Female

Gender Representation

Head of Government -- World, 2002

99%

1%

Male Female

05

101520253035

% o

f Min

iste

rs

Social

Affairs

Women

's Affa

irsHea

lth

Justic

e

Educat

ion

Trade/I

ndus

try

Foreign

Affairs

Financ

e

Defenc

e

Female Ministers by Portfolio -- World 2002

05

1015202530354045

% o

f Mem

bers

Sweden

German

y

New Zea

land

Austra

lia

Canad

a UK US

France Ita

ly

Female Members of Parliament -- World 2002

0

10

20

30

40

50

60%

of M

inis

ters

Sweden

Denmark

New Zea

land

France

German

y US

Canad

a

Austra

lia

Female Ministers - Select Countries 2000

Gender Representation in National Legislatures female representation in legislatures

is low female representation decreases as

the importance of the position increases

representation of women tends to be concentrated in certain types of roles

female representation varies significantly even within western industrialized countries

The Canadian Ministry (in order of precedence)

1.1. The Right Honourable Paul Martin, Prime MinisterThe Right Honourable Paul Martin, Prime Minister2.2. The Honourable Jacob Austin The Honourable Jacob Austin

Leader of the Government in the SenateLeader of the Government in the Senate3.3. The Honourable David Anderson, EnvironmentThe Honourable David Anderson, Environment4.4. The Honourable Ralph E. Goodale, FinanceThe Honourable Ralph E. Goodale, Finance5.5. The Honourable Anne McLellan, Deputy Prime The Honourable Anne McLellan, Deputy Prime

Minister and Minister of Public Safety Minister and Minister of Public Safety 6.6. The Honourable Lucienne Robillard, IndustryThe Honourable Lucienne Robillard, Industry7.7. The Honourable Pierre S. Pettigrew, Health, The Honourable Pierre S. Pettigrew, Health,

Intergovernmental Affairs, and Official LanguagesIntergovernmental Affairs, and Official Languages8.8. The Honourable James Scott Peterson, Trade The Honourable James Scott Peterson, Trade 9.9. The Honourable Andrew Mitchell, Indian AffairsThe Honourable Andrew Mitchell, Indian Affairs10.10. The Honourable Claudette Bradshaw, Labour and The Honourable Claudette Bradshaw, Labour and

Minister responsible for HomelessnessMinister responsible for Homelessness11.11. The Honourable Denis Coderre The Honourable Denis Coderre

President of the Queen’s Privy Council for CanadaPresident of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada12.12. The Honourable Rey D. Pagtakhan, Western The Honourable Rey D. Pagtakhan, Western

Economic DiversificationEconomic Diversification13.13. The Honourable John McCallum, Veterans AffairsThe Honourable John McCallum, Veterans Affairs14.14. The Honourable Stephen Owen, Public Works and The Honourable Stephen Owen, Public Works and

Government ServicesGovernment Services15.15. The Honourable William Graham, Foreign AffairsThe Honourable William Graham, Foreign Affairs16.16. The Honourable Stan Kazmierczak Keyes, National The Honourable Stan Kazmierczak Keyes, National

RevenueRevenue17.17. The Honourable Robert Speller, AgricultureThe Honourable Robert Speller, Agriculture18.18. The Honourable Giuseppe (Joseph) Volpe, Human The Honourable Giuseppe (Joseph) Volpe, Human

Resources and Skills DevelopmentResources and Skills Development

19.19. The Honourable Reginald B. Alcock The Honourable Reginald B. Alcock President of the Treasury Board and President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for the Canadian Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat BoardWheat Board

20.20. The Honourable Geoff Regan, Fisheries The Honourable Geoff Regan, Fisheries and Oceansand Oceans

21.21. The Honourable Tony Valeri, TransportThe Honourable Tony Valeri, Transport22.22. The Honourable David Pratt, National The Honourable David Pratt, National

DefenceDefence23.23. The Honourable Jacques Saada, The Honourable Jacques Saada,

Democratic ReformDemocratic Reform24.24. The Honourable Irwin Cotler, JusticeThe Honourable Irwin Cotler, Justice25.25. The Honourable Judy Sgro, Citizenship The Honourable Judy Sgro, Citizenship

and Immigrationand Immigration26.26. The Honourable Hélène Chalifour The Honourable Hélène Chalifour

Scherrer, Scherrer, Canadian HeritageCanadian Heritage

27.27. The Honourable Ruben John Efford, The Honourable Ruben John Efford, Natural ResourcesNatural Resources

28.28. The Honourable Liza Frulla, Social The Honourable Liza Frulla, Social DevelopmentDevelopment

29.29. The Honourable Joseph McGuire The Honourable Joseph McGuire Minister of Atlantic Canada Minister of Atlantic Canada Opportunities AgencyOpportunities Agency

30.30. The Honourable Mauril Bélanger The Honourable Mauril Bélanger Deputy Leader of the Government in the Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of CommonsHouse of Commons

31.31. The Honourable M. Aileen Carroll, The Honourable M. Aileen Carroll, International CooperationInternational Cooperation

Gender Representation in National Legislatures gender parity laws

Tanzania, Bangladesh, Eritrea, India, Uganda, Belgium, France

France constitutional change in 2000 provides that 50% of all party

candidates must be female mandatory at local/municipal level violations subject to fines at the

national level