Additional Member System meaning

The Additional Member System is an electoral system that combines elements of both proportional representation and first-past-the-post systems.


Additional Member System definitions

Word backwards lanoitiddA rebmeM metsyS
Part of speech Noun
Syllabic division Ad-ditio-nal Mem-ber Sys-tem
Plural The plural of Additional Member System is Additional Member Systems.
Total letters 22
Vogais (5) a,i,o,a,e
Consonants (12) a,d,t,n,l,m,b,r,s,y

What is Additional Member System?

The Additional Member System (AMS) is a mixed electoral system used in many countries around the world to elect representatives to a legislative body, such as a parliament or assembly. This system combines elements of both proportional representation and first-past-the-post voting.

How does Additional Member System work?

In an Additional Member System, voters typically cast two votes - one for a specific candidate in their constituency using the first-past-the-post method, and another for a political party using a list-based proportional representation system. The total number of seats in the legislative body is divided between constituency representatives and list representatives based on the results of both types of votes.

The benefits of Additional Member System

The Additional Member System aims to strike a balance between the representation of individual geographic areas through constituency representatives and the representation of political parties through list representatives. This can lead to a more diverse and representative legislature, with a mix of local representatives and those chosen from party lists.

The use of Additional Member System around the world

The Additional Member System is commonly used in countries such as Germany, New Zealand, and Scotland. It is seen as a way to provide a fairer and more proportional representation of voters' preferences while also maintaining a connection between elected representatives and their local communities.

In conclusion, the Additional Member System is a hybrid electoral system that combines elements of both first-past-the-post and proportional representation. It is used in various countries to elect representatives to legislative bodies and aims to provide a balance between local representation and party representation.


Additional Member System Examples

  1. The United Kingdom uses the Additional Member System for electing Members of the Scottish Parliament.
  2. New Zealand adopted the Additional Member System for its parliamentary elections in 1996.
  3. Germany utilizes the Additional Member System for its Bundestag elections.
  4. The Welsh Assembly also employs the Additional Member System in its voting process.
  5. The state of Mixed Member Proportional representation in Germany is accomplished through the Additional Member System.
  6. The proportional representation system in Scotland is implemented through the Additional Member System.
  7. Various countries worldwide have adopted the Additional Member System for their electoral systems.
  8. The Additional Member System aims to combine the benefits of both proportional representation and single-member districts.
  9. One of the key features of the Additional Member System is the presence of both list MPs and constituency MPs.
  10. The Additional Member System is viewed as a compromise between proportional representation and first-past-the-post systems.


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  • Updated 01/04/2024 - 16:40:19