Women's parliamentary representation: the effect of list PR

Abstract

Under a closed list proportional representation (PR) system, the composition of political party candidate lists can impact significantly on the composition of Parliament. The high representation of women in South Africa's national Parliament in 1994 was largely attributable to the African National Congress’ adoption of a quota system guaranteeing that at least 30 per cent of their lists were comprised of women. This article begins by examining the current proportional representation electoral system for national elections, and discusses the importance of ‘gender representation’ in our national Parliament. Thereafter the composition of party lists in 1994 and political parties’ views on the quota system is examined. It is shown that the adoption of a quota system impacts significantly on the composition of Parliament. Ahead of the 1999 elections, and as the post‐1999 electoral system debate begins to emerge, it is important that the merit of the List PR electoral system as a mechanism to increase the representation of women in Parliament through a balanced party ticket is considered.