Proportional representation is a system of voting in which each political party is represented in a parliament or legislature in proportion to the number of people who vote for it in an election.
proportional representation in British English
noun
representation of parties in an elective body in proportion to the votes they win
Abbreviation: PR. Compare: first-past-the-post
See also Additional Member System, Alternative Vote, party list, Single Transferable Vote
proportional representation in American English
a system of voting that gives minority parties representation in a legislature in proportion to their popular vote
Examples of 'proportional representation' in a sentence
proportional representation
This might not matter if the virtues claimed for proportional representation occurred.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The purest form of proportional representation is the multiple transferable vote.
Redwood, John The Global Marketplace (1993)
She would like to see a radical overhaul to introduce a system of proportional representation.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
For the alternative vote is not a proportional representation system.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The election will use proportional representation.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
There were more than enough Labour opponents of proportional representation to scupper a deal.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The other was proportional representation.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The first irony is that AV is not a system of proportional representation at all.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
With the Euro poll working on proportional representation, each vote is counted.
The Sun (2009)
Under Italy's new proportional representation system extra seats are awarded to the overall winner to guarantee a majority.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
I would like to see proportional representation in a nationally elected main chamber with a revising chamber elected the same way as the Commons.
The Sun (2012)
In Finland and Norway elections between the wars were conducted on the basis of the "list" system of proportional representation.
Blinkhorn, Martin (ed) Fascists and Conservatives (1990)