Electoral Systems in Comparative Perspective

This paper about electoral systems enforced on the democratic States is divides in two parts. In the first one (points 1. to 5.) the author presents the most important elements to classify methods and formulas, beginning from the classic distinction between majoritarian and proportional systems. The second part aims to show the complicated relationships among forms of government described by the Constitutions, nature, number and actions of political parties and electoral systems, fixing the exam on some important and significant States. In finish, some notes and considerations about the national electoral laws in force for the formation of European Parliament. The leading statement of the author is that to judge an electoral system we need to put it into the concrete context of history, constitutional institutes and political system of each Country