UPSC Prelims 1997 · General Studies
Question 78: Polity and Governance
In which one of the following countries are 75 per cent of seats in both Houses of Parliament filled on the basis of first-past-the-post system and 25 per cent on the basis of Proportional Representation system of elections?
AnswerThe answer is (b).
Italy's electoral law of 1993 (the Mattarella law) filled 75 per cent of the seats in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate by first-past-the-post in single-member constituencies and 25 per cent by proportional representation. Germany has a mixed system in which half the seats are filled by constituency and half by party lists. France uses two-round constituency voting for the Assembly, and Russia's Duma used a half-and-half system.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Germany fills half the seats by constituency and half by lists, not 75 and 25.
- (b) Right: Italy's 1993 law gave 75 per cent constituency seats and 25 per cent proportional seats.
- (c) France elects its National Assembly by two-round constituency voting, with no proportional share.
- (d) Russia's Duma used a 50-50 split, and not for both Houses.
Worth knowing: Italy dropped this system in 2005 and has changed its electoral law several times since, so the answer holds only for the 1990s.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 1997, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.