Descriptive representation instruments must vary with the group and electoral context

Evidence

The inclusiveness requirement on the legislature will radiate, depending on circumstances, into a number of recommendations on the selection and structuring of the legislative arm of government. The obvious way for members of the legislature to be selected is by means of direct election, since that increases the chances that they will have the credence of the groups they represent. But a mode of election that reflects just regional constituencies may not ensure that significantly different groups are given a distinctive voice. And so it may be necessary to look to other measures too. If there is a bicameral system, as other considerations suggest there should be, then it may be useful to use a different method of election for each of the two houses. If there is a problem with the representation of women, it may be a good idea to require each of the major parties to field at least 40 per cent women. If there is an indigenous population which is more or less evenly spread, then it may be essential to have some seats allocated specifically to their representatives. If there is a minority of electors who find it difficult or unattractive to register and vote, let alone to stand for office, then it may be desirable to introduce a system of compulsory registration and voting. And so on. — Philip Pettit, Republicanism, 870

Categorization

• XREF: The enumerated institutional fixes (party quotas, reserved seats, compulsory voting) connect to the ADDENDUM interest in how groups signal and claim voice — here in an electoral key. — connects to: Group political visibility depends on physical or institutional markers rather than abstract status — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 1926; Racial identity as a sign must give way to positional, political subjectivities; Inclusion and differentiation needs counterbalance each other in group identification — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 667

Broader Connections

• Inclusion and differentiation needs counterbalance each other in group identification #expands (0.82) — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 667
• Racial identity as a sign must give way to positional, political subjectivities #corroborates (0.80)
• Group political visibility depends on physical or institutional markers rather than abstract status #complicates (0.75) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 1926