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Learning Materials: Introduction

The Learning phase took place over six weekends in January through March. They covered three general topics:

1.  The first two weekends considered the place of electoral systems within the political life of a democracy and the criteria by which members could assess different systems.

2.  The second pair of weekends dealt with the nature of electoral systems and reviewed the characteristics of the five basic families of electoral systems. Some of the detailed work was left for the deliberative phase in the fall.

3.  The third pair of weekends focussed on the question of what happens when you change an electoral system and, considering all the members learned, what systems should be offered to British Columbians for more detailed consideration. At that stage, the members prepared and issued a "Preliminary Statement to the People of British Columbia".

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

ONE - INTRODUCTION TO THE CITIZENS ASSEMBLY
 
Jan 10 am  The Citizens’ Assembly – Getting started 
            pm  Politics in BC – What do we want? 
Jan 11 am  Criteria for evaluating electoral systems: system & voters                

TWO - ELECTIONS AND PARLIAMENTARY GOVERNMENT
 
Jan 24 am  Elections, representation and parliament 
            pm  Political parties and party competition 
Jan 25 am  Canadian experience and practice 

THREE - ELECTORAL  SYSTEMS - PART ONE
 
Feb 7 am  The five electoral system families  
          pm  Majority systems 
Feb 8 am  Plurality systems    

FOUR - ELECTORAL  SYSTEMS -  PART TWO
 
Feb 21 am  Proportional representation systems (list) 
            pm  Single transferable vote Systems  
Feb 22 am  Mixed systems     

FIVE - CHANGING ELECTORAL SYSTEMS
 
Mar 6 am  Choosing electoral systems  
          pm  The impact of changing an electoral system 
Mar 7 am  Lessons for British Columbia    

SIX - OPTIONS FOR PUBLIC DISCUSSION
 
Mar 20 am  Assessment of our current system 
            pm  Are there alternatives? 
Mar 21 am  Facing the public – a Preliminary Statement

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