The "Learning Phase" was divided into six weekends of study,
plus homework reading. The themes of this first weekend
were Politics in BC — What do we
want? and Criteria for evaluating electoral systems.
The weekends were organised into three
sessions: Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon and Sunday
morning. Handouts provided to members and presentations
for the first weekend can be downloaded
here:
Session 2: Politics in BC
Session 3: Assessing Electoral
Systems
This was the agenda for the first weekend, January
10-11:
INTRODUCTION TO THE CITIZENS' ASSEMBLY
Saturday January 10
Morning: The Citizens'
Assembly — getting started
Afternoon: Politics in
BC — What do we want?
Current practices vs. alternative
possibilities
-
Adversarial and party disciplined OR coalition style
politics
-
Government dominated legislature OR greater parliamentary
authority
-
Locally based OR interest (or party) structured
representation
-
Irregular OR tightly tied vote-seat linkages
-
Either-or vote OR greater voter choice
Discussion Groups
-
What aspects of BC politics do you think work well?
-
Are there practices that don’t meet
expectations?
-
Is party discipline good or bad for BC politics?
-
Is there one thing about BC politics you would most like to
change?
Sunday January 11
Morning: Criteria for evaluating electoral
systems — System and voters
System needs
-
Stable / effective parliament and government
-
Electoral accountability
-
Parliamentary scrutiny of government
-
Fair representation for all parties, groups
-
Democratic political parties
Voters’ needs
Illustration of trade-offs different systems provide
Discussion Groups
-
Which criteria are more important – for you as a
voter, for BC?
-
How are criteria to be balanced?
-
Questions, and discussion of presentation
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