For those familiar with the basics of PR, here is a selection of pieces written by scholars and activists that address some of the various political issues surrounding this electoral reform.   The articles are divided into the topic areas listed below.   References to additional articles on each of these topics can be found in the Bibliography.

• General Interest
• PR and the Representation of Minorities
• PR and the Representation of Women
• PR and Parties
• PR and Redistricting
• The History of PR in the United States
• Criticisms of PR

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General Interest

• Steven Hill, Fixing Elections: The Failure of America's Winner-Take-All Politics.  The author gives a lively and informative talk on his new book about the failures of our current election system.  Available in both audio and video forms.
• John Stuart Mill, Considerations on Representative Government (excerpt).  A true classic.  One of the earliest defenses (1862) of proportional representation by a preeminent English philosopher.
• Douglas J. Amy, "Instant Runoff Voting:  No Substitute for Proportional Representation."
• Douglas J. Amy, "Larger Lessons for the 2000 Election Fiasco."
• Rob Richie and Steven Hill, "Reflecting All of Us: A Debate on Proportional Representation."  This is a series of articles on PR published in the Boston Review. The lead piece makes the case for PR, and there are also several pieces in response.
• Michael Lind, "Alice Doesn't Vote Here Anymore." This piece appeared in Mother Jones magazine. It is an insightful and witty description of the absurdities that result from voting in a single-member district, plurality system.
• Rob Richie and Steven Hill, "The Case for Proportional Representation."
• Douglas J. Amy, "Proportional Representation: Empowering Minorities or Promoting Balkanization?"
• Rob Richie, "Preference Voting vs. Cumulative Voting."
• Robert Barta, "An Argument for PR from the Right."
• Steven Hill, "An Argument for PR from the Left."
• Steven Hill and Rob Richie,  "How to Enact Progressive Policy"
• Arend Lijphart, "PR vs. Single-Member Districts in States."
• Douglas J. Amy, "The 96 Election: Voter Turnout, Gerrymandering, and PR"

     Many of the most useful general interest articles making the case for PR in the U.S. cannot be found on the Web.  For citations on these materials, go to the Bibliography on the Case for PR.

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PR and the Representation of Minorities

• Douglas J. Amy, "Fair Representation for Minorities: Is Proportional Representation the Answer?"
• Steven Hill, "A Voting Rights Act at War With Itself." 
• Robert Richie, Douglas Amy, Frederick McBride, "How Proportional Representation Can Empower Minorities and the Poor."
• Rep. Cynthia McKinney, "Proportional Representation:  Next Step for Democracy."

      Many of the most useful articles on the topic of PR and minority representation cannot be found on the Web.  For citations on these materials, go to the Bibliography on PR and the Representation of Minorities.

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PR and the Representation of Women

• Wilma Rule and Steven Hill, "Ain't I a Voter" -- Voting Rights for Women."
• Cynthia Terrel, "How Can We Get More Women Elected?"

    Many of the most useful articles on PR and the representation of women cannot be found on the Web.  For citations on these materials, go to the Bibliography on PR and the Representation of Women.

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PR and Political Parties

• Steven Hill, "Standing on the Threshold of a Third Party Dream."
• Douglas J. Amy, "How Proportional Representation Would Help Republicans and Democrats."
• William Redpath, "Proportional Representation and the Libertarian Party."

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PR and Redistricting

• Guy-Uriel Charles, "Should Single-Member Districting Be Held Unconstitutional? If So, That Ruling Would Help Solve The Problem of Political Gerrymandering."
• Eric Olsen, "Ugly Redistricting Map Spotlights System's Flaws."
• Tom Brazaitis, "Our Unduly Selected Representatives."
• Douglas J. Amy, "How Proportional Representation Would Finally Solve our Redistricting and Gerrymandering Problems."

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The History of PR in the United States

• Douglas J. Amy, "A Brief History of Proportional Representation in the United States."
• Robert Kolesar, "Communism, Race, and the Defeat of Proportional Representation in Cold War America."
• Dan Prosterman, "History of Proportional Representation in New York City Council Elections in the 1930s-1940s."
• Thomas Gilpin, "On the Representation of Minorities of Electors to Act with the Majority in Elected Assemblies." (1844)
• Senator Charles Buckalew, "Proportional Representation," (1872).

  Many of the most useful articles on the history of PR in the U.S. cannot be found on the web.  For citations on these materials, go to the Bibliography on the History of PR in the United States.

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Criticisms of PR

• Douglas J. Amy, "Common Criticisms of PR and Responses to Them"
• Lauren Bain, "What's Wrong with Proportional Representation."
• Abigail Thernstrom, "Proportional Representation:  Destabilizing Idea."
• George H. Hallett, Jr., "Objections to PR," from Proportional Representation: The Key to Democracy (1940)

    Many of the most useful articles critical of PR cannot be found on the web.  For citations on these materials, go to the Bibliography on Criticisms of PR.

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