... a common social constraint for example. Each electoral system therefore produces its own 'strain' of democracy. This essay compares the different epitomes of democracy produced by the "First-Past-the-Post" (FPTP) system and Proportional Representation (PR) system. The essay will compare and contrast the two systems in order to demonstrate the impossibility of a pure democracy, and that each electoral system therefore produces a different archetype of 'democracy'. First-past-the-post electoral systems, as currently practised in the UK general elections, have a tendency to produce strong, stable governments. Although the majority party has a minority of votes, it still represents the largest minority. The majority in the UK's House of Commons allows it to carry out its policies, uncluttered by 'wheeler-dealing' with smaller parties. It usually completes, more or less, its term of office and is subject to the judgement of the electorate. This is in stark contrast to coalition governments, which give enormous power ...

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