The initiative and referendum (p. 380) are also weapons in the hands of a minority; for, as we have seen, a small number of voters may compel the legislature to consider, or reconsider, any piece of legislation, or to submit it to the people for their decision.  Minority parties may thus keep prominently before the people measures that have been adversely acted upon by the majority.

THE RECALL

Another device that has been introduced in some states and local communities is the recall of officials.  By means of this a specified number of voters may demand that an officer of government who is displeasing to them be brought before the people for their vote as to whether he shall be removed from office or not.  A small minority may thus call an elected officer to account.

PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION OF PARTIES

One plan strongly advocated by some students of government to insure to minorities an actual voice in government is that of proportional representation of parties in legislative bodies.  By this plan each party would be represented in proportion to its strength.  If two parties were of about equal strength they would be represented equally; if one were twice as strong as another, it would have twice the representation.  The plan is actually in use in very few localities.  In Illinois, however, the cumulative-vote plan is in use, by which each voter is permitted as many votes as there are places to be filled, and to distribute these votes among the several candidates or to cast them all for one candidate.  Thus, if there are three representatives to be elected from his district, he may give one vote to each of the three, or he may give three votes to one of them.  A minority may thus, by concentrating all of their votes upon a single candidate, be reasonably sure of representation.  But it requires good team work to get this result.

DIFFERENT BASES OF REPRESENTATION

Representation in our government is on a territorial, or geographical, basis.  That is, each representative represents the people in a given territory or district.  Thus, in many counties the board of supervisors is composed of representatives from each township, the members of state legislatures represent districts of the state, members of the United States House of Representatives represent congressional districts in each state, and United States Senators represent states.

In each district under our present system, however, the representatives are elected by A majority, though they are supposed to represent all the people when elected.  If proportional representation were adopted, it would be necessary to increase the number of representatives from each district, in order that each party should have at least one.  Then we should have representation by parties, as well as by districts.