CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAGE I.--THE TRUE PRINCIPLES OF POLITICAL REPRESENTATION 1 II.--THE SO-CALLED REPRESENTATIVE PRINCIPLE 22 III.--THE PRESENT POSITION or PARTY GOVERNMENT 47 IV.--THE REFORM: TRUE PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION 97 V.--HOW THE EVILS OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM WILL BE REMEDIED 122 VI.--THE HARE SYSTEM OF PROPORTIONAL DELEGATION 141 VII.--THE FREE LIST SYSTEM OF PROPORTIONAL DELEGATION 162 VIII.--PREFERENTIAL VOTING, THE BLOCK VOTE, THE LIMITED VOTE, &C. 172 IX.--ATTEMPTS TO IMPROVE THE PRESENT SYSTEM 188 X.--APPLICATION OF THE REFORM TO AUSTRALIAN LEGISLATURES 194 XI.--THE CONDITIONS OF SOCIAL PROGRESS 208 "Majority and minority, in and for themselves, are the first requisite of popular government, and not the development or representation of separate groups."--Bradford's "Lesson of Popular Government," vol. ii., page 179. PREFACE. The subject of electoral reform has been brought into prominence in Australia by a clause in the Commonwealth Bill which provides that the Federal Senate shall consist of six senators from each State, directly chosen by the people, voting as one electorate. The problem thus presented has been keenly discussed. On the one hand we have the