At the1993 Venezuelan parliamentary election, the Chamber saw the introduction of amixed member proportional representation system,[1] modelled on the German system, with some variations.[2] This replaced the previous "closed-list proportional representation system [which had] led to an extremely party-centered system."[3] The traditionally dominantDemocratic Action andCOPEI "supported it because it looked the most like the system under which they had prospered".[1]
"Seats for the Chamber of Deputies were allocated to each state on the basis of its population. Since 1970 a number of citizens equal to 0.55% of the population is entitled to a deputy, but since 1993 no state can have fewer than three deputies. A quota for additional seats in the Chamber of Deputies is calculated by dividing the total number of votes cast by the number of deputies determined by the size of the population. The number of votes received by each party nationally for deputies is divided by this result, and the difference between the seats already won and this final result is the number of additional seats awarded to the party. As in the Senate, there has always been a limit to the total number of additional seats any given party can receive. (Since 1980 no party has been allowed more than five additional seats in the Chamber of Deputies.)"[4]
^abCrisp, Brian F. and Rey, Juan Carlos (2003), "The Sources of Electoral Reform in Venezuela", in Shugart, Matthew Soberg, and Martin P. Wattenberg,Mixed-Member Electoral Systems – The Best of Both Worlds?, Oxford:Oxford University Press, 2003. pp. 173–194(22)
