One of the most important features of representative democracy is the strength of the linkages between citizens and elected representatives. It is commonly thought that the electoral system, particularly the ballot structure used when citizens cast a vote, plays an important role in this process. In this paper Pippa Norris examines the pattern of contact...

In the 2001 Commonwealth election Northern Territory voters were divided into two House of Representatives seats for the first time. However, on 20 February 2003 the Australian Electoral Commissioner determined that due to a population shift the Northern Territory would lose the extra seat, returning to just the single member representing the entire territory. This...

The Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory were formed after federation and it was many years before they obtained full political representation in the Commonwealth Parliament. Initially representation was in a very limited form. This Research Note sets out the history of the Territories, the steps by which they obtained Members in the House...