Small election in Luxembourg or how not to elect a committee

In March this year the European Parliament (EP) re-elected its Staff Committee using a list system of PR. The working of the system illustrates some of the defects of list systems in general. The composition of the EP's Staff Committee and the method of electing it are set out in the 'Rules governing representation of the staff of the European Parliament Secretariat' (29.1.1987), hereinafter: 'Rules'. The Staff Committee is re-elected every two years. Any official on a contract of at least one year's duration is entitled to stand for election, as is any 'other servant' (this proviso allows staff of the political groups to be candidates). The Staff Committee consists of 29 members. There are two constraints on its composition. Firstly, a certain number of members (6 prior to this year, 7 with effect from 1991) must have their place of work in Brussels (rather than Luxembourg) in proportion to the number of staff employed there. Secondly, there must be at least 2 representatives of each category of officials. The categories reflect, for no obvious reason, educational qualifications: LA (linguists), A (other graduates), B ('A'-level equivalent), C ('O'-level equivalent) and D (no formal qualifications). There must be two of the 'other servants' referred to above. Elected members may satisfy both requirements (location and job category

Composition (language · General election · Parliament · Political science · Politics · Public relations · Representation (politics · Servant · Work (physics · Computer Science · Engineering · European and International Law Studies · European Criminal Justice and Data Protection · European Union Policy and Governance · Law · Public Administration