Double Majority Proposal

Support for the European Convention’s Double Majority proposal hinges on its supposed simplicity and efficiency. In fact, there is little difference in efficiency between the Double Majority proposal and the weighted voting system of Nice. Further, a reweighting of votes is introduced that is simpler to implement than the Double Majority, and which represents a redistribution of power that is ‘halfway’ between the voting system of Nice and the massive redistribution of power implied by the Convention proposal. New insights into the source of power and each Member State’s blocking leverage are presented. Efficiency of decision making is not a decisive factor Since the beginning of the IGC that has followed on from the Constitutional Convention there have been continuing reports about member states being in favour or opposed to the Double Majority proposal set out in the Draft Constitution. Particular prominence has been given by acolytes of the Double Majority to the issue of the future efficiency of decision making in the Council, in terms of the ease or difficulty of reaching qualified majorities