我國總統選舉制度的抉擇──全球民主國家的比較觀點

The Choice of Taiwan’s Presidential Election System: A Comparative Perspective from Democratic Countries Globally

本文以全球民主國家家施行總統直選制度的經驗為依據，探討我國總統選舉制度是否應該由目前的相對多數制改為兩輪絕對多數制。本文發現，兩輪絕對多數制是全球民主國家採行的主流總統選舉制度，且這種選舉制度相較於相對多數制，會讓小黨較有生存空間，使社會少數群體的聲音被主流社會聽見。本文也發現，在全世界總統由人民直選的總統制與半總統制民主國家，不論總統憲法權力的大小，多數皆採行兩輪絕對多數制，亦即總統憲法權力的大小與總統選舉制度類型並無明顯的關聯性。另外，從全球民主國家普遍的實際運作經驗來看，相對多數制下當選的總統，其民意基礎並不一定亞於兩輪絕對多數制下選出的總統。不過，若一個國家存在明顯的社會分歧，相對多數制便可能會選出全國得票率未過半的總統。總之，基於全球民主國家實施兩輪絕對多數制所展現的優點，兩輪絕對多數制是我國值得採行的總統選舉制度。不過，由於我國憲法明文規定總統選舉制度為相對多數制，我國總統選舉制度的改革無法透過修改法律實現，而必須透過修憲始能達成。

This paper, based on the experiences of presidential direct elections in democratic countries worldwide, explores whether Taiwan’s presidential electoral system should transition from the current plurality system to a two-round majority system. This paper finds that the two-round majority system is the prevalent presidential electoral system adopted by democratic countries worldwide. Compared to the plurality system, this electoral system provides more space for small parties to survive, allowing the voices of minority groups in society to be heard by the mainstream. Additionally, it is observed that in presidential and semi-presidential democratic countries worldwide where the president is directly elected by the people, it is common practice to adopt a two-round majority system, irrespective of the extent of presidential constitutional powers. This suggests that there is no apparent correlation between the magnitude of presidential constitutional powers and the type of presidential electoral system. Moreover, based on the operational experiences of democratic countries worldwide, it is found that the president elected under the plurality system does not necessarily have less popular support than the president elected under the two-round majority system. However, in a country with significant social cleavages, the plurality system may elect a president with less than half of the nationwide vote. In conclusion, considering the advantages demonstrated by the implementation of the two-round majority system in democratic countries globally, adopting the two-round majority system for Taiwan’s presidential election would be beneficial. However, since Taiwan’s constitution explicitly stipulates the presidential electoral system as a plurality system, Taiwan’s presidential electoral system requires constitutional revision rather than legislative amendment.