d to the Chamber from each competing ticket;
(4) the determination of this number by a division of the foregoing
quotient into the average number of votes obtained by the candidates
on each competing ticket, thus introducing the element of proportional
representation; (5) the making up of tickets in each department from
candidates nominated by one hundred electors; (6) the restriction of
each elector to a vote for but a single ticket; and (7) an extension
of the life of the Chamber from four to six years, one-third of the
members to be chosen biennially. In the ministerial declaration
accompanying the announcement of this scheme Premier Briand declared
that the effect of the _scrutin d'arrondissement_ had been to narrow
the political horizon of the deputies; that the electoral area must be
broadened so that the interests of the nation may be made to
predominate over those of the district; and that, while in a democracy
the majority must rule, the Government was favorable to proportional
representation in so far as the adoption of that principle can prevent
the suppression of really important minorities.

*351. The Electoral Reform Bill of 1912.*--In February, 1911, while the
Briand Electoral Reform Bill was pending, there occurred a change (p. 323)
of ministries. The Monis government which succeeded maintained, during
its brief tenure (March-June, 1911), the sympathetic attitude which
had been exhibited by its predecessor, and at the beginning of the
period the _Commission du Suffrage Universel_ laid before the Chamber
the draft of a new bill whereby the details of the proportional plan
were brought back into closer accord with those of the Belgian system.
During the period of the Caillaux ministry (June, 1911, to January,
1912) there was continued discussion, but meager progress. The
Poincare ministry, established at the beginning of 1912, declared that
the nation had expressed forcefully its desire for far-reaching reform
and promised that, in pursuance of the work already accomplished by
the parliamentary commission, it would take steps to carry a measure
of reform which should "secure a more exact representation for
political parties and lend those who are elected the freedom that is
required for the subordination of local interests in all cases to the
national interest." During the earlier months of 1912 consideration of
the subject was pressed in the Chamber and July 10 the whole of the
Government's Electoral Ref