Since only one-third of the 60 seats are elected through geographical constituencies and universal suffrage, it does not matter to the government that since elections last May these have been held overwhelmingly by democrats.
Legislators serve four-year terms: two members of the Senate are elected from each province-level entity (called an "administrative-territorial unit") by all legislative members of that unit, with the exception of several appointed by the president; members of the Assembly are elected from population-based constituencies by universal adult suffrage.
On Tuesday, MPs provided the government with more damning real life problems with Universal Credit from their constituencies, from people made homeless having to sleep on the floors of relatives' homes, to requests at food banks for food that doesn't need to be cooked, to save money on energy.
Chartists campaigned for universal manhood suffrage, a secret ballot, equal constituencies, annual parliaments, payment for MPs and the abolition of property qualifications for MPs.
The most radical elements proposed universal manhood suffrage and the reorganisation of parliamentary constituencies.
But while many voters in the constituency undoubtedly hold dear the idea of universal healthcare for all, it was not their first concern in this byelection.
During a two-day tour of seven New Hampshire towns starting Oct. 26, Mrs. Edwards will meet union members, a constituency Mr. Edwards is courting, and discuss Iraq and universal health care.
Politically, he supported universal suffrage and electoral reform to balance the sizes of parliamentary constituencies.
Douglas Carswell, an MP and author of a new book on technology and democracy, notes that before universal suffrage an MP enjoyed a personal relationship with the small number of residents eligible to vote in his constituency.
In essence, Mr Tung proposes that, though 20 of the 60 seats are to be chosen by proportional representation and universal suffrage, fully half the seats will be assigned to industry groups under the iniquitous system of functional constituencies.
