The principle of proportional representation refers to an electoral system where parties gain seats in the legislature in proportion to the number of votes they receive. This contrasts with winner-take-all systems, where only the candidate with the highest votes in a district wins. Proportional representation encourages the representation of diverse political perspectives, allowing for smaller parties to gain seats and enhancing political pluralism. It can lead to more consensus-driven governance, as coalition-building becomes necessary in legislative bodies where no single party may achieve an outright majority.