On your original question, John, I live in NZ, which has a Mixed Member Proportional system of voting. This means that we have two votes, one for a local MP, and one for a political party. The party vote is counted nationally, and a further group of MPs are appointed, who are selected by the specific political party.
The appointees have, and are, selected as Ministers, and seem to have as many powers as elected MPs.
The original electorates remain. The appointees are additional.

Leading figures in political parties are both on electorate and party lists, so that EVEN IF VOTED OUT, THESE PEOPLE ARE STILL APPOINTED.

Unfortunately, since the system was introduced, most political parties have not had the figures to govern alone, and have had to form alliances with smaller parties, who have then seized the opportunities to push their agendas, some of which have proved widely unpopular.

We currently have a National (similar to Conservative) Government, who can govern alone, but have still formed coalitions anyway.
We have a government minister whose party has ONE seat in parliament.

I wouldn't recommend this system of election. However, politicians love it.