Showing papers in "The Journal of Legislative Studies in 2021"
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors focus attention back onto the "why" question and explore the grounds upon which legislative scholars, and others, might be encouraged to reconsider this basic question.
Abstract: Legislative scholars are very good at explaining and analysing what legislatures do and how they do it. But the why question – why legislatures do what they do and why they matter – is often taken for granted or not raised at all. Our objective in this paper is to focus attention back onto the ‘why’ question and to explore the grounds upon which legislative scholars, and others, might be encouraged to reconsider this basic question. In seeking to coax a reconsideration of the importance of legislatures, we direct attention towards processes of legitimation and why legislatures are invested in such processes across the world in the modern era. If, as we argue, an answer to the question of why legislatures matter is to be grounded in processes of legitimation, then deficiencies in those processes or the questionability of those processes also expose the contingent nature of such an answer.
11 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, empirical research concerning the relationship between parties' candidate selection and MPs' parliamentary activity is scarce, focusing on the Dutch case, where the authors focus on candidate selection in the Dutch parliament.
Abstract: Although often theorised, empirical research concerning the relationship between parties’ candidate selection and MPs’ parliamentary activity is scarce. Our analysis focuses on the Dutch case, whic...
10 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a comparative analysis of the internal organisation of parliamentary administrations is presented, and a clear comparative picture of whether, and if so how, the internal organization of parliamentary adm...
Abstract: Parliamentary administrations play a fundamental role in support to their institutions.However, a clear comparative picture of whether, and if so how, the internal organisation of parliamentary adm...
10 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue that for Nigerian subnational parliaments to improve their public image, public understanding of their roles, and to be more transparent and inclusive, they must...
Abstract: In this article, the authors argue that for Nigerian subnational parliaments to improve their public image, public understanding of their roles, and to be more transparent and inclusive, they must ...
9 citations
TL;DR: The Committee for the Future of the Parliament of Finland (Eduskunta) organised an extraordinary hearing, that is, of an artificial intelligence (AI) as mentioned in this paper, in April 2019.
Abstract: In April 2021, the Committee for the Future of the Parliament of Finland (Eduskunta) organised an extraordinary hearing, that is, of an artificial intelligence (AI). While some legislatures and res...
8 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined if parties use committee chairs to control their coalition partner and found that cross-partisan committee chairs will increase the probability that a legislative proposal is changed by the committee.
Abstract: Previous research found that coalition partners do not only control each other within the government, but also use instruments of the legislative arena. While the literature has mainly concentrated on parliamentary scrutiny, much less is known about the power of committee chairs in the policy-making process. Therefore, thispaper examines if parties use committee chairs to control their coalition partner. Wehypothesize that cross-partisan committee chairs will increase the probability that a legislative proposal is changed by the committee. Our theoretical expectations are tested with the help of a newly compiled, comprehensive data set of committee decisions on legislative proposals from 15 German Bundeslander. The case selection allows us to hold important institutional characteristics constant while increasing the variance of the variables on the government level. Our results confirm that committee chairs act as supervisory body and thus add empirical evidence to our understanding of oversight mechanisms in coalition governance.
8 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors introduce court-curbing bills designed to curtail judicial power by limiting court independence and constraining court decision-making in state legislatures across the United States.
Abstract: Yearly, across state legislatures, lawmakers introduce court-curbing bills designed to curtail judicial power by limiting court independence and constraining court decision-making. Capitalising on ...
7 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigate two Brazilian legislative innovations called participatory amendments to analyse their effects on electoral connection and on the social accountability of public budgeting, and find that they have a negative effect on social accountability.
Abstract: The paper investigates two Brazilian legislative innovations called Participatory Amendments to analyse their effects on electoral connection and on the social accountability of public budgeting. P...
7 citations
TL;DR: A debate persists about the existence of two presidencies as discussed by the authors, that is, whether presidential legislative power can be divided into two branches of government and whether there exist two presidents.
Abstract: The president's ability to legislate is a central element in studies of presidential regimes. A debate persists about the existence of ‘two presidencies’, that is, whether presidential legislative ...
6 citations
TL;DR: Can members of Congress escape blame for bad news in their districts? To maximise their chances of re-election, legislators seek to maintain their electoral connections with voters, defending key voters' interests as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Can members of Congress escape blame for bad news in their districts? To maximise their chances of re-election, legislators seek to maintain their electoral connections with voters, defending key d...
6 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explored the Committee Secretariat (CS) of the European Parliament and their role as a source of information utilised by legislators, using qualitative interviews, and provided an original outlook on the expertise of the committee secretariat after the entrenchment of career mobility practices, finding that the advent of mobility, where administrators are moved into a new position after a set number of years, is altering the culture of the Secretariat away from area specialists and towards greater concentrations of highly adaptable generalists.
Abstract: This paper offers a novel perspective on the benefits provided by the rotation of administrators within legislative systems, by exploring the Committee Secretariat (CS) of the European Parliament (EP) and their role as a source of information utilised by legislators. Using qualitative interviews, I provide an original outlook on the expertise of the Committee Secretariat after the entrenchment of career mobility practices. I find that the advent of mobility, where administrators are moved into a new position after a set number of years, is altering the culture of the Secretariat away from area specialists and towards greater concentrations of highly adaptable generalists. I provide an account on the functions of mobility and the benefits it provides from encouraging a more encompassing understanding of institutional practices. From gaining a wider knowledge, by working on different committees, administrators may be of greater usefulness to lawmakers.
TL;DR: In this article, the role of the Parliament of Sierra Leone in building political legitimacy after civil war and state collapse is discussed. But the analysis is concerned with the Parliament's role in the recovery process.
Abstract: Rebuilding political legitimacy after civil war and state collapse is a challenging task. This paper looks at the role of the Parliament of Sierra Leone in this process. The analysis is concerned w...
TL;DR: In this article, the conditions under which legislatures find greater incentives to overcome a presidential veto are analyzed in a comparative perspective, and the authors point out that the legi cation is independent of the state's economic performance.
Abstract: This article addresses, in a comparative perspective, the conditions under which legislatures find greater incentives to overcome a presidential veto. The authors’ framework points out that the leg...
TL;DR: This article analyzed policy rhetoric on Twitter and bill sponsorship across a variety of issues in the Senate to show that senators' policy priorities on Twitter are representative of congressional activity, extending theories of limited attention to lawmakers' political communication.
Abstract: ABSTRACT Social media incentivizes members of Congress to routinely advertise their policy agenda for the public; however, it is unclear whether those expressed policy priorities are linked to their legislative behaviour. The incongruous nature of unlimited, online messages with constrained policy agendas necessitates assessing the association between what politicians say and their institutional actions. Using a dataset of senators’ tweets from the 114th Congress, we analyse policy rhetoric on Twitter and bill sponsorship across a variety of issues in the Senate to show that senators’ policy priorities on Twitter are representative of congressional activity. These results broaden the application of social media as a tool for policy agendas – extending theories of limited attention to lawmakers’ political communication.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examine the increase in women entering the parliamentary arena and examine the gendered ways in which women and men are selected to run for political office, and find that women are more likely to be selected for office than men.
Abstract: Political processes are shaped by the gendered ways in which women and men are selected to run for political office. This paper examines the increase in women entering the parliamentary arena and e...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigate how parliamentary efforts to represent the interests of female electorates influence the legislators' re-election chances in Taiwan and choose Taiwan as the case study.
Abstract: The paper investigates how parliamentary efforts to represent the interests of female electorates influence the legislators’ re-election chances Taiwan is chosen as the case study and, for empiric
TL;DR: In this article, the role of parliamentary staff in selecting relevant issues, advising on relevant issues was highlighted, highlighting a trend towards the bureaucratisation of the parliamentary scrutiny of EU affairs.
Abstract: Past research has identified a trend towards the bureaucratisation of the parliamentary scrutiny of EU affairs. It highlighted the role of parliamentary staff in selecting relevant issues, advising...
TL;DR: For instance, this article found that grass-roots citizens lobby state legislators about policy issues frequently, and that political science research holds conflicting findings regarding the efficacy of grass-root lobbying messages.
Abstract: Citizens lobby state legislators about policy issues frequently. Political science research holds conflicting findings regarding the efficacy of grass-roots lobbying messages; some studies find tha...
TL;DR: The end of a legislator's career can reveal how term limits have changed the institu... as mentioned in this paper, and the role of term limits in the evolution of political careerism has been studied extensively.
Abstract: Political careerism has long focused on the idea of progressive ambition, rarely using retirements as a measure. The end of a legislator's career can reveal how term limits have changed the institu...
TL;DR: The 14th General Election in Malaysia was a pivotal turning point for the progressive parliamentary reform agenda as discussed by the authors, and recognizing that parliamentary reform in Malaysia is highly complex, parliament pla...
Abstract: The 14th General Election in Malaysia was a pivotal turning point for the progressive parliamentary reform agenda. Recognising that parliamentary reform in Malaysia is highly complex, parliament pl...
TL;DR: In democratic politics, the participation of interest groups in policymaking is commonly understood as a secluded affair as mentioned in this paper, and why would interest groups and policymakers make public an otherwise private affair.
Abstract: In democratic politics, the participation of interest groups in policymaking is commonly understood as a secluded affair. Why would interest groups and policymakers make public an otherwise private...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explore a rather different dimension relating to representation and diversity, the witnesses that appear before parliamentary committees in their scrutiny of government actions and legislation, and suggest that the application of such ideas to the selection and characteristics of witnesses, and in particular to the views expressed by MSPs and parliamentary officials, is helpful in highlighting the different understandings of and aspirations for representation.
Abstract: Issues of diversity in elected bodies have received considerable attention in recent years, in particular with regard to the characteristics of elected representatives. This article explores a rather different dimension relating to representation and diversity, the witnesses that appear before parliamentary committees in their scrutiny of government actions and legislation. It draws on Pitkin and Saward’s conceptions of representation and the case of witnesses who provide oral witnesses to the Scottish Parliament’s committees. The article suggests that the application of such ideas to the selection and characteristics of witnesses, and in particular to the views expressed by MSPs and parliamentary officials, is helpful in highlighting the different understandings of and aspirations for ‘representation’, including the variety of perceptions of the advantages and disadvantages of these.
TL;DR: In most democratic regimes, the public often dislikes and distrusts parliamentarians as mentioned in this paper. This should not surprise: the public likes neither compromise nor conflict, both of which are legislative hallm...
Abstract: In most democratic regimes, the public often dislikes and distrusts parliamentarians. This should not surprise: the public likes neither compromise nor conflict, both of which are legislative hallm...
TL;DR: The two chambers of the French parliament are known to be among the weakest in Europe since the Constitution of the Fifth Republic restricts their role as mentioned in this paper. This weakness is an incentive for MPs to go...
Abstract: The two chambers of the French parliament are known to be among the weakest in Europe since the Constitution of the Fifth Republic restricts their role. This weakness is an incentive for MPs to go ...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used a transaction cost theoretical approach to analyse factors expected to influence the adoption and expansion of legislative veto oversight, and found that such measures are more likely in non-southern states when a single party controls the state legislature, while legislative size and professionalisation do not substantially affect legislative veto reforms.
Abstract: State legislatures in the United States began using the legislative veto in 1939 to block rules issued by state agencies. At present, 25 state legislatures possess some form of independent legislative veto authority. This study uses a transaction cost theoretical approach to analyse factors expected to influence the adoption and expansion of legislative veto oversight. Results indicate that such measures are more likely in non-Southern states when a single party controls the state legislature, while legislative size and professionalisation do not substantially affect legislative veto reforms. Empirical analysis differentiating veto power according to whether legislators can nullify or suspend rules shows some differences in the factors affecting the imposition of each oversight type. The most consistent finding is that empowering legislatures with legislative veto authority is more likely to occur with a Republican governor in office.
TL;DR: In this paper, the importance of different forms of staffing for assisting legislatures, and supporting democracy, is discussed, and the levels of staffing varies markedly across countries, although most legislatures in European democracies have relatively small staffs.
Abstract: If legislatures are to be effective rulemaking organisations, they require information and advice, usually provided by legislative staff. The levels of staffing varies markedly across countries, although most legislatures in European democracies have relatively small staffs. This article discusses the importance of different forms of staffing for assisting legislatures, and supporting democracy.
TL;DR: Ghanaian legislators are elected to provide a strong incentive for the linkage between citizens and the state as discussed by the authors, which is an important quality of representative democracy and an important issue in Ghanaian elections.
Abstract: An important quality of representative democracy is the strength of the linkage between citizens and the state. To provide a strong incentive for this relationship, Ghanaian legislators are elected...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors posit that committee work reflements and refines the usefulness of committee work in emerging democracies, and that committee members are organisational devices for expanding valuable legislative time.
Abstract: How do legislative Committees in emerging democracies spend their time? Committees are organisational devices for expanding valuable legislative time. Existing works posit that Committee work refle...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present and test an alternative theory inspired by comparative studies of Latin America: primary election competition results in a "primary bonus" which may make candidates more likely to win the general election that follows.
Abstract: How do primary elections influence general election outcomes? The conventional wisdom in American Politics predicts a ‘primary penalty’ that harms a party or candidate’s chances of winning the ensuing general election. I present and test an alternative theory inspired by comparative studies of Latin America: primary election competition results in a ‘primary bonus’ which may make candidates more likely to win the general election that follows. Despite potential for polarisation and divisiveness, robust primary competition encourages campaigns to professionalise and mobilise voters, weeds out unfit candidates, and provides a testing ground for messages and policies. Furthermore, the nature of the primary electorate and incumbency advantage may mitigate the proposed sources of the penalty. Analysis of data collected from multiple sources on all U.S. congressional elections (2008–2016) lends strong support to the Primary Bonus hypothesis. Primary elections strengthen candidates for the general election, contrary to extant theories in American politics. This study is the first to find a primary bonus in U.S. congressional elections.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors analyze district candidate selection as an arena for intra-party competition and investigate what spurs or hampers contested races in Germany based on data from the Bunde.
Abstract: The article analyses district candidate selections as an arena for intra-party competition. To investigate what spurs or hampers contested races, we focus on Germany. Relying on data from the Bunde...