Description
Book SynopsisCoalition governments are the norm in most of the world''s parliamentary democracies. Because these governments are comprised of multiple political parties, they are subject to tensions that are largely absent under single-party government. The pressures of electoral competition and the necessity of delegating substantial authority to ministers affiliated with specific parties threaten the compromise agreements that are at the heart of coalition governance. The central argument of this book is that strong legislative institutions play a critical role in allowing parties to deal with these tensions and to enforce coalition bargains. Based on an analysis of roughly 1,300 government bills across five democracies (Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, and the Netherlands), the book paints a detailed picture of the treatment of government legislation in contemporary parliaments. Two central contributions emerge. First, the book forces a reconsideration of the common perception that legislature
Table of Contents1. Introduction ; 2. Coalition Governance and Delegation ; 2.A Appendix ; 3. Parliaments as Policing Institutions ; 4. Coalitions and Legislative Activity ; 5. Strong Legislative Institutions ; 5.A Appendix ; 6. Weak Legislative Institutions ; 6.A Appendix ; 7. Conclusion ; Bibliography ; Index
