Srovnani zapadoevropskych regionalnich druhych komor a alternativy regionalizace Senatu Parlamentu Ceske republiky
In: Politologicky Casopis, Volume 20, Issue 3, p. 299-318
The aim of the presented paper is to frame specific alternatives for the regional reform of the second chamber of the Czech legislature on the basis of a comparative analysis of regional second chambers in Western Europe. The similarities and differences between second chambers of parliament in Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and France are identified (with respect to their historical origin, the method of election, size, political composition, constitutional powers, relation to the first chamber and relation to the executive branch of power). Also the strength of the second chambers is analyzed and the chambers are put on Lijphart's typological scale according to the criteria of congruence and symmetry. The analysis is then the source for two main alternatives for the possible regional reform of the Czech Senate - representative regional reform and functional regional reform. Adapted from the source document.