Suchergebnisse

Traditional comparative studies of parliaments have focused on constitutional and organizational characteristics of parliaments, or differences in the historical contexts, in which legislative assemblies have developed. The motivations of individual Members of Parliament have been neglected. This volume provides empirical work on legislative role orientations and behaviour in six West European parliaments: Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and the United Kingdom. All contributions present a wealth of empirical findings on parliamentarians' role orientations in differen.

The 2002 election appeared to restore the old order in Austrian politics. As ever since the introduction of universal suffrage (the 1930s & 1990s being exceptions) the Catholic conservative & social democratic camps, now represented by the OVP & SFO, are the centers of electoral gravity. Most of the time until 1970, the OVP was the stronger; thereafter, until this election, it was the SPO. Also the traditional loyalties of the major social groups, especially among blue-collar workers, were reestablished in the 2002 elections. 2 Tables, 7 References. Adapted from the source document.

Explores the importance of the institutional framework -- ie, the political institutions & rules of the state -- in determining the success of political parties in attaining & exercising power. Ways that party preferences are constrained by political institutions that shape the costs & benefits of certain strategic options &, thus, the outcome of party competitions are examined, considering the impacts of institutional setting (eg, state structure, parliamentary vs semipresidental systems, bureaucracy, courts, direct democracy); direct state regulation (via party law, funding, & electoral mandates); & indirect state regulation (eg, mass media & interest group regulations). Tables, Figures. K. Hyatt Stewart

The background & campaigns prior to the surprising Oct 1999 elections for the Lower House of the Austrian Parliament are outlined & the election results interpreted. After the 1995 election, the coalition of the Social Democratic Party & the People's Party was renewed & economic austerity measures proposed. During the early 1999 campaign, the Freedom Party captured popular attention, & at the run-up to the election, the campaign was energized. The Social Democrats lost 5% of their previous strength (their worst electoral result in history & contrary to poll prediction) & the People's Party also lost votes both at the expense of the right-wing Freedom Party. The Greens received good results, with the Liberals losing parliamentary representation. Government formation under these conditions was complex. After several failed attempts, the People's Party & the Freedom Party eventually agreed to form a coalition, which nevertheless caused considerable uproar in Austria & elsewhere in the EU. 1 Table. M. Pflum

In modern democracies, political parties exist because they (1) reduce transaction costs in the electoral, parliamentary & governmental arenas & (2) help overcome the dilemma of collective action. In Western Europe political parties are the central mechanism to make the constitutional chain of political delegation & accountability work in practice. Party representatives in public office are ultimately the agents of the extra-parliamentary party organization. In order to contain agency loss parties rely on party-internal mechanisms & the institutionalization of party rights in public rules &, in contrast to US parties, they apply the full range of ex post mechanisms. Generally, the role of party is weaker the further down the chain of delegation. 3 Figures, 55 References. Adapted from the source document.

THE AUTHOR SUMMARIZES THE RESULTS OF AUSTRIA'S 1993 BUDESRAT ELECTIONS, THE COMPOSITION OF THE CABINET, AND RECENT INSTITUTIONAL CHANGES. HE ALSO OUTLINES THE MAJOR ISSUES IN AUSTRIAN NATIONAL POLITICS IN 1993.