De onde vem nossas leis? Origem e conteúdo da legislação em perspectiva comparada

Author(s)

Paolo Ricci

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH/SBD)
• Defense date: 2006-12-19

Examining board members

Fernando de Magalhaes Papaterra Limongi; Maria Herminia Brandao Tavares de Almeida; Octavio Amorim Neto; Argelina Maria Cheibub Figueiredo; Lúcio Remuzat Rennó Júnior

• Advisor: Fernando de Magalhaes Papaterra Limongi

Abstract

This dissertation is a comparative study on the impact of electoral systems and agenda powers on the approved bills proposed by members of the Congress in 22 democracies. I examine the hypothesis that candidate centered systems bring incentives to MPs to adopt pork barrel politics, i.e. conferring special benefits to narrow constituencies. An alternative hypothesis considers that MPs are much more influenced by organized groups? lobbies, independently of personal vote. According to this perspective, even if the electoral system is candidate- centered, distributive laws that do not to concentrate benefits territorially will be predominant. As opposed to the electoral connection perspective, I consider the hypothesis that legislative results are a product of the legislature organization. Data confirm that the personal vote perspective is not exaustive. A relevant empirical indication is that the major impact on legislative output is provided by groups. This study also argues that procedural agenda control has a significant impact on the legislative output. (AU)