Power in the Balance

Barry S. Levitt

Description

In Power in the Balance: Presidents, Parties, and Legislatures in Peru and Beyond, Barry S. Levitt answers urgent questions about executive power in “new” democracies. He examines in rich detail the case of Peru, from President Alan García’s first term (1985–1990), to the erosion of democracy under President Alberto Fujimori (1990–2000), through the interim government of Valentín Paniagua (2000–2001) and the remarkable, if rocky, renewal of democracy culminating in Alejandro Toledo's 2001–2006 presidency. This turbulent experience with democracy brings into clear focus the functioning of formal political institutions—constitutions and electoral laws, presidents and legislatures, political parties and leaders—while also exposing the informal side of Peru’s national politics over the course of two decades.

Levitt's study of politics in Peru also provides a test case for his regional analysis of cross-national differences and change over time in presidential power across eighteen Latin American countries. In Peru and throughout Latin America, Levitt shows, the rule of law itself and the organizational forms of political parties have a stronger impact on legislative-executive relations than do most of the institutional traits and constitutional powers that configure the formal "rules of the game" for high politics. His findings, and their implications for improving the quality of new democracies everywhere, will surprise promoters, practitioners, and scholars of democratic politics alike.

Sujets

• Political Ideologies
• HISTORY
• POLITICAL SCIENCE
• Histoire
• Perú
• Latin America
• Central America
• SS Central America
• World
• Democracy
• Peru

Informations

• Publié par: University of Notre Dame Press
• Date de parution: 30 janvier 2012
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780268085797
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 6 Mo

Extrait

Power in the Balance

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P O W E R

I N T H E B A L A N C E

Presidents, Parties, and Legislatures in Peru and Beyond

B A R R Y S . L E V I T T

University of Notre Dame Press Notre Dame, Indiana

Copyright © 2012 by University of Notre Dame Press Notre Dame, Indiana 46556 www.undpress.nd.edu All Rights Reserved

Manufactured in the United States of America

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Levitt, Barry Steven. Power in the balance : presidents, parties, and legislatures in Peru and beyond / Barry S. Levitt. p. cm. — (From the Helen Kellogg Institute for International Studies) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-0-268-03413-9 (pbk. : alk. paper) ISBN-10: 0-268-03413-3 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Peru — Politics and government —1980 – 2. Executive power — Peru. 3. Legislative power — Peru. 4. Political parties — Peru. 5. Latin America — Politics and government —1980 – 6. Executive power — Latin America. 7. Legislative power — Latin America. 8. Political parties — Latin America. I. Title. JL3440.L48 2012 320.985 — dc23

2011041941

∞The paper in this book meets the guidelines for permanence and durability of the Committee on Production Guidelines for Book Longevity of the Council on Library Resources.

To my mother and to the memory of my father l”z

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Contents

List of Tables List of Figures Acknowledgments

Introduction: On Power

Beyond Formal Rules and Institutions: Theorizing Executive and Legislative Powers

Constitutions and Constitutionalism in Peru, 1985 – 2006

Party Organizations and Electoral Movements in Peru, 1985 – 2006

Echo Chamber? The Decline and Rise of Peru’s Legislature, 1985 – 2006

Institutionalism and Presidential Power in Latin America

Conclusion: On Balance

Data Appendix Notes References Interviews Conducted by the Author Index

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Tables

Table 2.1: Electoral Movements and Political Parties Compared

Table 3.1: Comparing Peru’s 1979 and 1993 Constitutions

Table 4.1: Legislative Seats Won, 1985 Elections

Table 4.2: Legislative Seats Won, 1990 Elections

Table 4.3: Legislative Seats Won, 1992 Elections

Table 4.4: Legislative Seats Won, 1995 Elections

Table 4.5: Legislative Seats Won, 2000 Elections

Table 4.6: Legislative Seats Won, 2001 Elections

Table 5.1: Aggregate Number of Top Ten Rankings in Annual Expert SurveyEl poder en el Perú(Power in Peru), 1985 – 2005

Table 5.2: Laws, Legislative Resolutions, and Decrees by Executive, 1985 – 2006

Table 5.3: Vetoes and Veto Overrides, 1985 – 2005

Table 5.4: Ministerial Accountability to the Legislature

Table 5.5: Percentage of Ministerial Appointments Held by Members of Congress

Table 5.6: Legislative Motions Requesting the Formation of an Investigative Committee and Number of Investigations, 1985 – 2006

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39 47 100 100 117 119 131 135

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