Themes & Aims

Legislative Studies is an important and growing subfield in political research. Although scholars may argue about their role, significance and importance it is almost impossible to study any political system without reference to its parliament. Within parliamentary systems the legislature serves as the link between citizens and the executive - within presidential systems the legislative branch is seen frequently as a balance against executive power.

The group will mainly study questions related to:

1. Assembly institutionalisation - the development of organizational patterns, rules and procedures;
2. Assembly capacity - the formal powers and resources of parliaments ;
3. Assembly operation - the dynamics of the party system and legislative-executive balance;
4. Assembly performance - in particular with respect to its control and law-making functions.

The rationale for establishing an ECPR Standing Group is to enhance the success of this new wave of legislative scholarship. The aims of this Standing Group can be summarised in the following:

• to bring together in a mutually beneficial forum those scholars interested in legislative research;
• to promote research into legislatures and the dissemination of such research;
• to explore and develop new avenues of research and new methodologies;
• to promote the teaching of legislative studies;
• to contribute to the activities of the ECPR through workshop initiatives, general conference sessions and other academic activities.