Demirkaya, Betul "Working to Rule: The effect of electoral rules on party unity and substantive focus"
Electoral rules and the strength of opposition parties affect representation. In
particular, closed- versus open-list elections influence party unity, thereby modifying
the topics that are brought up in policy discussions. To understand the position of each
party, this paper examines parliamentary proceedings, including both parliamentary
inquiries (e.g. question time) and proposed bills. Parliamentary proceedings also allow
insight into differences between parties with respect to substantive policy issues.
Demirkaya, Betul. "Working to Rule: The effect of electoral rules on party unity and substantive focus"
The government in a parliamentary system generally enjoys exceptional power
over legislation. The legislative opposition uses procedural prerogatives at its disposal
such as proposing amendments - usually without a successful outcome. In this
paper, I consider whether the use of these procedures - even when they are unsuccessful
- can alter the government’s behavior in a way that enhances responsiveness
to voters. Specifically, I develop a formal model that examines the conditions under
which the opposition’s objections to policy proposals help voters to monitor the government.
The model assumes that the opposition needs to exert effort to attract the
attention of voters, who face nontrivial costs to evaluate information. I show that an
electorally strong opposition with moderate activists may fail to warn voters against
policy proposals that diverge from voters’ preferences. On the other hand, if the opposition
is electorally weak or has extreme activists, its messages lose credibility
Electoral rules and the strength of opposition parties affect representation. In
particular, closed- versus open-list elections influence party unity, thereby modifying
the topics that are brought up in policy discussions. To understand the position of each
party, this paper examines parliamentary proceedings, including both parliamentary
inquiries (e.g. question time) and proposed bills. Parliamentary proceedings also allow
insight into differences between parties with respect to substantive policy issues.
Demirkaya, Betul. "Working to Rule: The effect of electoral rules on party unity and substantive focus"
The government in a parliamentary system generally enjoys exceptional power
over legislation. The legislative opposition uses procedural prerogatives at its disposal
such as proposing amendments - usually without a successful outcome. In this
paper, I consider whether the use of these procedures - even when they are unsuccessful
- can alter the government’s behavior in a way that enhances responsiveness
to voters. Specifically, I develop a formal model that examines the conditions under
which the opposition’s objections to policy proposals help voters to monitor the government.
The model assumes that the opposition needs to exert effort to attract the
attention of voters, who face nontrivial costs to evaluate information. I show that an
electorally strong opposition with moderate activists may fail to warn voters against
policy proposals that diverge from voters’ preferences. On the other hand, if the opposition
is electorally weak or has extreme activists, its messages lose credibility
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