Intra‐ and Extra‐Parliamentary Role Attitudes and Behaviour of Belgian MPs

Abstract

In terms of outputs and activities situated inside and outside parliament, Belgian MPs display a wide variety of behavioural patterns, between but also within parliamentary groups. Belgian MPs spend nearly 30 hours a week on activities situated inside parliament, while the other half is mostly allocated to constituency activities (party and pressure group work, local office, individual and collective constituency service, participation in social life and private occupation). The multivariate analyses of determinants of 26 dimensions of behaviour indicate that variables ensuing from past and current positions MPs occupy in different (non‐)political networks, from demands made upon them as position holders and resources ensuing from these positions, explain overwhelmingly more variance in behaviour than less ‘fixed’ determinants like role attitudes, psychological incentives and office goals.