Political dynasties and direct elections in bicameralism: Democratisation in the Netherlands

Abstract

Do direct elections reduce political dynasties? Or do they displace dynastic continuation to the non-elected chamber in bicameral systems? Using historical data on family links of Dutch legislators, this paper examines a revolutionary change in selection rules for the chambers of the Dutch bicameral parliament after 1848. Before 1848, there were few differences between legislators across chambers. About seventy percent of either chamber would start a political dynasty. In 1848, in response to revolutionary events elsewhere in Europe, these elites had to adapt unexpectedly quickly to direct elections. After the reform, dynastic perpetuation became less likely in the directly elected chamber, but more likely in the senate. Dynastic perpetuation decreased after direct elections were introduced, but some dynasties survived in the senate.