Political Parties and Legislative Party Switching

Abstract

Preface List of Tables and Figures PART I:THE IMPORTANCE OF PARTY SWITCHING Introduction: Legislative Party Switching, Parties, and Party Systems W.B.Heller & C.Mershon Integrating Theoretical and Empirical Models of Party Switching W.B.Heller & C.Mershon PART II: PARTY SWITCHING AND REPRESENTATION Switching Equilibria N.Schofield Party Switching and the Procedural Party Agenda in the US House of Representatives T.P.Nokken Party Switching in Brazil: Causes, Effects, and Representation S.Desposato PART THREE: PARTY SWITCHING, PARTY COMPETITION, AND POLICY MAKING Party Group Switching in the European Parliament G.McElroy & K.Benoit Legislator Preferences, Party Desires: Party Switching and the Foundations of Policy Making in Legislatures W.B.Heller & C.Mershon Timing Matters: Incentives for Party Switching and Stages of Parliamentary Cycles C.Mershon & O.Shvetsova PART FOUR: PARTY SWITCHING AND THE DYNAMICS OF PARTY SYSTEMS Competition for Power: Party Switching and Party System Change in Japan J.Kato & K.Yamamoto Party Switching, Party Systems, and Political Representation M.Kreuzer & V.Pettai Conclusions W.B.Heller & C.Mershon Notes References Contributors Index