Veto players, party government and policy-making power

Abstract

Veto theory suggests that policy stability will ensue when there are a number of policy-diverse veto players (VPs) in a policy-making system. Its propositions on policy stability and change can be easily extended to policy-making power. This paper uses veto theory to explain variation in prime ministerial power. Using new and independent data on prime ministerial power, it is found that VP theory can explain some of the variations in prime ministerial power. However, because most VPs in parliamentary democracies are vulnerable to removal, veto theory is unlikely to explain all variation – even with perfect data. It is suggested that this should lead one to investigate the nature of power relations within parliamentary core executives rather than to the rejection of veto theory.