Legislative Preferences, Political Parties, and Coalition Unity in Chile

Comparative Politics, Forthcoming

11 Pages Posted: 28 Sep 2007

See all articles by Sebastian M. Saiegh

Sebastian M. Saiegh

University of California, San Diego (UCSD) - Department of Political Science

Eduardo Aleman

University of Houston

Abstract

Competition between two stable multi-party coalitions has dominated electoral and legislative politics in post-Pinochet Chile. However, several scholars dispute the argument that a fundamental change has realigned the party system. The point of contention is whether a bipolar pattern has replaced the traditional three-way split (tres tercios) in political competition. These alternative hypotheses about the cohesion of parties and coalitions in the legislative arena can be tested through an analysis of the voting records of Chilean deputies. Coalition membership rather than partisan positions dictate legislative behavior. Therefore, the Chilean electoral coalitions are not merely electoral pacts. Rather, they constitute two distinct policy-based coalitions.

Keywords: Coalition Governments, Chile, Legislative Behavior, Roll Call Votes

Suggested Citation

Saiegh, Sebastian M. and Aleman, Eduardo, Legislative Preferences, Political Parties, and Coalition Unity in Chile. Comparative Politics, Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1017644

Sebastian M. Saiegh (Contact Author)

University of California, San Diego (UCSD) - Department of Political Science ( email )

9500 Gilman Drive
Code 0521
La Jolla, CA 92093-0521
United States

Eduardo Aleman

University of Houston ( email )

4800 Calhoun Road
Houston, TX 77204
United States

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