BARON, David P

Comparative dynamics of parliamentary governments - New York, NY : Cambridge University Press, September 1998

Formal theories of parliamentary governments typically focus on the formation and duration of governments. This focus reflects the fundamental characteristic of such systems that the government is installed by and continues under the confidence of the parliament. Under this confidence relationship the government exercises effective control of the agenda-setting process in the legislature, and the legislation enacted by the parliament then follows from the program of the government. Changing circumstances and exogenous events, however, can disrupt this relationship and result in government termination, which requires either the formation of a new government or an unscheduled election. This article presents a dynamic theory of parliamentary government with an emphasis on government formation, legislation, and termination under alternative institutional confidence relationships.