22: Legislative Studies

Gregory Koger, University of Miami, gkoger@miami.edu
Carol Mershon, University of Virginia, mershon@virginia.edu

Representation and renewal are central themes of legislative politics. We welcome proposals that illuminate the complex nature of representation: multiple constituencies, campaign strategies, and the influence of electoral rules on legislative elections. We invite proposals that explore political renewal, including the place of legislatures in newly established democracies, the evolution of legislative institutions, and the impact of constitutional reform on legislative process and outcomes. We encourage proposals for papers and panels that are comparative in the broad sense, studying one chamber in multiple eras, or drawing comparisons across chambers, across sub-national units in the US and/or other countries, and across countries. We are also interested in proposals for papers and panels that study the role of legislative elections and legislative decision-making in authoritarian and transitional regimes, a question of pressing importance in light of the Arab Spring. Moreover, we welcome proposals for papers and panels that seek renewal in legislative studies by exploring innovative approaches to classic themes and questions in the field.