Comparative perspectives on subnational legislatures in Latin America

Session Submission Type: Panel

Abstract

Subnational legislatures have emerged as central actors in many of Latin America’s federal democracies, yet we know very little about how these democratic institutions work. The purpose of this panel is to compare the functioning of subnational legislatures across countries. How do the institutional structures and constitutional powers of these institutions vary across the region? How does their role in policymaking vary? How does their relationship with the national government vary? What role have they played in the consolidation of democracy in the region? How do subnational legislatures in Latin America compare to their counterparts in the United States? This panel brings together scholars of Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and the United States to provide a comparative perspective on subnational legislatures.

Sub Track

• Political Institutions and Processes

Session Organizer

• Caroline Beer, University of Vermont

Chair

• Álvaro F López Lara, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana

Discussant

• Juan C Olmeda, El Colegio de México

Individual Presentations

• Institutionalization of state legislatures in three federal countries: Argentina, Mexico, and the United States - Caroline Beer, University of Vermont; Álvaro F López Lara, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana

• Subnational Legislatures in the Brazilian Federal context: dynamics, professionalization and theory - Fabiano G Santos, State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ); Luís Felipe G da Graça

• ¿Come together over me? - Origen Histórico de las estructuras legislativas provinciales en Argentina - María Paula Bertino, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)

• Desempeño e institucionalización de legislaturas subnacionales en México - Khemvirg Puente Martinez, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)