Institutional and behavioral theories of democracy abound but rarely intersect. Do executive lawmaking power and prowess condition democratic regime support in presidential democracies? We develop theoretical expectations linking the lawmaking powers of the president and mass regime support and test them by analyzing survey data from eighteen Latin American countries over ten years. As hypothesized, results indicate that preference for, and satisfaction with, democracy is highest where presidents have moderate legislative powers and success and lowest where presidents either dominate policymaking or face gridlock. Hence, a “happy medium” of presidential power promotes the attitudinal foundations of democracy.
AchenChristopher H.BartelsLarry M.2004. “Blind Retrospection: Electoral Response to Drought, Flu, and Shark Attacks.” Working Paper 199. Center for Advanced Study in the Social Sciences, Juan March Institute, Madrid, Spain.
2.
AlcañizIsabellaHellwigTimothy. 2011. “Who’s to Blame? The Distribution of Responsibility in Developing Democracies.” British Journal of Political Science41:389–411.
3.
AlemánEduardoCalvoErnesto. 2010. “Unified Government, Bill Approval, and the Legislative Weight of the President.” Comparative Political Studies43:511–34.
4.
AlemánEduardoNaviaPatricio. 2009. “Institutions and the Legislative Success of ‘Strong’ Presidents: An Analysis of Government Bills in Chile.” Journal of Legislative Studies15:401–19.
5.
AlmondGabriel AbrahamVerbaSidney. 1963. The Civic Culture: Political Attitudes and Democracy in Five Nations. Newbury Park: SAGE.
6.
AltmanDavidPérez-LiñánAníbal. 2002. “Assessing the Quality of Democracy: Freedom, Competitiveness and Participation in Eighteen Latin American Countries.” Democratization9:85–100.
7.
AndersonChristopher J.2001. “Good Questions, Dubious Inferences, and Bad Solutions: Some Further Thoughts on Satisfaction with Democracy.” Working Paper No. 116. Center on Democratic Performance, Department of Political Science, Binghampton University.
8.
AndersonChristopher J.BlaisAndréBowlerShaunDonovanToddListhaugOla. 2005. Losers’ Consent: Elections and Democratic Legitimacy. New York: Oxford University Press.
9.
AndersonChristopher J.GuilloryChristine A.1997. “Political Institutions and Satisfaction with Democracy: A Cross-National Analysis of Consensus and Majoritarian Systems.” American Political Science Review91:66–81.
10.
BeckThorstenClarkeGeorgeGroffAlbertoKeeferPhilipWalshPatrick. 2001. “New Tools in Comparative Political Economy: The Database of Political Institutions.” World Bank Economic Review15:165–76.
11.
BoothJohn A.SeligsonMitchell A.2009. The Legitimacy Puzzle in Latin America: Public Support and Democracy in Eight Nations. New York: Cambridge University Press.
12.
CanacheDamarys. 2012. “Citizens’ Conceptualizations of Democracy: Structural Complexity, Substantive Content, and Political Significance.” Comparative Political Studies45:1132–58.
13.
CanacheDamarysMondakJeffery J.SeligsonMitchell A.2001. “Meaning and Measurement in Cross-National Research on Satisfaction with Democracy.” Public Opinion Quarterly65:506–28.
14.
CarlinRyan E.SingerMatthew M.2011. “Support for Polyarchy in the Americas.” Comparative Political Studies44:1500–26.
15.
CarriónJulio. 2008. “The Persistent Attraction of Populism in the Andes.” In Latin American Democracy: Emergent Reality or Endangered Species? edited by MilletR.HolmesJ.PérezO., 233-51. New York: Routledge.
16.
CoxGary W.McCubbinsMathew D.2001. “The Institutional Determinants of Economic Policy Outcomes.” In Presidents, Parliaments, and Policy, edited by HaggardS.McCubbinsM. D., 21–63. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
17.
CoxGary W.MorgensternScott. 2002. “Epilogue: Latin America’s Reactive Assemblies and Proactive Presidents.” In Legislative Politics in Latin America, edited by MorgensternS.NacifB., 446–68. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
18.
CramerBrian D.KaufmanRobert R.2011. “Views of Economic Inequality in Latin America.” Comparative Political Studies44:1206–37.
19.
DahlR. Alan. 1971. Polyarchy: Participation and Opposition. New Haven: Yale University Press.
20.
DaltonRussell J.1999. “Political Support in Advanced Industrial Democracies.” In Critical Citizens: Global Support for Democratic Government, edited by NorrisP., 57–77. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
21.
DaltonRussell J.2004. Democratic Challenges, Democratic Choices: The Erosion of Political Support in Advanced Industrial Democracies. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
22.
DaltonRussell J.AndersonChristopher J.2011. “Citizens, Context, and Choice.” In Citizens, Context, and Choice: How Context Shapes Citizens’ Electoral Choices, edited by DaltonR. J.AndersonC. J., 3–32. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
23.
DaltonRussell J.ShinDoh C.JouWilly. 2007. “Understanding Democracy: Data from Unlikely Places.” Journal of Democracy18:142–56.
EastonDavid. 1975. “A Re-assessment of the Concept of Political Support.” British Journal of Political Science5:435–57.
26.
FernandezKenneth E.KuenziMichelle. 2010. “Crime and Support for Democracy in Africa and Latin America.” Political Studies58:450–71.
27.
FortezaAlvaroBuquetDanielIbarburuMarioLanzaroJorgePereyraAndrésSiandraEduardoVaillantMarcel. 2003. “Understanding Reform: The Uruguayan Case.”http://ideas.repec.org/p/ude/wpaper/0603.html.
28.
HeckRonald H.ThomasScott L.2000. An Introduction to Multilevel Modelling Techniques. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum.
29.
HeniszWitold J.2000. “The Institutional Environment for Economic Growth.” Economics & Politics12:1–31.
30.
HoxJoop J.2002. Multilevel Analysis: Techniques and Applications. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum.
31.
JillsonCalvin C.EubanksCecil L.1984. “The Political Structure of Constitution Making: The Federal Convention of 1787.” American Journal of Political Science28:435–58.
32.
LagosMarta. 1997. “Latin America’s Smiling Mask.” Journal of Democracy8:125–38.
33.
LagosMarta. 2003. “World Opinion: Support for and Satisfaction with Democracy.” International Journal of Public Opinion Research15:471–87.
34.
LewisPaul H.2006. Authoritarian Regimes in Latin America: Dictators, Despots, and Tyrants. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield.
35.
LijphartArend. 2012. Patterns of Democracy: Government Forms and Performance in Thirty-Six Countries. 2nd ed.New Haven: Yale University Press.
36.
LindeJonasEkmanJoakim. 2003. “Satisfaction with Democracy: A Note on a Frequently Used Indicator in Comparative Politics.” European Journal of Political Research42:391–408.
37.
LinzJuan J.1990. “Perils of Presidentialism.” Journal of Democracy1:51–69.
38.
LinzJuan J.1994. “Presidential or Parliamentary Democracy: Does It Make a Difference?” In The Failure of Presidential Democracy: Comparative Perspectives, edited by LinzJ. J.ValenzuelaA., 3–90. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.
39.
LinzJuan J.StepanAlfred C.1996. Problems of Democratic Transition and Consolidation: Southern Europe, South America, and Post-Communist Europe. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.
40.
MachadoFabianaScartasciniCarlosTommasiMariano. 2011. “Political Institutions and Street Protests in Latin America.” Journal of Conflict Resolution55:340–65.
41.
MainwaringScott. 1993. “Presidentialism, Multipartism, and Democracy: The Difficult Combination.” Comparative Political Studies26:198–228.
42.
MainwaringScottShugartMatthew S., eds. 1997. Presidentialism and Democracy in Latin America. New York: Cambridge University Press.
43.
MansbridgeJane J.2003. “Rethinking Representation.” American Political Science Review97:515–28.
44.
McGuireRobert A.1988. “Constitution Making: A Rational Choice Model of the Federal Convention of 1787.” American Journal of Political Science32:483–522.
45.
MeloMarcus A.2009. “Strong Presidents, Robust Democracies? Separation of Powers and Rule of Law in Latin America.” Brazilian Political Science Review3:30–59.
46.
MillerArthur H.1974. “Political Issues and Trust in Government: 1964-1970.” American Political Science Review68:951–72.
47.
NegrettoGabriel. 2004. “Government Capacities and Policy Making by Decree in Latin America: The Cases of Brazil and Argentina.” Comparative Political Studies37:531–62.
48.
NegrettoGabriel. 2009. “Political Parties and Institutional Design: Explaining Constitutional Choice in Latin America.” British Journal of Political Science39:117–39.
49.
NegrettoGabriel. 2013. Making Constitutions. Presidents, Parties and Institutional Design in Latin America. New York: Cambridge University Press.
50.
NorrisPippa. 1999. Critical Citizens: Global Support for Democratic Government. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
51.
PereiraCarlosMeloMarcus André. 2012. “The Unexpected Success of Multiparty Presidential Regimes.” Journal of Democracy23:156–70.
52.
PereiraCarlosPowerTimothy J.RennóLucio. 2005. “Under What Conditions Do Presidents Resort to Decree Power? Theory and Evidence from the Brazilian Case.” Journal of Politics67:178–200.
53.
PereiraCarlosSinghShane P.MuellerBernardo. 2011. “Political Institutions, Policymaking, and Policy Stability in Latin America.” Latin American Politics and Society53:59–89.
54.
Pérez-LiñánAníbal. 2007. Presidential Impeachment and the New Political Instability in Latin America. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
55.
PowellG. Bingham. 2000. Elections as Instruments of Democracy: Majoritarian and Proportional Visions. New Haven: Yale University Press.
56.
PowellG. BinghamWhittenGuy D.1993. “A Cross-National Analysis of Economic Voting: Taking Account of the Political Context.” American Journal of Political Science37:391–414.
57.
PrattoFeliciaSidaniusJimLevinShana. 2006. “Social Dominance Theory and the Dynamics of Intergroup Relations: Taking Stock and Looking Forward.” European Review of Social Psychology17:271–320.
58.
PrzeworskiAdam. 2010. Democracy and the Limits of Self-Government. New York: Cambridge University Press.
59.
SaieghSebastian M.2009. “Political Prowess or Lady Luck? Evaluating Chief Executives’ Legislative Success Rates.” Journal of Politics71:1342–56.
60.
SaieghSebastian M.2011. Ruling by Statute: How Uncertainty and Vote-Buying Shape Lawmaking. New York: Cambridge University Press.
61.
SamuelsDavid. 2004. “Presidentialism and Accountability for the Economy in Comparative Perspective.” American Political Science Review98:425–36.
62.
SarsfieldRodolfoEchegarayFabián. 2006. “Opening the Black Box: How Satisfaction with Democracy and Its Perceived Efficacy Affect Regime Preference in Latin America.” International Journal of Public Opinion Research18:153–73.
63.
ShugartMatthew S.CareyJohn M.1992. Presidents and Assemblies: Constitutional Design and Electoral Dynamics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
64.
ShugartMatthew S.MainwaringScott. 1997. “Presidentialism and Democracy in Latin America: Rethinking the Terms of the Debate.” In Presidentialism and Democracy in Latin America, edited by MainwaringS.ShugartM. S., 12-54. New York: Cambridge University Press.
65.
SinghShane P.2014. “Not All Election Winners Are Equal: Satisfaction with Democracy and the Nature of the Vote.” European Journal of Political Research53:308–27.
66.
StegmuellerDaniel. 2013. “How Many Countries for Multilevel Modeling? A Comparison of Frequentist and Bayesian Approaches.” American Journal of Political Science57:748–61.
67.
StepanAlfredSkachCindy. 1993. “Constitutional Frameworks and Democratic Consolidation: Parliamentari-anism versus Presidentialism.” World Politics46:1–22.
68.
TorcalMarianoMoncagattaPaolo. 2011. “Political Support.” In International Encyclopedia of Political Science, edited by BadieB.Berg-SchlosserD.MorlinoL., 2563-66. London: SAGE.
69.
TorcalMarianoMonteroJosé R.2006. “Political Disaffection in Comparative Perspective.” In Political Disaffection in Contemporary Democracies: Social Capital, Institutions, and Politics, edited by TorcalM.MonteroR., 2-19. New York: Routledge.
70.
TsebelisGeorge. 2002. Veto Players: How Political Institutions Work. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
71.
VairoDaniela. 2012. “El Consenso De Los Perdedores Y La Legitimidad De La Democracia En América Del Sur.” Política y Gobierno19:41–69.
72.
VélizClaudio. 1980. The Centralist Tradition in Latin America. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
73.
WellsJason M.KrieckhausJonathan. 2006. “Does National Context Influence Democratic Satisfaction? A Multi-level Analysis.” Political Research Quarterly59:569–78.
74.
WiardaHoward J.2003. The Soul of Latin America: The Cultural and Political Tradition. New Haven: Yale University Press.
75.
YoungJoseph K.DuganLaura. 2011. “Veto Players and Terror.” Journal of Peace Research48:19–33.
Supplementary Material
Please find the following supplemental material available below.
For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.
For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.
