Norton Philip (ed.) Parliaments and Governments in Western Europe

Routledge, 1998. — 233 p.Parliaments and Governments in Western Europe (volume 1 of Parliaments in Contemporary Western Europe series) draws together a team of nine country specialists to analyze parliamentary government in Western Europe. The contributors explore the parliaments of Britain, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Ireland, Portugal, and the EU. Concludes with a chapter that examines the volume's two theses: that the type of legislature in each country is determined by the institutional environment; and that members of the legislature can make some difference to the capacity of the institution to constrain the executive. The relationship between parliament and government is fundamental to a political system. In this volume, a distinguished team of specialists explores that relationship and considers to what extent parliaments can constrain governments. Are there particular institutional features, such as specialization through committees, that enhance their capacity to influence public policy?General Introduction.Introduction: The Institution of Parliaments.
Philip Norton.Old Institution, New Institutionalism? Parliament and Government in the UK.
Philip Norton.The German Bundestag: Influence and Accountability in a Complex.
Environment.
Thomas Saalfeld.The Italian Parliament: Chambers in a Crumbling House?
Vincent Della Sala.Parliament and Government in Belgium: Prisoners of Partitocracy.
Lieven de Winter.A Changing Relationship? Parliament and Government in Ireland.
Eunan Q'Halpin.Relationship between Parliament and Government in Portugal: An Expression of the Maturation of The Political System.
Cristina Leston Bandeira.The European Parliament: Crawling, Walking and Running.
Mark P. Shephard.Conclusion: Do Parliaments Make a Difference?
Philip Norton.