Coalescence Revisited: The Presidential Calculation in Bicameralism

Abstract

Studies on the distribution of ministerial portfolios in coalitional presidentialism have grown enormously in the last 20 years. However, computing the proportionality between seats and ministries only as a function of the lower house is one element common to virtually all of these studies. While this calculation may make sense in unicameral countries, it has no theoretical foundation within bicameral ones. Thus, the main goal of this research is to bring upper chambers into the discussion on the formation of presidential cabinets. Based on 91 cabinets from 5 South American countries over the last 30 years, the main findings point out that presidents also care about the balance upper chambers induce. Furthermore, we show that the strength of the legislative branch and the hierarchy within the executive concerning cabinet formation also influence the proportionality in presidential cabinets.

presidential cabinets; cabinet proportionality; bicameralism; ministerial portfolio allocation; Latin America