This article looks at the effect of political parties on the decision-making process of a policy for State reform called Social Organizations ("Organizações Sociais"). We analyze how it was proposed at federal and state (at the state of São Paulo) levels, and its adoption by other Brazilian states, during the period spanning 1995-2006. With regard to states' adoption of this policy - a discussion carried out here, considering the situation of state administrations, the governing political party and adoption or non-adoption of this policy - we take the Governor's party affiliation as a proxy for decisions to adhere or not to the model, through arguments that are economic or fiscal in nature. Legislative analysis demonstrates political party relevance in the structuring of the decision-making process and in guiding disciplined voting on the part of parliament members. The position of each party has, for the case in point, proved coherent with their respective programs.
Social organizations; political parties; public policy
