This article discusses the separation of powers in the presidentialist countries of Latin America, emphasizing their theoretical premises and looking at the balance of powers between the Executive and Legislative branches, as well as the implications that the latter has for the perfection of democracy. I come to the conclusion that in the majority of Latin American presidentialist countries the Legislative branch prevails, with important deviant cases such as Brazil, Chile and Mexico in which there has either been conflict between branches or prevalence of Executive powers.
separation of powers; presidentialism; Executive-Legislative relations; Latin America; comparative politics
