Semi-Presidentialism is the term used to describe the constitutional arrangement where there is a directly elected president and a prime-minister who is responsible to parliament. This book examines the politics of semi-presidentialism and explores why seemingly similar political systems operate in such different ways. It studies the constitutional powers of political leaders and the role of political parties.

Divided government occurs when the executive fails to enjoy majority support in at least one working house of the legislature. To date, the study of divided government has focused almost exclusively on the United States. However, divided government occurs much more widely. It occurs in other presidential systems. Moreover, it is also the equivalent of minority government in parliamentary regimes and cohabitation in French-style semi-presidential systems. This book examines the frequency, causes and management of divided government in comparative context, identifying the similarities and...

This study focuses on the relationship between the government and central banks in Britain and France. It begins by addressing the question of how and to what extent governments have influenced the policy-making process and asks what freedom central banks have had. It then explores the relationship between the British government and the Bank of England since 1694, and between the French government and the Bank of France since 1800. The study finds that the relationships have varied greatly over time and has become increasingly complex.

This text presents basic information about the French political system, and analyzes in detail important debates and controversies concerning French politics today. It explores the numerous ways in which French politics can be interpreted, concluding that study of this subject is being transformed in response to a changing global, European and domestic environment. Elgie and Griggs provide an overview of contemporary controversies in the field, examining topical issues of the late 20th century. It includes coverage of: the changing parameters of state intervention; the relationship between...

Accessible, up-to-date and comprehensive, this is an essential introduction to the French political system. Featuring detailed analysis of the most important debates and controversies concerning French politics today, the expert authors conclude that study of this subject is being transformed in response to a changing global, European and domestic environment. Includes coverage of:
* the relationship between president and prime minister
* voting behaviour
* European integration
* the changing parameters of state intervention.

This is the first academic study of the impact of semi-presidentialism in emerging democracies outside of Europe.

Semi-presidentialism is where there is both a directly-elected fixed-term president and a prime minister who is responsible to the legislature. For the most part, semi-presidentialism is seen as being a risky choice for new democracies because it can create potentially destabilizing competition between the president and prime minister. And yet, there are now more than fifty semi-presidential countries in the world. Moreover, many of these countries are in Africa, the...

This book examines the extent to which semi-presidentialism has affected the process of democratisation in Central and Eastern Europe since the early 1990s. The standard academic wisdom is that semi-presidentialism, where there is both a directly elected president and a prime minister who is responsible for the legislature, is a risky choice for nascent democracies because of the in-built potential for conflict between the president and the prime minister. This book demonstrates that semi-presidential regimes can operate in quite different ways, some with very strong presidents, some with...

Explores the effect of semi-presidentialism on newly-democratising countries. In recent years semi-presidentialism - the situation where a constitution makes provision for both a directly elected president and a prime minister who is responsible to the legislature - has become the regime type of choice for many countries.

In this book, Robert Elgie examines the relationship between semi-presidentialism and democratic performance. Semi-presidentialism--where a constitution provides for both a directly elected president and a prime minister and cabinet responsible to the legislature--has become the regime type of choice for new democracies. There are now over 50 countries in the world with a semi-presidential constitution and the vast majority of these countries have chosen this form of government since the early 1990s. Semi-Presidentialism operationalizes Shugart and Carey's distinction between...

This book, newly available in paperback, examines the extent to which semi-presidentialism has affected the process of democratization in Central and Eastern Europe since the early 1990s. The standard academic wisdom is that semi-presidentialism, where there is both a directly elected president and a prime minister who is responsible for the legislature, is a risky choice for nascent democracies because of the in-built potential for conflict between the president and the prime minister. This book demonstrates that semi-presidential regimes can operate in quite different ways, some with very...