Synopses & Reviews
Legislative term limits are the most important electoral reform on the political agenda in the United States. Term Limits and Legislative Representation tests the central arguments made by both supporters and opponents of the reform by examining the experience of Costa Rica, the only long-term democracy to impose term limits on legislators, and by providing extensive comparisons with legislatures in Venezuela and the United States. Professor Carey challenges claims made about the effects of term limits on political careers, on pork barrel politics, and on the effectiveness of political parties in passing their programs.
Synopsis
This book tests the central arguments made by both supporters and opponents of legislative term limits.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 201-211) and index.
Table of Contents
Part I. Term Limits and Comparative Politics: 1. The electoral disconnection?; 2. Institutions and electoral reform: comparing the cases; Part II. The Latin American Cases: 3. Term limits and political careers; 4. Term limits and particularism; 5. Term limits and legislative party cohesiveness; Part III. Term Limits and the United States: 6. The last term problem; 7. Applying lessons about term limits.