Comparison of the West European Regional Second Chambers and Alternatives of Regionalization of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic Cover Image

Srovnání západoevropských regionálních druhých komor a alternativy regionalizace Senátu Parlamentu České republiky
Comparison of the West European Regional Second Chambers and Alternatives of Regionalization of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic

Author(s): Filip Murár
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences
Published by: Masarykova univerzita nakladatelství
Keywords: Czech Republic; parliamentarism; Senate; bicameralism; reform; elections; representation; regions

Summary/Abstract: The aim of the presented paper is to frame specific alternatives for the regional reform of the second chamber of the Czech legislature on the basis of a comparative analysis of regional second chambers in Western Europe. The similarities and differences between second chambers of parliament in Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and France are identified (with respect to their historical origin, the method of election, size, political composition, constitutional powers, relation to the first chamber and relation to the executive branch of power). Also the strength of the second chambers is analyzed and the chambers are put on Lijphart’s typological scale according to the criteria of congruence and symmetry. The analysis is then the source for two main alternatives for the possible regional reform of the Czech Senate – representative regional reform and functional regional reform.

  • Issue Year: XX/2013
  • Issue No: 3
  • Page Range: 299-318
  • Page Count: 19
  • Language: Czech