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Political Accountability Under Alternative Institutional Regimes

Author

Listed:
  • Matthew C. Stephenson

    (Harvard Law School, Griswold 509, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA, mstephen@law.Harvard.edu)

  • Jide O. Nzelibe

    (Northwestern University Law School, 357 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, USA, j-nzelibe@law.northwestern.edu)

Abstract

We analyze the interaction between electoral accountability and separation-of-powers by comparing three regimes: ‘Unilateral Authority’ (the President has exclusive decision-making power); ‘Mandatory Checks’ (the President cannot change policy without congressional assent); and ‘Opt-in Checks’ (the President may seek congressional authorization or act unilaterally). We find: (1) voters use asymmetric electoral rewards and punishments to offset the risk of politician bias, but voters rely less on this blunt instrument if there are internal checks; (2) adding a veto player need not alter the ex ante likelihood of policy change; and (3) voter welfare is highest under Opt-In Checks and lowest under Unilateral Authority.

Suggested Citation

  • Matthew C. Stephenson & Jide O. Nzelibe, 2010. "Political Accountability Under Alternative Institutional Regimes," Journal of Theoretical Politics, , vol. 22(2), pages 139-167, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jothpo:v:22:y:2010:i:2:p:139-167
    DOI: 10.1177/0951629809359037
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Karthik Reddy & Moritz Schularick & Vasiliki Skreta, 2020. "Immunity," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 61(2), pages 531-564, May.
      • Karthik Reddy & Moritz Schularick & Vasiliki Skreta, 2012. "Immunity," Working Papers 12-17, New York University, Leonard N. Stern School of Business, Department of Economics.
      • Karthik Reddy & Moritz Schularick & Vasiliki Skreta, 2013. "Immunity," Working Papers 13-04, New York University, Leonard N. Stern School of Business, Department of Economics.
      • Karthik Reddy & Moritz Schularick & Vasiliki Skreta, 2013. "Immunity," CESifo Working Paper Series 4445, CESifo.
    3. Fox, Justin & Van Weelden, Richard, 2010. "Partisanship and the effectiveness of oversight," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(9-10), pages 674-687, October.
    4. María Clara Arroyo, 2018. "The Effect of Executive Constraints on Reform Implementation: An Empirical Analysis," Documentos de Trabajo (working papers) 0118, Department of Economics - dECON.
    5. Jodi L. Short & Michael W. Toffel & Andrea Read Hugill, 2013. "Monitoring Global Supply Chains," Harvard Business School Working Papers 14-032, Harvard Business School, revised Jun 2015.
    6. Alvaro Forteza, 2013. "Political Selection with Pessimistic Voters," Documentos de Trabajo (working papers) 1313, Department of Economics - dECON.
    7. Matthew C. Stephenson, 2013. "Does Separation of Powers Promote Stability and Moderation?," The Journal of Legal Studies, University of Chicago Press, vol. 42(2), pages 331-368.

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