Ambition, Federalism, and Legislative Politics in Brazil

This book explores how political institutions and politicians' career goals interact.

In the US House of Representatives, members seek to win repeated re-election whereas politicians in Brazil see the national legislature as a stepping stone to 'higher' office, in state and local government. This book contributes to the literature on the importance of federalism and subnational politics to understanding national-level politics worldwide.

List of tables and figures; Abbreviations and acronyms; Acknowledgments; Introduction; Part I: 1. Ambition theory and political careers in Brazil; 2. In the absence of congressional careerism: short stints, flat hierarchies and low payoffs in the chamber of deputies; 3. Progressive ambition and congressional 'hot seats' in Brazil, 1945¿98; 4. Labyrinths of power, Brazilian style: post-chamber political careers; Part II: 5. The 'Gubematorial coattails effect': federalism and congressional elections in Brazil; Part III: 6. On the political (in)efficacy of pork-barreling in the chamber of deputies; 7. Progressive ambition, federalism and pork-barreling in Brazil; 8. Institutions of their own design? democratization and fiscal decentralization in Brazil, 1975¿95; 9. The Cardoso administration and changes in Brazilian federalism; Conclusion; Appendices; References; Indexes.