Steve Smith
Legislative Institutions and the Russian Duma


Remington, Thomas F. and Steven S. Smith. 1998. "Theories of Legislative Institutions and the
Organization of the Russian Duma." American Journal of Political Science 42(2):545-
572.


Theory. This is a study of new parliamentary institutions in post-Soviet Russia. The researchers test predictions from policy, reelection, and party theories of the development of legislative institutions. Whereas policy preference-based models argue that legislators are motivated by and committed to particular policy initiatives, an alternative approach posits that reelection goals shape their preferences. Another approach emphasizes the role of partisanship and party leadership in the formulation of new parliamentary institutions.

Design. The researchers collected and analyzed survey data to explain key institutional preferences of candidates for, and deputies in, the Russian State Duma. Approximately 420 candidates and 200 deputies were interviewed in 1993. The purpose was to understand the motivations if these candidates as they shaped the institutions in which they would operate as parliamentarians.

Measurement. The interviews, which typically required a half-an-hour, comprised closed-ended questions. While the majority of the interviews were conducted in person, some were done over the telephone.

Data Analysis. There were three stages to the data analysis. The first stage comprised screening the data. In the second stage, the authors calculated a set of univariate statistics on the data. This was done in order to understand what kind of variation there was on each of the variables. The third stage consisted of multivariate analysis. Logistic regression was used to predict attitudes about the new Council of the Duma.

Interpretation. The authors conclude that none of the three theories fully accounts for important features of the Duma’s organization. They also emphasize the importance of the role played by parliament in the process of democratization.

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