Political time in the EU: dimensions, perspectives, theories

Goetz, Klaus H.; Meyer‐Sahling, Jan‐Hinrik

doi:10.1080/13501760802589198

Cited by 101 publications

(56 citation statements)

References 52 publications

(59 reference statements)

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“…On one level, we have the importance of representatives being able to 'mark moments', to heighten or intensify the significance of particular times or junctures. We are familiar with the importance of election days and nights, for example, as key components of political 'timescapes' (Goetz and Meyer-Sahling 2009). But more significant are the ways in which shapeshifting representative practice upsets common assumptions of temporal linearity and singularity.…”

Section: Dimensions and Patterns Of Shape-shifting Representationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shape-Shifting Representation

Saward

2014

Am Polit Sci Rev

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Shape-shifting representation is common in practice but largely shunned in theoretical and empirical analysis. This article resurrects, defines, and explores shape-shifting and closely linked concepts and practices such as shape-retaining. It generates new concepts of representative positioning and patterning in order to aid our understanding, and makes the case for placing this critical phenomenon front and center in the analysis of political representation. It examines crucial empirical and normative implications for our understanding of representation, including the argument that shape-shifting representation is not intrinsically undesirable. Developing the theory of shape-shifting representation can prompt a new level of analytical purchase on the challenge of explaining and evaluating representation's vitality and complexity.

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Section: Dimensions and Patterns Of Shape-shifting Representationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shape-Shifting Representation

Saward

2014

Am Polit Sci Rev

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“…Beyond contributing to the more general interest in different dimensions of the EU timescape and its power and policy implications (Goetz 2009(Goetz , 2012(Goetz , 2014Goetz and Meyer-Sahling 2009;Kleine and Thomson 2014;Kovats 2009Kovats , 2014Meyer-Sahling and Goetz 2009;Scherpereel and Perez 2014;Schneider 2013), we see at least three current debates in which staggering matters. First, there is a long-standing interest in the contributions of non-majoritarian institutions, including a plethora of different types of agencies, but also the ECJ and the ECB, to EU governance.…”

Section: Looking Aheadmentioning

confidence: 96%

Staggered Political Institutions: Design and Effects

Willumsen¹,

Goetz²

2015

Journal of European Public Policy

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This article highlights the importance of staggered membership renewal in political institutions and draws attention to its policy effects. Staggering exists when the terms of elected or appointed members of an institution do not coincide. Instead, partial renewal of membership is the norm, leading to overlapping terms of office and the co-existence of two or more 'classes' of members whose mandates differ in remaining length. The article first reviews the limited existing scholarship on staggering, which tends to associate staggered membership with extended time horizons and policy stability. Using upper parliamentary chambers as an illustrative example, the discussion challenges this received wisdom and emphasizes the possibility of the multiplication of cycles within staggered institutions. The article points out that paying systematic attention to staggering promises to enhance our understanding of both majoritarian and non-majoritarian institutions and their effects in the governance of the European Union.

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“…This democratic setting determines the scope of action of those involved in the political business. Goetz and Meyer-Sahling (2009), in the introduction to this special issue, argue in this regard that the electoral cycle represents the basic rhythm of democratic systems of government. Therefore, all kinds of political action, and in particular the policy-making process, adapt to this cycle and one is able to observe recurring political phenomena that appear regularly depending on the current phase of the legislative term.…”

Section: Political Time and Legislationmentioning

confidence: 98%

Do elections set the pace? A quantitative assessment of the timing of European legislation

Kovats¹

2009

Journal of European Public Policy

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Many parliamentary systems are marked by regular periods of higher and lower legislative activity. This legislation cycle is characterized by an increase in the legislative output shortly ahead of elections and a decrease in legislative initiatives in the second half of the legislative term. This article shows that legislative cycles at the European level are different. First, it shows that the initiation of legislation peaks at the end of parliamentary terms rather than at the beginning. Second, the article shows that the adoption of legislation is only partially connected to the electoral cycle. Instead, the reallocation of agenda powers within the European Parliament twice during a legislature better explains the timing of the adoption of bills than the end of Parliament's term. This finding is especially relevant for legislation adopted under the co-decision procedure. The 'procedural cartel theory' of Cox and McCubbins (2005) combined with the 'economic theory of legislation' provide the theoretical basis that may explain this finding.

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Political time in the EU: dimensions, perspectives, theories

Cited by 101 publications

References 52 publications

Shape-Shifting Representation

Shape-Shifting Representation

Staggered Political Institutions: Design and Effects

Do elections set the pace? A quantitative assessment of the timing of European legislation

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