Presidents and Assemblies: Constitutional Design and Electoral Dynamics
"...an encyclopedic comparative review of the almost infinite range of variations in the elements of national constitutional systems...full of insightful comments and recommendations on the advantages and disadvantages of various features."   James L. Sundquist, The Brookings Institution"Shugart and Carey fill a glaring gap.  Although I differ with some of their conclusions, I would urge anyone interested in democracy, constitutions, electoral systems, and comparative politics to read this excellent and timely book."   Juan Linz, Yale University"Shugart and Carey's Presidents and Assemblies is a major contribution to the debate about what kinds of political institutions will enhance the prospects that new democracies will endure.  They challenge the academic orthodoxy that presidential systems constitute a significant obstacle to building stable democracies. Even those who disagree with their argument will find a treasure of useful information.  The book is necessary reading for those interested in comparative political institutions and democracy."   Scott Mainwaring, University of Notre Dame"...quite comprehensive in its inclusion of many countries and is very thorough and rigorous."   British Politics Group Newsletter"...a tremendously useful and thought provoking book. No one who reads it will see the debate over parliamentarism versus presidentialism in the same light again.  It contains an impressive amount of detail about political institutions in a remarkably large number of countries.  Most important, it takes a serious look at the effects of a number of institutional variations that have not been treated carefully by other analysts, and reaches conclusions that go considerably beyond the classic works on the subject."   Barbara Geddes, American Political Science Review"...a sweeping survey of presidential and parliamentary government and of the variants between these polar types... This olume possesses a clarity that makes it a veritable handbook for constitutional draftsmen and for those scholars who watch over their shoulders."   Journal of Politics