Normative democratic theory requires political actors in parliament and government to represent not only the citizens' policy preferences, but also their issue priorities. This article investigates Italian dynamic agenda representation - the transmission of public priorities into the policy priorities of the Italian political system. To assess the public's policy priorities, data on the Most Important Problem from the Eurobarometer polls are used, while the legislative agendas of the members of parliament (MPs) and government are built following the rules of the Comparative Agendas Project. The results of longitudinal analyses across 10 policy areas and 20 semesters (2003-13) suggest a persistent link between the public's agenda and the prioritization of legislation by the Italian parliament, majority MPs, and government. Contrary to expectations, the opposition does not seem to be responsive to public opinion policy problems when introducing bills.

The legislative representation of public opinion policy priorities in Italy / Visconti, Francesco. - In: RIVISTA ITALIANA DI SCIENZA POLITICA. - ISSN 0048-8402. - 48:3(2018), pp. 307-326. [10.1017/ipo.2018.4]

The legislative representation of public opinion policy priorities in Italy

Visconti F.
2018

Abstract

Normative democratic theory requires political actors in parliament and government to represent not only the citizens' policy preferences, but also their issue priorities. This article investigates Italian dynamic agenda representation - the transmission of public priorities into the policy priorities of the Italian political system. To assess the public's policy priorities, data on the Most Important Problem from the Eurobarometer polls are used, while the legislative agendas of the members of parliament (MPs) and government are built following the rules of the Comparative Agendas Project. The results of longitudinal analyses across 10 policy areas and 20 semesters (2003-13) suggest a persistent link between the public's agenda and the prioritization of legislation by the Italian parliament, majority MPs, and government. Contrary to expectations, the opposition does not seem to be responsive to public opinion policy problems when introducing bills.
2018
agenda setting, public opinion, representation, public policy, Italy, representation
The legislative representation of public opinion policy priorities in Italy / Visconti, Francesco. - In: RIVISTA ITALIANA DI SCIENZA POLITICA. - ISSN 0048-8402. - 48:3(2018), pp. 307-326. [10.1017/ipo.2018.4]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11385/247519
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