Includes bibliographical references (p. [301]-311) and index.
Basic choices in democratic regime types -- Defining regimes with elected presidents -- Criticisms of presidentialism and responses -- The premier-presidential and president-parliamentary experiences -- The constitutional origins of chief executives -- Constitutional limits on separate origin and survival -- Legislative powers of presidents -- Assessing the powers of the presidency -- Electoral dynamics : efficiency and inefficiency -- Electoral rules and the party system -- Electoral cycles and the party system -- Electoral cycles and compatibility between president and assembly -- Conclusions.