Latin America's reactive assemblies and proactive presidents

While Latin American presidents often appear to dominate the political proc ess, their political strategies are contingent on legislative support. The venerable rule of anticipated reactions makes even primarily reactive insti tutions like Latin American legislatures influential. The ordinary, noncris is policymaking process in Latin America is a distinctive form of bilateral veto game with features intermediate between U.S, presidentialism and Euro pean parliamentarism. A typology using ambition theory to explain legislati ve strategies matches recalcitrant, workable, parochial-venal, and subservi ent legislatures with imperial, coalitional, nationally oriented, and domin ant presidents.