This article discusses the impact of electoral dynamics on partisan political behavior in the Brazilian Congressional arena. Based on an analysis of voting and electoral alliances, the author shows that Presidential elections became efficient and influenced the parties' performance and alignments in Congressional disputes. She then proceeds to argue that repeat contestants in Presidential races behave more coherently and in a more disciplined way in the Congressional arena in order to maximize their party's electoral value, which is not expected of one-time Presidential contestants. The findings show that the partisan approach underlying the behavior of party leadership and delegations in the Brazilian Congress is explained by the electoral and organizational dynamics, and not only by centralization of the decision-making process.
Chamber of Deputies; National Senate; Brazilian elections; electoral alliances; Congressional behavior
