A Noncooperative Theory of Legislative Coalitions

This noncooperative theory is based on a model that incorporates an institutional structure that reflects the sequential process of agenda formation and voting in a legislature that has the task of allocating particularistic benefits among legislative districts. The theory is intended to identify the incentives for the formation of proposal-coordinating coalitions as a function of characteristics of the political system and the rules that govern agenda formation. Coalition proposals allocate all the benefits to their districts, and whenever the coalition has discipline or controls the chair, it will be of minimal winning size when proposals are governed by a closed rule. When coalition discipline is absent and the chair is neutral, the coalition will be comprised of approximately 70% of the legislature. A legislative rule that allows amendments may result in larger coalitions. Coalition composition is also considered.