Opposition and Minorities in the Socialist Legislatures

• Published in: Revista española de investigaciones sociológicas no. 66; pp. 91 - 113
• Main Author: Capo Giol, Jordi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: 01-04-1994
• Subjects: Intergroup Relations; Legislation; Legislative Bodies; Majority Groups; Minority Groups; Political Parties; Politics; Socialism
• ISSN: 0210-5233

To investigate whether legislation in Spain's parliament should be perceived of in terms of majority/opposition or majority/minority, presentation of & voting on amendments 1982-1992, when the PSOE (Socialist Party) was the governing body, were analyzed. In general, amendments during the second, third, & fourth legislatures were approved by a mojority larger than the PSOE. Some 50% of the amendments were presented by a single party, usually the Popular Party, & were opposed by no more than two groups. The most frequent coalition was between the Popular Party & the United Left, especially the Nationalists. It is concluded that the majority/opposition is a more meaningful perspective than majority/minority. 16 Tables. Adapted from the source document.