In analysing speeches made by legislators, this book provides theoretical and empirical answers to questions such as: Why do some Members of Parliament (MPs) ta

Legislative debates make democracy and representation work. Political actors engage in legislative debates to make their voice heard to voters. Parties use deba

Why do some Members of Parliament (MPs) take the parliamentary floor and speak more than others? Why do some MPs deviate more than others from the ideological p

This book explains how parties and their members of parliament structure parliamentary debate, providing novel insights into intra-party politics and representa

Key party goals serve to advance a policy brand and maximize seats in the legislature. This book offers a theory of how political parties assign their elected m