Political parties and democratic politics go hand in hand. Since parties matter, it matters too when elected politicians change party affiliation. This book shows why, when, and to what effect politicians switch parties in pursuit of their goals, as constrained by institutions and in response to their environments.

Preface List of Tables and Figures PART I:THE IMPORTANCE OF PARTY SWITCHING Introduction: Legislative Party Switching, Parties, and Party Systems; W.B.Heller  & C.Mershon Integrating Theoretical and Empirical Models of Party Switching; W.B.Heller & C.Mershon PART II: PARTY SWITCHING AND REPRESENTATION Switching Equilibria; N.Schofield Party Switching and the Procedural Party Agenda in the US House of Representatives; T.P.Nokken Party Switching in Brazil: Causes, Effects, and Representation; S.Desposato PART THREE: PARTY SWITCHING, PARTY COMPETITION, AND POLICY MAKING Party Group Switching in the European Parliament; G.McElroy  & K.Benoit Legislator Preferences, Party Desires: Party Switching and the Foundations of Policy Making in Legislatures; W.B.Heller & C.Mershon Timing Matters: Incentives for Party Switching and Stages of Parliamentary Cycles; C.Mershon  & O.Shvetsova PART FOUR: PARTY SWITCHING AND THE DYNAMICS OF PARTY SYSTEMS Competition for Power: Party Switching and Party System Change in Japan; J.Kato  & K.Yamamoto Party Switching, Party Systems, and Political Representation; M.Kreuzer  & V.Pettai Conclusions; W.B.Heller & C.Mershon Notes References Contributors Index