Political Dynasties in the UK House of Commons: The Null Effect of Narrow Electoral Selection. Issue 3 (27th January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: van Coppenolle, Brenda
• Is Part Of: Legislative studies quarterly. Volume 42:Issue 3(2017:Aug.)
• Page Start: 449
• Page End: 475
• Publication Date: 2017-01-27
• Subjects: Legislative bodies -- Periodicals; Parlement; Procédure législative; Système parlementaire; Étude comparée (Descripteur de forme); Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 328
• DOI: 10.1111/lsq.12164
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0362-9805

Abstract

Abstract : Does power persist within families? This article considers whether members of the UK House of Commons with longer legislative careers after 1832 were more likely to establish a political dynasty. Tenure can create opportunities to promote relatives. A regression discontinuity design for re‐election races helps to rule out the confounding influence of inheritable traits. There is no evidence for a causal effect of tenure length on establishing or continuing a dynasty. Established families may have constrained further dynasty development, explaining the null result of tenure.