Informal institutions and local government: the operation of the Américo Brasiliense City Hall based on draft laws (2010-2018)

Abstract

This work aims to analyze the political-institutional variables that guide the behavior of the councilors in the Municipality of Américo Brasiliense - SP and the relationship between Legislative and Executive at the local level. The theoretical model used emphasizes the role of informal rules and institutions in decision-making processes that regulate political practice, that is, those that guide and constrain the behavior of agents, although they are not formally instituted. The projects considered were the individual parliamentary amendments of the councilors, which figure as an informal institution from which the councilman seeks to meet a specific demand from the electorate and, in return, approaches the agenda proposed by the Executive. The results point in the direction of a complementary relationship between formal and informal institutions - that is, relationships that increase the efficiency of legislative activities -, in view of the increasing role of parliamentary amendments as the main action tools of councilors.