Random votes under compulsory voting: Evidence from Brazil

Compulsory voting is known for boosting electoral turnout, even when sanctions for abstaining are small or loosely enforced. Much less is known, however, about the consequences of compulsory voting on vote choice, and, in particular, about the quality of electoral decisions. In this paper, we explore the extent to which voters meaningfully engage in the electoral process or simply vote randomly because voting is required by law. We conducted a large online survey in Brazil during the 2018 national elections to assess if voters engage in random voting. We evaluate random voting for low-profile, low-information elected offices (state and federal legislators) and others that receive greater media coverage (governor and president) and evaluate the determinants of random voting for each of them. We find that: 1) random voting does not appear to be affected by social desirability bias; 2) there is substantial random voting under compulsory voting; 3) more voters tend to engage in random voting in low-profile, low-information elections, as compared to elections that receive greater media coverage; and, 4) interest in politics, education, and disposition to vote if voting were to be voluntary reduce random voting. Our findings carry important implications for the study of citizen participation and civic competence under compulsory voting and for democratic representation, more broadly.     

Poverty Reduction in Vietnam and the Role of Public Administration

Vietnam has attained impressive results in poverty reduction. The poverty rate has decreased from about 58% in 1993 to 3% in 2015. This article examines Vietnam’s poverty reduction achievement and several of the factors that have underpinned it. It also examines the contemporary difficulties faced by the Vietnam government in further reducing poverty. In particular, this commentary assesses the role of public administration in poverty reduction, considering the role of administrative reform, decentralisation and ensuring good governance for poverty reduction. In assessing the present situation, the article discusses some of the limitations of poverty reduction strategy and emerging challenges for public administration.     

A Challenging State of Affairs: Public Administration in the Republic of Lebanon

ABSTRACT

This article highlights Lebanon’s administrative challenges and reform efforts, since the end of its Civil War (1975–1990). In recent years, Lebanon and international donors have worked to improve transparency, promote modern management techniques, and encourage the use of information technology throughout the public sector. Despite these efforts, Lebanon’s public institutions remain constrained by the centralization of power, corruption, outdated bureaucratic structures, and deficiencies in administrative knowledge. The success of future reform efforts will depend on whether the Lebanese bureaucracy can overcome the challenges created by regional political tensions, its Syrian refugee crisis, and an increasingly indifferent Lebanese public.     

行政问责制度模型——基于运行程序的规范分析

作为现代民主行政的重要内容,行政问责制度是一种旨在全面追究和实现政府责任的监督机制。在其内涵、要素与功能日渐明晰的基础上,我国行政问责制度效应的发挥与价值实现最终有赖于一套精确完备且有较强操作性的运行程序和制度模型,进而实现行政性问责向程序性问责的本质转变。根据我国现有的行政生态与制度基础,从一项制度必须应有的运行程序角度来说,行政问责制度模型的设计应以责任失范行为的发现为运行前提,以责任的解释、判断与评估以及责任的追究等作为三个主要运行环节,同时以规范化的救济机制作为问责失范的补充环节。     

对行政诉讼受案范围的反思与完善

我国行政诉讼受案范围的缺陷主要表现为可受理的行政行为外延过窄以及司法审查只审查行政行为的合法性而不审查其合理性等。应借鉴外国的立法经验,扩大我国行政诉讼的受案范围,并把行政行为的合理性也纳入到司法审查之中。     

行政诉讼的重构——当代中国宪政建设的突破口

宪政的基本精神是控制国家权力.在控制国家权力的各种模式中,行政诉讼作为一种技术性、中立性、程序性和规则性的方式,包含着其他权力控制模式难以具备的优势.行政诉讼经过重新设想与建构,可以成为当代中国宪政建设的逻辑起点和突破口.     

法典化理念与特别法发展之间的行政程序法

1976年颁布的德国《联邦行政程序法》正处于时代的转捩点上。德国的行政程序法是由总则性法典、部门(领域)法典和特别法以阶层模式构成的体系。法典化理念在立法现实中是动态的和周期性的,立法史随着法典化理念波动,其是以法典化、解法典化和再法典化为轴心的辩证发展过程。法典具有法的统一化、定向和稳定化、精简规范等功能,但同时其自身也具有割裂风险、过时风险、固化风险等弱点。近年来,德国的行政程序法出现了解法典化的趋势,包括水平的解法典化和垂直的解法典化。德国联邦行政程序法在再法典化的过程中,需要再次反思一般行政(程序)法的秩序理念与结构化能力。     

论德国法律保留原则的要义

１９世纪末德国行政法学者奥托·梅耶首创法律保留原则,意指一些特定事项必须由法律予以规定,行政行为若无法律依据,不得为之。这一原则是建立在民主原则和法治国原则的基础上的。它在德国宪法上具有重要地位。法律保留原则旨在限制行政权、保护人民的基本权利,它是依法行政原则的一个重要的次原则。     

论胡锦涛的行政领导思想

以胡锦涛为总书记的党的新一代领导集体继承了毛泽东、邓小平、江泽民等党的领导集体的行政领导思想,并在新形势下进行了创造性的发展,形成了自己内涵和特色鲜明的执政理念,主要表现在六个方面:把提高执政能力作为党的建设的重点,强化和升华以人为本的执政理念,以科学发展观统领经济社会发展全局,大力弘扬求真务实的政绩观,将人才开发作为强国战略,倡导构建社会主义和谐社会,身体力行推动创建学习型社会。     

试论工商行政管理职能转变的实质和方向

改革开放以来 ,工商行政管理在监督对象、目标、领域和方式等方面发生了一系列变化 ,其实质是经济体制转变对政府职能转变的要求。今后应在把握体制转变方向的基础上 ,重视相关制度创新 ,才能完成这些转变 ,建立真正与市场经济体制相适应的市场监管新体制