Considerazioni sul ruolo della legislazione elettorale nelle "democrazie imperfette" a partire dai casi messicano e cileno

Electoral legislation is one of the elements that most influences the form of government. Moreover, the evolution of electoral legislation constitutes a litmus test for identifying the phases in the democratisation process of an order. In this contribution are analysed particularly the Mexican and Chilean cases. Albeit with due differences – consisting for the former in the existence of a hegemonic party and for the latter in the presence in political and institutional life of the former dictator Pinochet – the constitutional texts of these countries, since their entry into force, provided for a democratic functioning of the State and free competition for elective positions. What prevented the proper representation of political forces for a long time was the introduction of specific electoral systems that, within a presidential form of government with a predominance of the executive, allowed for a further strengthening of the presidency.