Part I. Section I: 1. Ambition theory and political careers in Brazil -- 2. In the absence of congressional careerism: short stints, flat hierarchies, and low payoffs in the brazilian chamber of deputies -- 3. Progressive ambition and congressional 'hot seats' in Brazil, 1945-98 -- 4. Labyrinths of power, Brazilian-style: post-chamber political careers -- Part II. Section II: 6. On the political (in)efficacy of pork-barreling in the Brazilian congress -- 7. Progressive ambition, federalism, and pork-barreling in Brazil -- 8. Institutions of their own design? democratization and fiscal decentralization in Brazil, 1975-95 -- 9. The Cardoso administration and changes in Brazilian federalism
Summary
In the US House of Representatives, members seek to win repeated reelection whereas politicians in Brazil see the national legislature as a stepping-stone to 'higher' office, in state and local government. This book contributes to the literature on the importance of federalism and subnational politics to understanding national-level politics worldwide
