8 Suppose there are three countries A, B and C with different configuration on, say, executive powers to dissolve the
legislature. There are two columns capturing whether a particular executive has the power. Alternative 1 is to count
the first column only, making A and C look more similar than they are. Alternative 2 is to aggregate the columns, so
that A and B look more similar than they are. Our choice of entering 0 in the lower right cell preserves the diversity
of A, B and C and hence may be a superior alternative.
Head of State Head of Government
A (Parliamentary) 0 1
B (Semi-Presidential) 1 0
C (Presidential) 0 ?
0
.
1
0
.
1
194 196 198 200 194 196 198 200
Parliamentar Semi
Presidentia Unclassifie
YeaGraphs by
0
.
1
0
.
1
194 196 198 200 194 196 198 200
Parliamentar Semi
Presidentia Unclassifie
YeaGraphs by
•
o
o
o
•
o
o
o
•
•
o
•
o
Fish, M. Steven and Mathew Kroenig. 2009. The Handbook of National Legislatures: A Global
Survey. New York: Cambridge University Press.
