Distortions in State Representation within Brazil's Lower House

Abstract

The article investigates two dimensions of the disproportionate distribution of Lower House seats among Brazilian states: the federalist and the party dimensions. In the first case, states - and, consequently, their citizens - are deemed the main beneficiaries or losers. In the second case, parties are seen as under or over-represented as a result of the prevailing distribution. The federalist dimension is evaluated bases on data regarding twenty-six legislatures since 1881, taking into account the effects of all legal norms defined for the distribution of seats among states. The party dimension is analyzed based on simulations using 1994 election returns.