Replication Data for: Lawmaking and Presidential Attributes in the Chilean Constitution: What's the Urgency?

Chile's political system was placed under scrutiny following the uprisings of 2019. An ongoing critique of the system is its concentration of prerogatives in presidential hands, which limits congress in several ways and compromises the health of checks and balances. Some of the mechanisms embedded in the legislative process distinctly tilt the balance in favor of the executive branch. This piece sheds light on one arrangement, the presidential urgency, the effects of which were unclear until recently despite its presence in seven countries in the region. Following recent contributions, we argue that the prerogative may lend presidents additional leverage in shaping legislative outcomes to their preferences. The Chilean political system, as most Latin American systems, calls for more effective checks and balances, which requires more limited urgency procedures to prevent tilting the playing field. This article highlights key considerations regarding the use of urgency procedures that may inform future reforms.