Are all semipresidential regimes the same? A comparison of premier-presidential regimes

This article examines two issues related to premier-presidential regimes and institutional development. First, it identifies and analyzes two dimensions of presidential power within premier-presidential regimes through data from premier-presidential regimes in ten countries. The data confirm that the distribution of executive power is generally similar among these countries but that there are differences in how premier-presidential regimes define legislative and nonlegislative presidential power. Second, it examines the relationship between regime type and government stability and finds a relationship between presidential power and cabinet instability among the premier-presidential regimes. The debate over institutional power is examined through a study of Moldova.