This book investigates how specific electoral system rules create distinct incentives that shape the behavior of political parties and individual candidates. The authors, a team of political scientists including Brian F. Crisp and Guillermo Rosas, utilize a rigorous analytical framework to examine how institutional design influences legislative behavior and party cohesion. By synthesizing data across various democratic systems, they argue that the structure of the ballot and the rules governing candidate selection are primary determinants of political strategy.

Experts in comparative politics identify this work as a significant contribution to the study of institutional design and legislative behavior. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which is intended for scholars and advanced students of political science.