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DEMOLAW @demolaw.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

This month, @mikecowburn.bsky.social from the DEMOLAW team is in Austin.

Reposted by DEMOLAW

Mike Cowburn @mikecowburn.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

I’m in Boston for #APSA2026. Tomorrow at 12:00 I’ll be presenting the following paper in the excellent-looking panel Elite Polarization and its Institutional Consequences (Marriott, Provincetown). Paper: doi.org/10.33774/aps...

doi.org

Divided We Legislate: How Party Conflict Shapes Legislative Design

Though research on elite party conflict has long emphasized its effect on legislative productivity and outcomes, little attention has been paid to how these dynamics shape the design of legislation it...

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DEMOLAW @demolaw.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Our team's latest empirical paper looking at legislative design in the United States. Mike will be presenting this work in Boston at #APSA26 on Friday if people want to learn more.

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Reposted by DEMOLAW

Mike Cowburn @mikecowburn.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

It's mega-conference week for political scientists in Europe. For those of us not going to Ireland, the DVPW Dreländertagung is also happening here at Zeppelin Universität. I'll be presenting the first empirical paper of @demolaw.bsky.social. It is ☀️☀️☀️, lake swimming definitely an option!

Title page and abstract for "Divided We Legislate: How Party Conflict Shapes Legislative Design"

View of Lake Constance (Bodensee) from Zeppelin Universität.

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Reposted by DEMOLAW

Steffen Hurka @steffenhurka.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

📢 PhD position in Political Science Join the ERC-funded #DEMOLAW project, studying the design, creation and survival of democratic laws across the US, UK and EU using computational methods. 📍 Zeppelin University Friedrichshafen 📅 Apply by 12 July 2026 #PhD #PoliticalScience #AcademicJobs

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DEMOLAW @demolaw.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

We illustrate legislative ideal types using the metaphors of blades: Swiss army knives: versatile & precise Scalpels: precise but not versatile Machetes: versatile but not precise Scythes: neither versatile nor precise #polisky

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DEMOLAW @demolaw.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

In this paper @steffenhurka.bsky.social @steffiru.bsky.social @mikecowburn.bsky.social @kaplaner.bsky.social introduce a novel framework that conceptualizes legislative design along the dimensions of versatility and precision:

Overview of the DEMOLAW framework featuring two overarching dimensions of versatility and precision and six underlying indicators: subjects, objects, instruments, dilution, derogation, and delegation.

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DEMOLAW @demolaw.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

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DEMOLAW @demolaw.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

Legislation shapes every aspect of public life, yet we still lack a unified way to analyze laws' design. In this paper, we introduce a novel framework that conceptualizes legislative design along the dimensions of versatility and precision

Outline of the conceptual framework of versatility and precision including the six indicators subject, objects, instruments, dilution, derogation, and delegation.

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DEMOLAW @demolaw.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

Applying this framework to environmental and macroprudential legislation in the EU, we demonstrate how laws differ in their internal architecture, and discuss what this might mean for how they function, endure, and evolve.

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DEMOLAW @demolaw.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

We illustrate legislative ideal types using the metaphor of blades: 𝐒𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐲 𝐤𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 → versatile and precise 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐬 → precise but not versatile 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐬 → versatile but not precise 𝐒𝐜𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬 → neither versatile nor precise

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DEMOLAW @demolaw.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

📜 Legislation shapes every aspect of public life, yet we still lack a unified way to analyze laws' design. In this paper, we introduce a novel framework that conceptualizes 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 along two key dimensions, 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 and 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧.

An overview of the conceputal framework proposed by the DEMOLAW team with two dimensions, Versatility and Precision, each composed of three indicators, as follows:
Versatility: subjects, objects, and instruments.
Precision: dilution, derogation, and delegation.

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DEMOLAW @demolaw.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

@kaplaner.bsky.social and @steffenhurka.bsky.social had the privilege to present and discuss the DEMOLAW project at the University of Aarhus. DEMOLAW thanks @rsenninger.bsky.social and the entire department of political science for the kind invitation, the hospitality, and the great feedback!

Constantin, Roman, and Steffen at the Aarhus University Political Science Department.

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Reposted by DEMOLAW

Mike Cowburn @mikecowburn.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

On Thursday at 17:00 (-1.A.05) @kaplaner.bsky.social presents "Balancing Versatility and Precision: A Framework for Capturing Legislative Design Choices in Democratic Systems", the first empirical paper of the @demolaw.bsky.social project. #EPSA2025 DEMOLAW conceptual paper: tinyurl.com/5auvzcbs

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DEMOLAW @demolaw.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

This week, we're in Madrid for #EPSA2025 where @kaplaner.bsky.social will present our first empirical research paper "Balancing Versatility and Precision: A Framework for Caputring Legislative Design Choice in Democratic Systems" on Thursday at 17:00 (-1.A.05).

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Reposted by DEMOLAW

DEMOLAW @demolaw.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

Hello world! We are DEMOLAW, an ERC-funded project investigating the design, creation, and survival of democratic laws. Our website is now live! sites.google.com/view/demolaw To read our first research paper, visit: tinyurl.com/58p4m2m4 We will be at #EPSA2025 in Madrid & look forward to meeting!

DEMOLAW @demolaw.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

DEMOLAW @demolaw.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

The DEMOLAW team: PI: Steffen Hurka (@steffenhurka.bsky.social) Postdocs: Constantin Kaplaner (@kaplaner.bsky.social), Stefanie Rueß (@steffiru.bsky.social), Mike Cowburn (@mikecowburn.bsky.social) Research assistant: Amelie Sieber Follow us here for updates on our work & publications.

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