Resumen: Este artículo es un primer paso hacia la comprensión del uso de los medios sociales por parte de las cortes constitucionales y supremas de América Latina. Algunas de estas cortes se han destacado a nivel mundial como precursoras en el uso de tales medios. Se realizó un análisis sistemático y comparativo de 17 cortes durante el lapso de un año, con el foco en dos cuestiones: por un lado, en la intensidad con que utilizaron las plataformas más relevantes -Twitter, Facebook y YouTube- y, por otro, en el nivel de influencia de cada corte. Como resultado, se presenta una clasificación de las cortes que enfatiza que existen diferencias de desempeño: las cortes más influyentes no son necesariamente las más activas, pero hacen un uso muy diferenciado de las redes sociales. En cambio, las menos influyentes muestran gran dispersión en torno al nivel de actividad. Asimismo, exploramos de manera preliminar la relación entre el nivel de confianza en los poderes judiciales y la intensidad del uso e influencia de las cortes en las redes. Observamos que las cortes que enfrentan mayor desconfianza son moderadamente más activas y tienden a tener menos influencia. Dos motivos podrían explicar este comportamiento: la búsqueda de autopromoción estratégica; y un ideal de transparencia institucional.

Abstract: In this article we take a first step towards understanding the use of social media by constitutional and supreme courts in Latin America. Some Latin American courts stand out worldwide for their active online presence. We present the first comparative evaluation of the social media presence of 17 Latin American high courts. We evaluate the intensity of the current use of the most relevant online platforms - Twitter, Facebook and YouTube - and explore the level of influence each court has developed in these networks. As a result, we present a classification of the courts that emphasizes that there are performance differences: the most influential courts are not necessarily the most active ones, but they make a very differentiated use of social media. In contrast, the least influential ones show great dispersion around the level of activity. Additionally, we present a preliminarily evaluation of the relationship between the level of trust in the judiciaries and both the intensity of the use and the level of influence of courts in social networks. We see that courts with higher levels of distrust are moderately more active and tend to have less influence. Two motivations could explain the court behavior in social media: First, the search for strategic self-promotion. Second, an ideal of institutional transparency.

This paper focuses on the evolution of the institutional presidency – meaning the cluster of agencies that directly support the chief of the executive – in Argentina and Brazil since their redemocratization in the 1980s. It investigates what explains the changes that have come about regarding the size of the institutional presidency and the types of agency that form it. Following the specialized literature, we argue that the growth of the institutional presidency is connected to developments occurring in the larger political system – that is, to the political challenges that the various presidents of the two countries have faced. Presidents adjust the format and mandate of the different agencies under their authority so as to better manage their relations with the political environment. In particular, we argue that the type of government (coalition or single-party) has had consequences for the structure of the presidency or, in other words, that different cabinet structures pose different challenges to presidents. This factor has not played a significant role in presidency-related studies until now, which have hitherto mostly been based on the case of the United States. Our empirical references, the presidencies of Argentina and Brazil, typical cases of coalitional as well as single-party presidentialism respectively allow us to show the impact of the type of government on the number and type of presidential agencies.

Una amplia variedad de especies de protozoarios y helmintos intestinales son patógenas para los animales domésticos. Entre abril y noviembre de 2009 se realizo un estudio para determinar la parasitósis entérica en caninos (Canis familiaris), 96 perros (58 machos y 38 hembras) con dueño de 10 especies, una mestizó, 8 grupos etáreos, en dos épocas del año del área urbana de la ciudad de Coroico, Nor Yungas del Departamento de La Paz, Bolivia. El diagnostico coproparasitológico se hizo mediante examen directo, y las técnicas de flotación simple de Willis-Molloy con solución sobresaturada de cloruro de sodio. Se detecto una o mas especies de helmintos y/o protozoario, para el análisis estadístico se empleó, estadística descriptiva y Ji-cuadrado. Los resultados obtenidos fueron: de los 96 perros muestreados el 87% presenta por lo menos 1 tipo de forma parasitaria, Los parásitos identificados: Ancylostoma spp, Toxocara canis, Strogyloides spp, Giardia spp, Isospora canis, Trichuris vulpis, Ancylostoma spp/Uncinaria spp y Dipylidium caninum, la evaluación por época presenta un (p ≤ 0,05) para Giardia spp en época húmeda y no en época seca, el resto de los parásitos se encuentran en ambas épocas. Por sexo en época húmeda T. canis en hembras 43% y 22% en machos, en época seca por sexo se encontró T. vulpis en hembra con mayor frecuencia (p ≤ 0,05), el resto de los parásitos no presentan diferencia estadística en ambas épocas. Por edad en época seca T. canis y Strongyloides sp prevalece de 1 a 24 meses y 49 a 72 meses respectivamente, en época húmeda T. canis prevalece en la misma edad (p ≤ 0,05), Por raza en época seca Ancylostoma spp/Uncinaria spp prevale en la raza Pequines, en época húmeda Strongyloides sp prevalece en la raza Cocker. Prevale en ambas épocas A. canis y T. canis. En relación a los monoparasitádos y multiparasitádos se observó, que en ambas épocas los canes multiparasitádos preponderan.

A wide variety species of intestinal protozoa and helminthes are pathogen for the domestic animals. Between April and November 2009, a study was done with the purpose of determining the enteric parasitic infection in dogs (Cannis familiaris), 96 dogs (58 males and 38 females) with owner of 10 species, one hybrid, eight age groups in two seasons of the urban area of the Coroico town, Nor Yungas, department of La Paz, Bolivia. The coproparasitology diagnostic was made by direct examination, with the Willis-Molloy flotation simple technique with a solution oversaturated of sodium chloride. It was detected one or more species of helminthes and protozoa, was used the chi-square and descriptive method for the statistical analysis. The results were: from the 96 sampled dogs, in 87% is present at less one type of parasitic shape, were identify: Ancylostoma spp, Toxocara canis, Strogyloides spp, Giardia spp, Isospora canis, Trichuris vulpis, Ancylostoma spp/Uncinaria spp and Dipylidium caninum. The evaluation by season show a (p ≤ 0,05) for the Giardia spp. In a humidity season, but not for a dry season, the rest of parasites can be found in both seasons. By sex in a humidity season T.canis in females 43% and 22% in males, in dry season by sex was found T.vulpis in female with a high frequency (p ≤ 0,05), the rest of parasites do not show statistic differences in both seasons. By age in dry season T. canis and Stronyiloides sp. prevails 1-24 months and 49-72 months respectively, in a humidity season T. canis prevails in the same age (p ≤ 0,05). By race in dry season Ancylostoma spp Uncinaria spp prevails in the race Pekingese, in humidity season Strongyloides sp prevails in the Cocker race. Prevail in both seasons A. canis y T. canis. In relation to the mono-parasitism and multi-parasitism, was viewed, in both seasons the dogs multi-parasitism are more than the mono-parasitism.

Este texto avalia empiricamente o modo como duas câmaras altas latino-americanas - os Senados argentino e brasileiro - fizeram uso de suas prerrogativas de confirmação entre 1989 e 2003, isto é, se assumiram uma postura de deferência ante as propostas do Executivo ou um papel mais ativo, incluindo tanto a consulta como a supervisão. Para fazer isso, o artigo primeiramente analisa todas as indicações no que diz respeito ao resultado (confirmadas, rejeitadas e retiradas) e a duração do processo. Depois, as semelhanças e diferenças são usadas para apresentar algumas hipóteses explicativas. Dá-se atenção especial ao impacto de fatores políticos, principalmente as regras internas dos senados para a organização dos trabalhos legislativos.

This paper assesses empirically the way in which two Latin American upper chambers - the Argentine and Brazilian senates - made use of their confirmation prerogatives between 1989 and 2003: whether taking on a deferential posture towards executive proposals or a more active role, including both consultation and oversight. The article first analyses all nominations regarding outcome (confirmed, rejected, and withdrawn) and length of process. Then, the similarities and differences are used to advance some explanatory hypotheses. Special attention is paid to the impact of political factors, especially senates’ internal rules for the organization of the legislative work.

Ce texte évalue empiriquement le mode selon lequel deux hautes Chambres latino-américaines - les Sénats argentin et brésilien - ont fait usage de leurs prérogatives d’approbation de hauts fonctionnaires entre 1989 et 2003 : s’ils ont assumé un rôle de déférence face aux propositions de l’Éxécutif ou un rôle plutôt actif, considérant non seulement la consultation mais aussi le contrôle. Nous avons, pour cela, analysé toutes les indications par rapport au résultat final (approuvées; rejetées et retirées) et le temps de toute la procédure (nombre de jours de démarches). Nous avons souligné l’impact des facteurs politiques, surtout les règles internes des Sénats pour l’organisation des travaux législatifs, comme des explications par rapport aux différences et aux ressemblances dans les deux cas.