ABSTRACT
Political institutions in contemporary Argentina are notoriously fragile. The nation's success at political consolidation ranks among the lowest in Latin America. Argentina moved from a predominantly, although interrupted, constitutional period between 1930 and 1966 to a predominantly authoritarian situation with one brief civilian spell since that date. Argentina is trying to leave behind a period of violence and socioeconomic crisis without precedent; one would have to go far back in the history of the country to find a situation as politically disruptive. A process of political transition involves some profound changes in the "rules of the game" that regulate the political process. The chances for consolidating the restored democracy would be enhanced greatly if the political leadership undertook a new institutional design whose objective would be to eliminate the main weaknesses of the constitutional organization and minimize the legacy of the previous, extended transitional experience.
