ABSTRACT
This chapter explores two main theoretical themes, which have both been at the core of Peter Mair's research. The first regards the 'rebalancing' of party functions. The second debate, which owes very much to Mair's contribution, concerns the possible instrumental use of party legislation. By means of a comparative content analysis of party legislation in Europe, the article explores how political parties themselves conceive their functions. Indeed, from the end of the Second World War, political parties in Europe have become increasingly subject to laws and regulations defining their legal status, internal organizational and financial management. The analysis of the party functions in European party legislation also adds to a second important debate which is owed to Mair's contribution. The content analysis of party legislation in thirty-three European democracies has shown that the large majority of the countries define political parties in terms of their performance of a number of functions.
