ABSTRACT
In this chapter, we tackle several questions dealing with the representational function and the internal organizational structure of 22 IPIs. Where and when have they been set up? How are they composed and internally organized? What are the main mechanisms by which their members are selected—are they directly elected or appointed by national parliaments? Is the cleavage system within these bodies organized mainly along national or political lines? To this purpose, a comparative analysis is carried out based on the following nine variables: time factor, institutional setting of regional international organizations, size, distribution of seats, selection modalities for their members, time spent in sessions, internal organization, ways of grouping in the assemblies, and required majorities. This analysis seeks to provide relevant elements to understand how IPIs are established, organized and ‘legitimized’, as well as how they are connected to the input side of the international system.
