This work, which became a classic piece immediately after its publication, examines the basic principles of democratic institutions. How does their form affect practical politics and the performance of governments? Do reforms of political institutions always have practical results? Do social, economic, cultural factors influence the functioning of the political mechanism? Can democratic institutions, when «transplanted» into a different soil, take firm root in it? Such questions raised by the author in connection with the Italian administrative reforms of the 70s will interest the Russian reader as well. The strict scientificity and literary style of the work make this book especially valuable.