Contemporary executive governance is increasingly shaped by actors, practices and institutional dynamics that extend beyond formal political institutions. This panel invites contributions that examine how power is organised, exercised and transformed within the executive, with a particular focus on representation, elite structures and institutional change in Portugal.

The panel is anchored in the concept of the executive triangle—comprising ministers, ministerial advisers and senior bureaucrats—and seeks to analyse its structure and functioning in comparative perspective. By examining these interrelated actors as part of a broader system of governance, the panel aims to advance a comprehensive understanding of how political and administrative power is distributed, coordinated and reproduced within the Portuguese executive.

In parallel, the panel welcomes papers exploring how different forms of institutional reform target the various vertices of this triangle. This includes reforms aimed at reshaping executive support structures, as well as analyses of their effects. Particular attention will be given to whether such reforms generate substantive transformation or remain primarily symbolic.

By integrating perspectives on representation, elite dynamics and institutional change, the panel seeks to contribute to a systematic and comparative understanding of executive governance, highlighting both the evolution and persistence of underlying structures of power.

We welcome submissions that address, but are not limited to, the following themes:

• The structure and dynamics of the executive triangle
• Political-administrative relations and coordination
• Recruitment, careers and profiles of executive elites
• The role of ministerial advisers and support structures
• Institutional reforms and their impact on executive governance
• Comparative perspectives on executive power and organisation

**Please send your proposals to info@aecpa.es