CORRUPTION AND LEGISLATIVE SUCCESS: POSSIBLE REFLEXES OF ‘MENSALÃO’ AND ‘LAVA JATO’ IN THE CONVERSION OF PROPOSALS IN LEGAL STANDARDS Fabiano Peruzzo Schwartz 1 Guilherme Marques Veroneze 2 João Luiz Pereira Marciano 3 Abstract: This article investigates the phenomenon of political corruption and is dedicated to answering the following research question: what is the impact of the involvement of representatives in the Mensalão and Lava Jato schemes (independent variable - IV) on the conversion rate into legal standard of their own proposals (dependent variable - DV)? Involvement, in this study, is characterized by the condemnation of representatives in the Mensalão scheme and/or by indictment in Lava Jato. Hypothetically, it is reasonable to assume that advantages arising from corruption schemes tend to favor the approval of bills that meet the interests of these schemes. To assess the effect of IV in DV, logistic regression was used, with the addition of other variables as a concurrent cause. Results show conversion rate about 50% higher for the bills of representatives involved. The comparative analysis of these bills suggests parliamentary conduct based on sectorial interests and benefit concentration. Keywords: corruption; legislative success; democracy; criminalization of political agents 1 Introduction Corruption news published by the media in recent years has mentioned, with some frequency, the involvement of public agents and political actors in the Brazilian scenario in illicit actions of all kinds, with wide emphasis on the schemes of Mensalão and Lava Jato (Folha de São Paulo, 2019; Revista Veja, 2020; The Economist, 2019; R7, 2017). Large amounts, totaling billions of reais (Brazilian currency), are diverted or paid to groups of people in the exercise of public and elective positions, reaching representatives and government officials. To prevent such acts, legal acts such as the Fiscal Responsibility Law (BRASIL, 2000), the Access to Information Law (BRASIL, 2011) and the Anti-Corruption Law (BRASIL, 2013b), among others, can be cited as examples aimed at increasing control over spending, transparency and accountability of the public apparatus by society. However, the way and 1 Doutor em Engenharia de Sistemas Eletrônicos e de Automação e Mestre em Ciência da Computação, ambos pela Universidade de Brasília. Diretor da Coordenação de Pós-Graduação da Câmara dos Deputados e professor permanente do Mestrado Profissional em Poder Legislativo. Coordena o grupo de pesquisa e extensão “Ciência de Dados Aplicada ao Estudo do Poder Legislativo: abordagem computacional e métodos de análise”, cadastrado no Diretório dos Grupos de Pesquisa do CNPq. Orcid Id: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1727-9346. E-mail: fabiano.schwartz@camara.leg.br. 2 Mestre em Poder Legislativo pelo Cefor - Centro de Formação, Treinamento e Aperfeiçoamento da Câmara dos Deputados. Graduado em Administração pela Universidade de Brasília. Servidor do Senado Federal, tem experiência nas áreas de Direito Administrativo e Processo Legislativo. Orcid Id: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0112-442X. E- mail: veroneze@senado.gov.br. 3 Doutor em Ciência da Informação e Mestre em Ciência da Computação, ambos pela Universidade de Brasília. Secretário de Controle Interno da Câmara dos Deputados e professor permanente do Mestrado Profissional em Poder Legislativo. Possui as certificações CISA, CGEIT, CRISC e CISM. Orcid Id: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2436-9166. E-mail: joao.marciano@camara.leg.br.