This paper endeavours to further the study of political elites in new democracies by focusing on Latin American cabinet ministers. The posed question is “what place occupies the portfolio position within the whole political trajectory of ministers”, in order to identify career patterns and explore respective causes and political impacts. The paper analyses 8 administrations of 4 countries and has two parts. The first part identifies the main career paths present in each administration by considering for every minister: a) previous positions; b) duration in office; c) subsequent positions; as well as d) political affiliation and e) basic social backgrounds. The second part of the analysis explores the relationship between the identified career paths and a) the formal constraints for the entry/exit in office of ministers and the general institutional arrangement of the government; b) the president’s attributes and the legislative and coalition status of the cabinet; and c) the level of institutionalization of political parties and the format of the party system.
