議員及村里長均為地方之民選公職人員,也是民眾最常接觸之政治人物。然而,在國內,對於議員與村里長互動關係之研究並不多見;且對於政治、經濟及社會環境均大為不同之兩地作比較者,更付之闕如。本研究旨在探討議員與村里長間之互動關係,以及因為那些因素造成在臺北市及屏東縣有所不同? 研究發現,臺北市議員與里長之互動關係呈現政治夥伴關係;而屏東縣則為恩庇侍從關係。影響之因素包含議員與村里長間社會關係之性質、制度因素、選區特性、政黨或派系因素、村里長所掌握之資源、議員與村里長本身之實力、掌握資訊能力與程度、政治文化類型及重要意見領袖之態度。
Municipal councilors and borough chiefs are both elected officials, and are also the public officials who have the most contact with people. However, in Taiwan, there is no much study about the interaction between municipal councilors and borough chiefs, not even to mention the study of these two elected officials in different counties which have extremely different political, economy and social environment.The purpose of this study is to discuss the interaction between Municipal councilors and borough chiefs in Taipei City and Ping Tung county separately. The result shows that in Taipei City, the relationship of municipal councilors and borough chiefs are political partnership while it’s a Patron-Client Relationship in Ping Tung. The difference is contributed by social relations,system, election zone characteristics,partt or faction,resource of borough chiefs, strength of municipal councilors and borough chief themselves, mastering information skills and level, political culture type,and Important opinion leader's attitude.