What role do Latin Americans expect legislatures to play vis-à-vis
the executive? How do expectations shape political trust in a developing
democracy like Peru? This article introduces new indicators gauging citizens’
current perceptions of, and idealized expectations for, the institutional independence
of their elected assemblies. It uses 2007 data to test the hypothesis
that the gap between the two indicators – the “legislative autonomy gap” –
predicts trust in Congress. Most Peruvians claimed to prefer a more autonomous
legislature. And citizens whose high expectations for institutional
independence were adequately met were more likely to express confidence
in Congress. However, having low expectations of congressional autonomy
met also enhanced confidence in that institution. Trust in Congress proved
to be pragmatic too, tied to perceptions of strong national economic performance,
confidence in political parties, approval of congressional leadership,
and approval of the same president from whom most Peruvians
wished Congress would become more independent.