Study Notes on Legislatures

Parliamentary Systems

A democratic regime type where the legislature and executive are interdependent, power is fused, and Parliament elects the Prime Minister and cabinet, functioning as an electoral college.

Presidential Systems

A democratic regime type where the executive and legislature are independently elected, sharing power without one acting decisively without the other's agreement, and considered distinct branches counteracting each other.

Agenda Setting Authority

The power of legislatures to vet and modify policy proposals, even in parliamentary systems where they might appear to rubber-stamp the cabinet's policies.

Oversight of the Bureaucracy

A function of legislatures to oversee the implementation of laws, ensuring bureaucratic compliance with legislative intent.

Unicameralism

A legislative structure consisting of a single chamber.

Bicameralism

A legislative structure consisting of two chambers, typically found in larger countries, often to ensure representation of different groups or provide checks and balances.

Symmetrical Bicameralism

A type of bicameral system where both legislative chambers have equal powers, such as in Italy.

Asymmetrical Bicameralism

A type of bicameral system where one legislative chamber has more power than the other, such as in the UK.

Shuttle System

A mechanism for resolving legislative disagreements in bicameral systems where bills are exchanged back and forth between chambers until agreement is reached.

Conference Committees

A mechanism for resolving legislative disagreements in bicameral systems where members from both houses meet to resolve differences on a bill.

Joint Sessions

A mechanism for resolving legislative disagreements in bicameral systems where both chambers meet together to vote, which can sometimes lead to dominance by the larger chamber.

Legislatures in Authoritarian Regimes

Legislative structures that exist in dictatorships for purposes such as facilitated power sharing, creating an illusion of democracy, resource distribution, and helping the dictator understand public support levels.