Pol 2104: Lesson 2 Executives and Legislatures

Role of Legislatures

• Represent and legitimize public opinion.

• Link national and local interests through electoral districts.

• Scrutinize government actions, bills, and policies.

• Deliberate and provide legislative oversight.

• Committees enhance expertise and focused oversight

Organizing Legislatures

• Unicameral: one elected chamber; reflects popular will directly.

• Bicameral: two chambers; lower house elected, upper house often regional, providing second review.

Problems of Legislatures

• To what extent are legislatures reflecting the national complexion (no women)

• Who runs for office? (rich)

• Has a distinct political class emerged?

• Should legislators be an "average" person to capably govern?

Role of Executives

• Set priorities

• Make decisions

• Resolve crises

• Ensure policy implementation

Rise of Executives

• Government complexity: Technical issues require executive expertise.

• Delegated legislation: Broad laws let executives adapt to context.

• Executive advantage: Smaller, more unified than legislatures.

• Media: Debate shifts to media; executives seek favorable coverage.

• Party discipline: Strong majority parties empower executives.

• Emergency powers: Modern crises increase executive authority.

Parliamentary System

• Executive and legislature are fused.

• Cabinet comes from the legislature.

• Executive governs; legislature scrutinizes.

• PM heads legislature, not directly elected.

• PM is primus inter pares (first among equals).

• Head of state (president/monarch) is symbolic, with limited powers.

Executive-Legislatures Relations

• Executive and legislature are mutually dependent.

• Executive governs but must keep legislative confidence.

• Legislators rely on executive for careers.

• Strong party discipline.

• Forms of government:

  • Cabinet: collective consensus.

  • Prime ministerial: PM dominates.

  • Ministerial: ministers have autonomy.

powers of the executive increasing in parliamentary systems?

Yes:

• Presidentialization thesis

• Centralization of political parties

• Most bills are introduced by governments

No:

• Some leaders appear stronger than others

• The executive carefully polls legislators

• Mutually dependent power relations and caucuses can still bring down leaders

• Executives require assistance in key policy areas

Benefits and Drawbacks of Parliamentary Systems

Benefits:

• Legislative process is more efficient

• Greater continuity

• Flexibility

Drawbacks:

• Multiple parties sitting in the legislature leads to instability

• The legislature acts as a rubber stamp

Presidential System

• Checks and balances are maintained through the separation of the executive and legislature

• Individuals can only serve in one branch

• Bargaining between the two branches is necessary

• Presidents serve as both heads of state and government

• Presidents appoint cabinets to advise them and run bureaucracies

• Term limits on presidents are the norm.

Executive-Legislature Relations

• Separation of the executive and legislature necessitates bargaining and compromise

• Branches are elected for fixed periods of time

• Presidents can only be removed from office through death, resignation, or legislative removal (impeachment)

Presidential System

• Checks and balances are maintained through the separation of the executive and legislature

• Individuals can only serve in one branch

• Bargaining between the two branches is necessary

• Presidents serve as both heads of state and government

• Presidents appoint cabinets to advise them and run bureaucracies

• 2 Term limits on presidents are the norm.

Executive-Legislature Relations in a Presidential

• Separation of the executive and legislature necessitates bargaining and compromise

• Branches are elected for fixed periods of time

• Presidents can only be removed from office through death, resignation, or legislative removal (impeachment)

Benefits and Drawbacks of Presidentialism

Benefits:

• Constant bargaining between branches

• Greater policy reflexivity

• Legislators' careers not threatened by executive

Drawbacks:

• Government can seize up if branches have different political persuasions

• Weaker party discipline frustrates president's agenda

• Fixed terms limit continuity

Semi-Presidential Systems

• Strong president element combined with a fused executive and legislature

• A directly elected president appoints a prime minister from the elected assembly, can dissolve parliament, and declare emergencies.

• The prime minister appoints the cabinet from the assembly

• Power is divided between president and prime minister

• Cabinets are accountable to the legislature

• Cohabitation can occur (president from one party, prime minister/cabinet from another)

Why choose a semi-presidential system?

• Attractive to newly emerging democracies:

• The president serves as a national figurehead

• The president can transcend political and party fragmentation

Benefits and Drawbacks of Semi-Presidential Systems

Benefits:

• Enhanced democratic legitimacy

• Stability maintained throughout a president's term by removing an unpopular prime minister

• Limited political gridlock as a head of government can be easily removed by the legislature

Drawbacks:

• Personalities affect decision-making

• Competitions for authority when constitutional powers are unclear or a strong president and strong prime minster are present

• Presidents can shift unpopularity onto the prime minister who runs daily governmental operations

• Unclear accountability