Executive-Legislative Relations

What are Legislative-Executive Relations?

Explains the relationship between the two branches of the government whose level of power and influence differ from each state and regime.

• explains how the system operates and why different states have different political outcomes.

TYPES OF POLITICAL SYSTEM

1. Presidential

2. Semi Presidential

3. Parliamentary

presidential

semi presidential

parliamentary

Legislature according to Montesquieu

the responsibility of the legislature is to debate and make laws

legislature according to norton

‘constitutionally designated organisations for giving assent to binding measures of public policy’

are legislature monolithic entities?

Legislatures are not monolithic entities with only one distinct function. Especially so that their functions differ from one state to another

• ‘Legislatures are not monolithic entities any more than executives or interest groups are; they are made up of parties and factions, of ideological tendencies, of interest- group representatives, and of individuals with all kinds of axes to grind and career considerations to keep in mind’ (King, 1981)

Although legislatures serve a myriad of roles, their precise activities can be loosely organized into three categories.

1. Agent

2. Principle

3. Agen & Principle

Factors of Agent Principle

➢ Linkage and representation

■ Legislatures serve as the agents they represent

➢ Oversight and control

■ The principals are tasked with the monitoring and collective oversight of the executive branch

➢Policy control

■ Because legislatures engage in the act of legislation or policy making.

3 main terms associated to legislatures

1. Assembly

2. Congress

3. Parliament

Assembly

Assembly

a. The broadest of terms, only signifies a group of people coming together for a specific

purpose

b. So if we were to conclude that the legislature is a coming together for a political interest, it would include a wide array of different political institutions. However it makes it difficult to differentiate the different types of legislative institutions

Congress

Congress

a. A type of legislature that exists in a presidential system. A system that exercises strong separation of powers (SoP)

b. Executive is not selected by the legislature

Parliament

a. In here, the executive branch is primarily selected by the legislature, making it responsible to them

b. Most commonly connotated to legislatures in parliamentary systems

Role of Legislature (Caramani) [3]

• Linkage, representation, and legitimation

Control vs oversight

• control: The government’s ability to govern itself is one of the primary tenets of representative democracy

• oversight: Question time, special inquiries and hearing, and investigative committee are all frequently used by the legislature to hold different actors and agencies accountable within the executive branch

Policy making vs Policy influencing

Hierarchical structures

Even in different types of legislatures, as a whole there generally exists a president, one or more vice presidents, and in some cases questors or other secretarial/ administrative positions

Numbers and types of chambers

• unicameral (one chamber)

• bicameral (upper, lower house) [ popular vote and or regional or appointed in a whole or by part]

• multichamber

Three main typologies of legislature

1. Transformative vs Arena

2. Degrees of Influence

3. Degrees Support

Transformative vs Arena

Polsby ’s argument that differences between legislatures depend on the extent to which they are dependent from outside influences (particularly executive)

• Transformative Legislatures

• Arena Legislatures

Degrees of Influence

• Focuses on Mezey ’s (1979) argument that the key difference between legislatures is the

  extent to which they can modify and reject executive policies.

  • Norton (1990) adds a third criterion: can the legislature substitute its own policy for that of the executive? (do they have the power to initiate laws and replace that of the executives?)

Degrees of Support

Mezey (1979) further adds on a further dimension in regards to how far an institution will reach with public support

Other functions of the legislature

1. Representing voters

2. Socialisation and recruitment

3. Balancing various roles

4. Holding governments to account

What does the executive provide

The executive provides leadership within the political system

Role in each system

1. Presidential systems: The President

2. Semi-Presidential: The President and Prime Minister

3. Parliament: The Monarch (or ceremonial president) and the Prime Minister

ROLE OF THE EXECUTIVE

1. Controlling the Policy Agenda

2. Fulfilling an Electoral Mandate

3. Implementing Policy

4. Collective Responsibility

5. Balancing Party and Government Leadership

6. Personality in Politics

Regime Survival what did Juan Linz say abt it

Juan Linz (1990):

➢Argues that parliamentary systems are better at resolving political tensions.

➢Presidential systems create divided legitimacy, where both the executive and legislature claim

power, leading to deadlock.

Regime Survival what did Shugart & Carey (1992) say abt it

➢Disagree with Linz, arguing that presidential systems offer more accountability and

transparency.

➢They do not find presidencies inherently more unstable than parliamentary systems.

Regime Survival what did Horowitz (1990) say abt it

➢ Criticizes Linz for focusing too much on Latin America and ignoring parliamentary failures in

Asia and Africa.

➢ Suggests that electoral systems (majoritarian vs. proportional) matter more than the

presidential vs. parliamentary divi

Regime Survival what did main waring say about it

• Finds that presidentialism + multipartism is especially unstable because it worsens executive-legislative conflicts.

• However, multipartism is less problematic in parliamentary systems beacuse they allow coalition-building

what is Regime Performance

Effectiveness of a regime is not just about stability but also about how well it governs.

TRENDS INFLUENCING THE ROLE OF LEGISLATURE

1. Executive Dominance

2. Civil Service Reforms & Expansion of Institutions

3. Media Influence

4. Plebicitary Democracy

5. Questioning the necessity of strong legislatures

Second-tier variables

Role of the Party

The role of party is a second-tier variable (Weaver & Rockman).

➢ Parties connect executive and legislature in both parliamentary and presidential systems.

➢ Executive–legislative relations are better understood by focusing on parties rather than regime

type.

How are roles of the party shaped

Shaped by institutional (electoral system) and cultural (cleavage structures) factors.

■ Number of parties in parliament – affects coordination.

■ Internal cohesiveness – influences decision-making.

Polsby’s (1975) Party Characteristics

■ Broad coalitions vs. narrow groups – determines inclusivity.

■ Centralized vs. decentralized – affects hierarchy and control.

■ Fixed vs. shifting voting blocs – influences policy consistency.

Impact of Party System on Legislative Power

■ Cohesive & hierarchical parties → Strong executive, weak legislature

■ Decentralized & shifting coalitions → Weak executive, disorganized legislature

Third-tier variables

1. Federal or Unitary systems

2. Beaurocracy

3. Macroeconomic factors

THEORISING EXECUTIVES AND LEGISLATURES [3]

1. rational choice theory

2. cultural theory

3. structural theory

Rational Choice Theory

Rational choice theorists often employ game theory and understand institutional selection as the choice of the rules of the game.

• Thus political actors seek to adopt the institutional configuration that will best meet their interests and will support that configuration for as long as those interests are met.

Cultural Theory

Institutional choices are shaped by societal divisions (ethnic, linguistic, class) and historical experiences. People follow established norms even when not in their direct interest.

Structural Theory

Countries maintain institutions that secure fiscal stability, reassure markets, and maintain governance efficiency. Institutional reform is difficult due to economic and administrative constraints.

how does Tsebelis define VETO PLAYERS

Tsebelis defines veto players as individual or collective actors whose agreement is required for a policy

decision.

➢ Systems with fewer, more congruent, and more cohesive veto players find it easier to bring

about change.

➢ Systems with multiple veto players face more challenges in policy change.