3-7 ii) Presidential versus Parliamentary Systems: The Legislature

Legislators

Individuals elected to sit in a legislature

Canada: Members of Parliament (MPs) and Senators

Unicameral

One house

Consists of elected representative

Representation of population (‘rep by pop’)

Bicameral

Two houses

Lower house (House of Commons) consists of elected representatives

Upper house (Canadian Senate) may be appointed or elected; may represent something other than population

Legislators job in presidential system

Legislate bills

• Bills introduced by member of Congress or Senate

• Must pass both houses

• Presidential approval

Legislators job in parliamentary systems

Pass government legislations

• Government and opposition

• Party discipline

• Roles of committees in revising legislation

Power of the Purse in presidential and parliamentary systems

Legislatures must authorize all government spending

Presidential:

• executive branch proposes budget

• Negotiations

• US: deadlock, continuing resolutions and government shutdowns

Parliamentary systems:

• finance minister introduces budget

• Tendency toward omnibus budget bills

• Must pas budget or government will fall

Delegate

Follow expressed preferences of constituents

Trustee

Follow own understanding of best interests

Descriptive representation

Extent to which a representative resembles those being represented

Substantive representation

The actions taken on behalf of, in the interest of, as an agent of, and as a substitute for the representative