Legislatures

Learning Objectives

  • Describe the legislative branch and its purpose

  • Distinguish between legislative structures and provide examples:

    • Parliamentary systems

    • Presidential systems

    • Unicameral legislatures

    • Bicameral legislatures

  • Explain different types of electoral rules and provide examples of each

Federalism

  • Definition: Federalism is a system of government that separates powers between the central government and subnational governments.

    • Subnational governments have some level of autonomy that is protected by the constitution.

  • Relevance: Constitutions can establish either a federal system, where power is divided between levels of government, or a unitary system, where most power resides with the central authority.

  • Example of Federalism: The United States, where each state establishes its own public education curriculum and standards.

Separation of Powers

  • Branches of Government:

    • Executive: Responsible for enforcing laws.

    • Legislative: Responsible for making laws.

    • Judicial: Responsible for interpreting laws.

  • Definition of Legislature: Assemblies or bodies of representatives that have the authority to create laws.

Legislative Branch Overview

  • Key Functions:

    • Make Laws: This includes proposing legislation, organizing votes, and bringing the legislation to the floor for a vote.

    • Power of the Purse: In most democracies, legislatures control government budgets.

    • Promote Debate: Facilitate discussion of ideas and policies.

    • Socialization: Help in the socialization of politicians into their roles.

    • Constituent Service: A critical function that involves aiding constituents in their dealings with the government.

Legislative Structures

  • Two Major Structures:

    • Unicameral: A legislature that consists of a single chamber.

    • Bicameral: A legislature that contains two chambers, typically an upper and a lower house.

Legislatures in Different Systems

  • Presidential vs. Parliamentary Systems:

    • Congress: This form of legislature is typically found in systems with a separately elected head of government (president).

    • Parliament: Generally associated with systems where legislators elect the head of government (prime minister).

  • Checks and Balances:

    • Impeachment: A process to remove a president or federal official from office for misconduct.

    • Vote of No Confidence: A parliamentary tool used to remove a prime minister from office.

    • Divided Government: A situation where one party controls the presidency, while another controls one or both houses of congress.

Electoral Rules

  • District-based Systems:

    • Single-member Districts: Voters select one representative from their district.

    • Multi-member Districts: Voters choose a preferred party, and seats are allocated based on the percentage of votes each party receives.

    • Open-list Proportional Representation: Voters can express support for individual candidates on a party list instead of just the party as a whole.

Types of Electoral Systems

  • First-past-the-post (FPTP):

    • An electoral system where the candidate with the most votes wins, regardless of majority.

  • Runoff Voting:

    • A system where the top candidates after the first round compete again until a candidate receives a majority of votes.

Case Study: Electoral System of Bolivia

  • First Round Election Date: August 17 (2025)

  • Winning Criteria:

    • A candidate needs:

    • More than 50% of the vote, or

    • More than 40% of the vote with a 10-point lead over the second-place candidate.

  • Runoff Election Date: October 19, candidates include Rodrigo Paz and Jorge "Tuto" Quiroga.

Ranked Choice Voting Example

  • Voting Rounds:

    • Round 1 and others highlight how votes were distributed among candidates like Mamdani, Cuomo, Lander, etc.

    • Total inactive ballots and changes in percentages over rounds illustrated the dynamics of ranked choice voting.

Case Study: Germany's Parliament Election (2025)

  • Election Results:

    • Breakdown of seats won by various parties (e.g., CDU/CSU, SPD, Greens) and provisional results.

    • Analysis of possible coalitions based on the number of seats held.

    • Key takeaway: Formation of coalitions that are plausible based on majority seats needed (316 total).

Recent Parliamentary Election in Japan

  • Political Structure:

    • Japan is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government.

  • Election Results:

    • Total seats in the upper house: 248, detailing seat distribution among various parties.

Impeachment Case in South Korea

  • Timeline of Events:

    • December 3, 2024: President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law.

    • December 7, 2024: National Assembly votes to overturn the martial law decree.

    • December 14, 2024: National Assembly votes to impeach the president with a 204-85 outcome.

    • April 4, 2025: Constitutional Court upheld the impeachment unanimously.

    • Next Steps: Presidential election scheduled for June 2025.

Announcements for Students

  • Upcoming Events:

    • Spring course showcase and office hours for information and questions.

  • Exam 2 Notification:

    • Scheduled for October 29th, not cumulative and same format as the first exam with multiple choice, ID, and short answer questions.

Reminders for Students

  • Review Sessions: Scheduled for October 27th, students should bring questions for clarity and assistance before the exam.