Chapter_5Governing_Institutions_in_Democracies

Chapter 5: Governing Institutions in Democracies

Majoritarian vs. Consensual Democracies

• Political Accountability: Ability of citizens to control political leaders and institutions.

  • Vertical Accountability: Individuals/groups hold state institutions accountable directly.

  • Horizontal Accountability: State institutions hold one another accountable.

• Executive: Chief political power in a state; typically the most powerful government office.

• Legislature and Judiciary:

  • Legislature creates laws; judiciary interprets them.

  • Power and autonomy of each varies significantly.

• Power of the Majority: Fundamental concern regarding how much power the majority has over minorities.

Majoritarian Democracies

• Concentrate power in one place and office.

  • Single-Party Executive: Strong executive power over the legislature.

  • Legislative Structure: Single legislative branch; easily amendable constitutions.

Consensual Democracies

• Coalition Government: Multiparty executives negotiate to rule together.

• Executive-Legislative Balance: Bicameral legislatures with two equally powerful houses.

• Rigid Constitutions: Not easily amended.

Veto Players

• Individual or collective actors whose agreement is essential for policy change.

• More veto players & ideological distance → Less likelihood of policy change.

Government Structures

• Parliamentarism: Majoritarian model; fusion of executive and legislative branches leads to powerful executors.

• President as Head of State: Represents the country symbolically.

• Prime Minister: Implements laws and policies; may vary in power depending on context.

• Legislatures: Essential for democracies; not ubiquitous in authoritarian regimes.

Parliamentarism

• Key Features: Concentration of power with few institutional veto players; PM as both executive and member of the legislature.

• Voting System: Citizens vote for Members of Parliament (MPs); indirectly supporting the PM’s party leader.

• Vote of No Confidence: Parliamentary majority can force resignation; PM may call new elections.

• Dual Executive Structure: Nonexecutive head of state alongside executive head of government.

  • Typically, ceremonial; important for maintaining tradition and representation.

Coalition Government in Parliamentarism

• PM’s power is contingent on having a majority.

• Small parties can become veto players within coalitions.

Cabinet and Check on PM

• The cabinet must include MPs; serves as a negotiation site.

Presidentialism

• Key Concept: President acts as both head of state and head of government.

• Distinct from parliamentarism: Separate elections for executive and legislative branches.

• Fixed Terms: Presidents and legislatures have set terms, harder to interfere.

• Separation of Powers: Defined aspect leading to potential "gridlock."

• Coalitional Presidentialism: Presidents form coalitions in fragmented legislatures.

Semipresidentialism

• Divides executive powers between elected president and prime minister.

• Must clarify powers constitutionally; cohabitation leads to compromise.

Judicial Review

• Authority of judges to declare laws unconstitutional.

• Common Law vs. Code Law: Differing methodologies in judicial interpretation and reliance on precedent.

Judicial Independence

• Ability to make decisions without political pressures.

• Importance of legitimacy and process for independence.

Bureaucracies in Politics

• Ideal Bureaucracy: Merit-based appointments, equal treatment under law, accountable to elected officials.

• Political Appointees: Serve under political leaders; potential for conflict with professional bureaucrats.

• Legislative Oversight: A key mechanism for accountability in bureaucracies.

Accountability in Political Systems

• Variances across systems, affecting policymaking and stability.

  • Presidential Systems: Slow change; dual legitimacy creates conflicts between branches.

  • Semipresidential Systems: Depends on alignment of party powers.

  • Majoritarian Systems: Rapid change with fewer constraints.

  • Consensual Systems: Complex, slower policy changes with coalitions.

Federalism

• Definition: Central government shares power with subunits; strength and weaknesses depend on constitutional delineations.

• Unitary vs. Federal Systems: Unitary has central sovereignty, federal shares power.

• Emergence of Federalism: Result of bargains among leaders; tends to evolve and centralize under majority dominance.

Strengths and Weaknesses of Federalism

• Helps accommodate ethnic/religious divisions.

• Potential for instability or centralization from dominant coalitions.

• Symmetrical vs. Asymmetrical Federalism: Equal relationship vs. special rights for certain states.

Corruption and Political Culture

• Models of Corruption: Vary by economic level and political system structure.

  • Influence markets, elite cartels, oligarchs and clans, and official moguls.

• Impact of political culture on corruption levels; postcolonial states face unique challenges.