8. Legistlature and Government

Question 1

Where does the word parliament originally come from?

Answer 1

The word Parliament originally comes from the French “parler” which means speaking, as the parliament was formed as a place for people to come together and talk about issues.

Question 2

What are the historic origins of the Parliament?

Answer 2

As monarchs needed revenue for wars from their nobles, they in exchange offered a modest input into policies. It later became the consultative, deliberative organ of elected individuals that designed legislature and was made up of representatives of the people.

Question 3

What are the 2 main authors of the underlying rational of the parliament?

Answer 3

Montesquieu: for the separation of power
John Lock: for the need of people to be represented in institutions, or in other words, there needs to be a democratic reflection of the electoral (democratically composed assembly)

Question 4

What are the functions of the legislature?

Answer 4

legislate and make policy control before after and during the legislative process conflict management (Pitkin, 1967) education and socialization recruitment, selection and training Latent V.S.manifest regimentation (Norton, 1993) Agenda setting Constituency work

Question 5

What are the three core functions of the legislature?

Answer 5

legislature as an agent legislature as a principal legislature as a legislature

Question 6

What are the different emphases of the legislature between countries?

Answer 6

Active: focus on the legislative and policy-making functions Passive: focus on the linkage and oversight

Question 7

How might one describe the legislature?

Answer 7

With the number of chambers:
Bicameral: The lower house represents citizens and
the higher house represents a certain population
characteristic this can ensure plurality and
extensive revision
Unicameral: is clearer and more efficient
With the composition and the size of the parliament
duration of a term
rules and procedures (roles of the individual VS: parties)

Question 8

Since the 19th century (contrary to Lockes believe) the legislature is declining, but why?

Answer 8

the legislature has a structural disadvantage overspending general lack of experience
psychological disadvantage
incomprehensible legislation
lack of turnover
absentee problem

Question 9

What are the general functions of the executive?

Answer 9

In general, it is the state branch that is responsible for the implementation of laws and policies made by the legislature.
Government, administration, bureaucracy, civil
servants

Question 10

What does the executive do in a little more detail?

Answer 10

executes and governs the country
roles of the head of state or the head of government,
depending on the system of governance
the role is not limited to passively executing
increasingly law making is counted as a responsibility
as well as agenda-setting
government competencies are assigned or attributed which makes a difference between political and bureaucracy

Question 11

The SIZE principle is the Decision-making based on arithmetic majority, what does that entail?

Answer 11

Rational choice theories (Riker 1962): Maximum influence, minimal effort
Minimum winning coalition: Parliamentary majority (seats)
Bargaining proposition theory (Leiserson 1970): Parliamentary majority (parties)

Question 12

The POLICY principle is the more programmatic study of governments, what does that entail?

Answer 12

Minimal range coalition: Ideological distance
Minimum connected winning coalition (Axelrod 1970)
Policy-viable coalitions (Laver and Schofield 1998)

Question 13

Are you doing a good job?

Answer 13

Of course cutie