chapter 9 Flashcards
legislatures
a political assembly that has the power to make laws in the country
functions of legislatures
representational, governmental, procedural; help keep executive power in check, and lend a hand to judicial courts if executive power tries to undermine the judicial’s power
representational
they are supposed to represent the people
4 types of representation
representation as mirror, substance gender rep, voice of constituency, trusted opinion leader
representation as mirror
the legislature should mirror the demographics of the population if 50% of population is women 50% of the legislative body should be women
substantive gender representation
doesn’t matter how many women there are, as long as women’s values and experiences are being represented
voice of the constituency
you are speaking for the people, voice their concerns
trusted opinion leader
the representative figures things out on behalf of the people
bicameral representation
2 chambers
unicameral rep
1 chamber
gerrymandering
which ever political party is dominant they will draw the lines of the electoral districts to favour their own party
governmental function of legislatures
legislatures are concerned with forming governments, formulating policy and implementing it.
two forms of government
separation of powers and fusion of powers
legislatures and formation of government
in fusion of powers- legislative chooses who is the executive
separation of powers- legislative has no say who is the executive
legislation and creating laws
laws must stand up for judicial review and respect international law
legislative and the executive
legislative keeps the executive in check
legislative and public opinion
they influence public opinion because they set the agenda for public debate, legislative take the lead in forming public opinion
two procedural functions of legislatures
ritualizing conflict and ensuring transparency
legislatures ritualizing conflict
it contains and regulates conflict by providing a safe space where people can voice their issues
legislatures ensuring transparency
parliaments are committed to openness about policies and issues
types of legislatures
active legislatures- has the power to reject executive action
reactive- sets parameters in which government can act and can impose sanctions if government infringes upon them
vulnerable- less strict on keeping executive in check because legislators are more occupied with pursuing their own interests
marginal- executive can do away with legislators because of support of social elites
minimal- serves only as a symbol of national unity but does not check the executive
example of active legislator
US
example of reactive leg.
France UK
example of vulnerable leg.
Italy Philippines
example of marginal leg.
Pakistan, Peru, Nigeria, Russia
example of minimal leg.
China
committees
legislators tend to work in committees rather than the whole gov’t
most bills are considered in temporary committees
America- separation of powers
first to try separation of powers- it was also known as the great American experiment
Baron of Montesquieu
came up with separation of powers; americans put Montesquieu’s view on steroids
fusion of powers
legislative and executive are fused together
confidence items
budgets, throne speech, anything government declares to be a confidence item, bills that spend money, a motion of the house of commons.
what happens on a vote of non-confidence
governor general decides who the leading party will be
coalition between old gov’t and another party
vote in a new Prime Minister and House of commons.
how confidence works
the executive must maintain the confidence of the people’s representatives in order to stay in power and be able to advise the queen.
