Comparative Politics - Week 4 (Legislatures and Executives)

Question 1

what is a legislature?

Answer 1

a group of people coming together to legitimise decisions on behalf of others

Question 2

who wrote the ‘decline of legislatures’

Answer 2

Lord Bryce

Question 3

when did lord bryce write ‘the decline of legislatures’

Answer 3

1921

Question 4

what did Lord Bryce say were the two main factors for the decline of legislatures?

Answer 4

increasing power of parties
expansion of the executive

Question 5

what roles do legislatures serve besides law making?

Answer 5

legitimation
scrutiny
errand running
conflict-resolution
policy-influencing

Question 6

what is parliamentarism

Answer 6

the increased importance of parliament since the 1970s

Question 7

what is the main role of legislatures today

Answer 7

representation
scrutiny

Question 8

What are the three reasons for an upper chamber

Answer 8

historical
large chamber
federal structure

Question 9

what is congruent bicameralism

Answer 9

the two legislative chambers possess a similar political composition

Question 10

what is incongruent bicameralism

Answer 10

the two legislative chambers differ in their political composition

Question 11

what is symmetric bicameralism

Answer 11

the two legislative chambers differ in their political composition.

Question 12

what is asymmetric bicameralism

Answer 12

the two legislative chambers possess unequal constitutional power

Question 13

who came up with the ideas of arena and transformative legislatures

Answer 13

Nelson Polsby

Question 14

what are arena legislatures

Answer 14

where there is a focus on plenary work and debate function, little impact on policy-making (UK)

Question 15

what are transformative legislatures

Answer 15

focus on committee work and amending function, little public debate (Germany)

Question 16

who came up with the idea of policymaking and policy influencing legislatures

Answer 16

Phillip Norton

Question 17

what are policy-making legislatures

Answer 17

where they have the ability to initiate legislation and to amend and reject government legislation (Italy)

Question 18

what is a policy influencing legislature

Answer 18

where they have the ability to introduce amendments to government legislation

Question 19

what are little-or-no-policy effect legislatures

Answer 19

where they have no ability to amend legislation

Question 20

what is descriptive representation

Answer 20

where the legislature exactly reflects the demographic make up of the country

Question 21

what is substantive representation

Answer 21

where the legislature reflects the diversity of perspectives/ideas in a country

Question 22

what is trustee representation

Answer 22

where representatives follow their own judgement about the proper course of action

Question 23

what is delegate representation

Answer 23

where representatives follow their preferences of a group (party and/or constituencies)

Question 24

what is local representation

Answer 24

where representatives act in the interest of their local constituencies

Question 25

what is national representation

Answer 25

where legislators should act in the interests of the country as a whole

Question 26

what does it mean to execute

Answer 26

to develop and implement the policies that govern a nation

Question 27

what are the four types of executive

Answer 27

presidential parliamentary semi-presidential directorial

Question 28

how are the branches of government connected in a presidential system

Answer 28

separations of powers

Question 29

who is the head of state in a presidential system

Answer 29

the head of the executive

Question 30

how is the head of state elected in a presidential system

Answer 30

they are directly elected by the people

Question 31

what is the relationship between the president and the legislature

Answer 31

the president is not politically accountable to the legislature

Question 32

how are the branches of government connected in a parliamentary system

Answer 32

fusion of powers (sometimes limited separation of powers)

Question 33

who is the head of state in a parliamentary system

Answer 33

they are separate to the head of the executive

Question 34

how is the head of state elected in a parliamentary system

Answer 34

they are not directly elected by the people

Question 35

how does the appointment of the PM work

Answer 35

- needs implicit of explicit approval by parliament - often formally appointed by the head of state

Question 36

how does removal of office work in a parliamentary system

Answer 36

- vote of no confidence

Question 37

what is the relationship between branches in semi-presidential systems

Answer 37

there is limited separation of powers

Question 38

who is the head of state in a semi-presidential system

Answer 38

the head of state is different to the head of the executive

Question 39

how is the head of state elected in a semi-presidential system

Answer 39

they are directly elected by the people

Question 40

what powers does a president have in a semi-presidential system

Answer 40

- veto power - dissolve parliament - nominate government - dictate/shape composition of constitutional court

Question 41

which countries have a semi-presidential system

Answer 41

France, Portugal, Austria, Finland and Ireland

Question 42

who has premier-presidentialism

Answer 42

Ukraine

Question 43

how does premier-presidentialism work

Answer 43

- PM and Cabinet are exclusively accountable to the assembly majority - the legislature choose the PM and Cabinet - The legislature can remove the PM and Cabinet from office with a vote of no confidence

Question 44

who has president-parliamentarism

Answer 44

Russia

Question 45

how does president-parliamentarism work

Answer 45

- PM and Cabinet are accountable to both the president and the assembly - President choose the PM and the cabinet with the confirmation of the assembly - the president can dismiss government and dissolve the legislature

Question 46

who has directorial government

Answer 46

Switzerland