Comparing legislatures

Question 1

How well do legislators socially represent their voters?

Answer 1

• disparities in terms of background/diversity; remain more male, whiter, older than population, though both becoming more diverse.
• record 220 (34%) women elected to parliament in 2019; just over a quarter in Congress in 2020; over half of electorate female.
• minority ethnic groups = 1/4 of Congress, 10% MPs; 14% of British public, 33% of US public.
• disparity between parties more extreme in Congress; after 2018, of the 101 women - 88 democrats, 13 republicans; Labour/Cons show less gender divergence after 2019 - 1/4 of Tory MPs, over half for Labour.

Question 2

How well do legislators politically represent their voters?

Answer 2

• majoritarian electoral systems - two largest parties overrepresented; worse in USA, where no third parties represented in Congress; independents usually align with party eg Bernie Sanders.
• Parliament contains broader range of parties including Lib Dems.

Question 3

How well do legislators check the executive?

Answer 3

• UK - PMs must be aware of powers of backbenchers; president enjoys separate mandate/only impeachment can remove unpopular/corrupt president.
• stronger partisanship in Congress; only one Republican senator broke ranks over Trump’s 2020 impeachment.
• congressional scrutiny can be very powerful; committees able to launch inquires/investigations eg into alleged political bias at the Internal Revenue Service during Obama era.
• parliament - select committees can draw attention to failings, but lack direct powers to enforce findings; PMQs.

Question 4

How well do legislators perform their roles as effective lawmakers?

Answer 4

• parliament normally more efficient/effective; Commons dominance, PS, majorities, strong party discipline.
• bills progress slowly in USA; must pass both chambers; neither can prevail without agreement of other (consequence of both being democratically elected).
• annual budget debated fiercely -> shutdowns; UK - budget vote essentially a confidence vote.
• Congress throughly scrutinises.
• in emergencies, both can quickly push through legislation.

Question 5

How are legislators viewed by the voters?

Answer 5

• Congress historically unpopular; 2003 is last time there was an approval rating of more than 50%; Oct 2020 - 19%.
• parliament and government are linked.