Executive Flashcards
Similar powers
The President and Prime Minister are both chief executives and run the government’s executive branch. The Prime Minister chairs meetings of the cabinet, creates new government roles and departments and heads the Civil Service. The President uses the Executive Office of the President (EXOP) to help run the executive. The President and Prime minister both have the role of submitting the annual budget.
The President and Prime Minister both propose legislation to be passed through the legislature. The Prime Minister’s proposals are made in the Queen’s Speech whilst the President proposes legislation in the State of the Union Address. Both the President and Prime Minister can nominate members of the executive. The Prime Minister has patronage powers to appoint politicians to the cabinet. The president must have appointments confirmed by a Senate vote.
Different powers
The President has powers which the Prime Minister does not have, including signing and vetoing legislation, pardon powers, the head of state role and judicial appointments. The Prime minister plays an important role in the legislature, unlike the President, and has patronage powers.
Presidential powers
The president appoints federal judges, including all Supreme Court justices. The president nominates a judge who must be confirmed by a vote in the Senate, whilst in the UK the prime minister has no judicial appointment power.
The president can pardon citizens from criminal sentences.
The president has the power to sign a bill into law or veto the bill, whilst in the UK it is the monarch who signs the legislation. If the president objects to legislation passed by Congress, they can veto it.
The president is the head of state, meaning that they are the figurehead of the USA and perform ceremonial functions on behalf of the country. In the UK the monarch is the head of state.
The president uses persuasion and bargaining methods to pass their legislation through Congress.
Prime Ministerial powers
The prime minister has a significant role in Parliament. The prime minister appears before the House of Commons Liaison Committee which reviews all matters relating to select committees. The prime minister is involved in key parliamentary debates and answers questions weekly at Prime Minister’s Question Time.
The prime minister has the power of patronage to appoint to positions other than the executive, and without needing the consent of Parliament. The prime minister appoints peers to the House of Lords and bishops to the Church of England.
The prime minister and government pass its legislation through Parliament by using tools of party discipline such as party whips.
US accountability
Congress holds the president to account over their legislative proposals. Congress can amend or reject bills from passing into law. In 2018 the Senate failed to pass President Trump’s budget which led to a government shutdown.
The Senate has the power to reject any treaty proposed by the president.
The Senate can vote against the president’s nominations to the judiciary and executive.
Congress can vote to override a president’s veto if both chambers pass a two-thirds majority vote in favour.
Congress can investigate and impeach any member of the executive.
UK accountability
Departmental select committees summon government ministers to sit before it and answer in-depth questions on their department’s work.
Question time enables backbenchers to directly question ministers weekly on the actions of the government.
Government legislation is scrutinised in debates on policy in the House of Commons and House of Lords.
MPs in the House of Commons can put forward a motion for a vote of no confidence in the government. If a vote of no confidence is successful, there will be 14 days for a new government to form otherwise a general election takes place.
