Executives Compared Flashcards
Accountability to the legislature (SIMILARITIES)
Power, scrutiny, effectiveness of removal of government
◾️Executive power depends on their control of, and majority size in, the legislature (HoC majority or a minority government (Theresa May with support from 10 DUP MPs 2017, challenging in Parliament) seen as weak (Obama Senate majority Democrats and House majority Republicans)
◾️Role of the legislature in both countries is to scrutinise policy proposals, and in both countries the legislature has made notable changes to government proposals (UK legislature has scrutinised legislation between 2010-15 against reforms such as caps on welfare payments) (US legislature determining the funding available and agreeing on the budget for the president e.g. 2018 shutdown)
◾️Both legislatures can remove the government this hasn’t been effectively exercised for centuries (US 3 trials of impeachment, all failed) (UK House of Commons can impeach/try any officials, but this hasn’t been used since 1804. To remove the executive, usually need a motion of no confidence. Rarely used, gov usually has a majority government)
Accountability to the legislature (DIFFERENCES)
Separation of powers executive dominance, how executive can be removed, policy proposals and legislative agenda
◾️US: constitutionally separated powers give Congress a final say on many issues such as approval of cabinet ministers and judicial appointments e.g. Alito. UK: While parliament is in theory sovereign, executive dominance means Parliament is often subservient to the government e.g. majority in the HoC likely to see legislation pass a lot easier compared to a minority government. Salisbury Convention HoL should not vote against manifesto policies
◾️UK: Government in the UK can be removed with a vote of no confidence e.g. James Callaghan. US: In the US impeachment proceedings have only been brought three times against the president e.g. Johnson, Clinton, Trump
◾️US: the State of the union is a suggestion of what the president would like achieved e.g. reports on national budget and economy goals. Separation of powers limits the executive power to force Congress to act upon it. UK: the UK government which writes the Queen speech as the legislative agenda e.g. 10th May Prince Charles gave the speech
What are some of the key DIFFERENCES in roles of the executive?
(Head of state?, sovereignty?, duration within office?)
◾️President is Head of State. E.g. President Biden. PM isn’t Head of State e.g. Boris Johnson, the Queen is.
◾️President in reality and theory is sovereign. PM in reality is sovereign e.g. is the one who runs the country. In theory this is the Queen e.g. monarch of the country
◾️President can only serve two terms. E.g. Obama 2008-2012, 2012-2016. PM can serve any number of terms e.g. Tony Blair 1997-2007
What are some of the key SIMILARITIES of roles of the executive?
(Head?, military?, media?)
◾️Both are head of government e.g. UK Boris Johnson. US Joe Biden
◾️Both commander in chief (in charge of the armed forces) e.g. UK Iraq invasion 2003. US in Afghanistan
◾️Both focus of the media e.g. during the pandemic briefings of daily cases were seen to be popular in both and presented by both
What are some of the key DIFFERENCES in powers of the executive?
(Veto?, appointment process?, mandates?)
◾️President has the veto according to the Constitution. PM has no need to veto due to (usually) holding a majority e.g. majority in the HoC as of 2022, 357 seats are conservative seats. US President has vetoed legislation such as Trump vetoing 10 times
◾️President can nominate Supreme Court justices e.g. George W. Bush appointing Alito. PM has not involvement with appointments, this is done by the JAC e.g. Lady Hale
◾️President has a personal mandate e.g. through the electoral process, Election Day 2020 Trump v Biden. PM has a party mandate e.g. 2019 general election gave Boris Johnson a party mandate, conservatives
What are some of the key SIMILARITIES in powers of the executive?
(Military? Diplomats? Cabinet?)
◾️Both act as the key military decision maker. In practice, US: presidents frequently order military action without consulting Congress e.g. Bush took military action in Iraq 2003 unauthorized by Congress, in theory the president cannot declare war. UK: prime ministers have ordered military action without consulting parliament e.g. Cameron took military action in Libya 2011 and Mali 2013 without a preceding vote from parliament, using the royal prerogative.
◾️Chief of Diplomats. UK: EU/UK. US: USA/CANADA/MEXICO. Trade deals
◾️Both appoint a cabinet. E.g. UK Boris Johnson’s cabinet close important government departments. E.g. US Joe Biden and EXOP
