Lecture 3: Responsible Government and Good Governance Flashcards
What is good governance?
A general set of principles and values about how government should behave.
Why is good governance essential?
It is essential for people’s acceptance and recognition of the legitimacy of the institution of government.
What mechanisms are necessary for good governance?
Mechanisms necessary to make sure those in power adhere to the standards of good governance.
What is the desirability of good governance?
Uncontentious; we want the government to rule us with good intentions within the parameters of good governance.
What challenges exist in defining good governance?
Difficult to define; everyone has different understandings of what good governance is.
What does good governance entail?
Realising democracy and conducting government in ways that are acceptable to the majority of the people.
How should those in power act according to good governance?
Lawfully, honestly, transparently, straightforwardly, competently, with integrity, and selflessly.
What are the two key components mentioned in Federalist Paper No. 62 (1788) regarding government?
- Fidelity to the object of government, which is the happiness of the people
- A knowledge of the means by which that can be best attained
What are the five prerequisites for good governance identified by the Public Administration Select Committee (2009)?
- Good people
- Good process
- Good accountability
- Good performance
- Good standards
What does ‘good people’ refer to in the context of good governance?
Recruiting and cultivating the right people to effectively deploy their skills and abilities in government.
What does ‘good process’ mean in the context of governance?
Ensuring appropriate structures, systems, and procedures are in place for government to run smoothly.
What is meant by ‘good accountability’?
Adequate arrangements to ensure people within government are held to account for their decisions and actions.
What does ‘good performance’ highlight in government?
Effective performance assessment helps identify how well public organizations meet their objectives.
Why are ‘good standards’ important in public life?
High ethical standards are vital for ensuring basic public trust and confidence in governing institutions.
Good governance is described as what type of concept?
Dynamic, reflecting social, moral, and democratic changes.
Good governance depends on what societal aspect?
The society’s values and what they expect from their government.
What is the connection between good governance and democracy?
Governments must serve the people’s interests and make decisions that advance the public good while avoiding self-interested actions.
This aligns with the principle that the government is meant to govern in the people’s interest.
What does the US Declaration of Independence state regarding government?
“That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it…”
This emphasizes the people’s right to change their government for their safety and happiness.
What are the four basic responsibilities of any legitimate government in modern states?
- Protecting its own citizens
- Promoting the welfare of its citizens
- Enforcing justice
- Promoting truth and knowledge
These responsibilities are critical for maintaining a legitimate government.
What is the importance of lawfulness in governance?
Citizens require procedural fairness in decisions affecting them, which necessitates unbiased decision-making and protection of rights by courts.
Lawfulness ensures that citizens’ rights are upheld.
What is the role of good governance values in society?
Good governance values help focus government influence on collective goals.
This is essential for fostering a cooperative and just society.
What was established by the Committee on Standards in Public Life in 1994?
The ‘seven principles of public life’: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, leadership.
These principles guide ethical conduct in public life.
True or False: Government actions during the COVID-19 pandemic have raised concerns about public trust.
True
Issues such as receiving gifts from private persons after elections have contributed to this erosion of trust.
Fill in the blank: The ‘seven principles of public life’ include _______.
[selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, leadership]
What is the UK constitutional system characterized as?
Responsible government
Responsible government is a specific type of governance in a parliamentary democracy where the government is accountable to parliament.
What does ‘responsible’ mean in the context of government?
Administration is responsive to public demands and movements of public opinion
This means that the government listens to public expectations and opinions, not just during elections.
Who can exert pressure on the government to be responsive?
- The public
- Institutions or organizations with an acknowledged place in the constitutional system
These entities represent the public’s interests and influence governmental decisions.
What is required for ‘responsiveness’ in government?
Mechanisms of ‘control’
Control mechanisms ensure that government responsiveness remains effective and accountable.
What are the two different meanings of ‘control’ in government?
- Strong sense: power of direction
- Weak sense: mere influence
Strong control involves authoritative direction, while weak control involves influencing decision-makers.
What does ‘strong sense’ control imply?
Power of direction and hierarchy of authority within government
It includes administrative accountability and judicial review, where courts can intervene in unlawful government decisions.
What does ‘weak sense’ control refer to?
Mere influence on decision-makers
This type of control emphasizes the importance of influencing decisions correctly rather than exercising direct power.
According to Carl Friedrich, what is the importance of influence in political science?
Apart from power, influence is probably the most important basic concept of political science
This highlights the significance of influence in shaping governmental decisions and policies.
What is judicial review?
Judicial review is the process by which courts evaluate the constitutionality of legislative and executive actions.
Judicial review can lead to significant changes in how laws are interpreted and enforced.
Is judicial review considered neutral?
No, judicial review isn’t neutral because it can become activist.
Activist judicial review can lead to controversial rulings that may not align with the original intent of the law.
What problems have arisen from activist judicial review?
Activist judicial review has caused a lot of problems in many countries.
These problems can include political instability and a lack of public trust in the judiciary.
What is the implication of judicial review not being a neutral instrument?
It implies that judicial review can lead to biased outcomes and potentially undermine democratic processes.
This bias can affect the balance of power among branches of government.
Why should mechanisms govern judicial review?
Mechanisms should govern judicial review to ensure it is subject to proper control and processes.
This can help maintain the integrity of the judicial system and prevent misuse of judicial power.
What are control and accountability mechanisms in government?
Restraints on government that require it to explain its actions, which can limit its efficiency.
Why are control and accountability mechanisms considered a limitation?
They require government to spend more time, energy, and money on explanations instead of actions.
What is a positive outcome of control mechanisms in government?
They contribute to the rationality of government, ensuring prudence, consistency, and competence.
What must government do before taking a decision according to control mechanisms?
It must prepare and justify its actions to avoid impulsive decisions.
What demands do control mechanisms make on public resources?
They require spending on explanation, justification, and monitoring, funded by taxpayers.
What balance must be struck in government according to the principles discussed?
A balance between control mechanisms and governmental effectiveness.
What is the main capacity that a government in a democracy must possess?
The capacity to govern effectively and make real choices between alternative policies.
Complete the quote: ‘Government in a democracy must possess the capacity to govern; that is to say, it must have that ______ effectiveness.’
[functional]
What should be the limit of control mechanisms in government?
They should stop where they become too cumbersome and hinder effective governance.
What is responsible government in the UK constitution?
The Government is responsible to Parliament (House of Commons)
Responsible government implies that the authority of the government depends on its confidence from the elected house.
What does parliamentary government rely on?
The government’s authority depends on having the confidence of the elected house
This means that if the government loses this confidence, it can be dismissed.
What is the manifestation of ‘responsibility’ in the context of the UK government?
The government is liable to be dismissed by a vote of the Commons
This dismissal is subject to an appeal to the electorate.
According to Dorothy Pickles, what is essential in a parliamentary democracy?
Parliament shall retain the power to dismiss Governments
This highlights Parliament’s authority to dismiss a government if it is unhappy with its actions.
How often have dismissals of government occurred in the UK in the 20th century?
Three times
Dismissals in practice have been rare.
What is a paradoxical feature of modern parliamentary government?
An elected house mainly maintains the government in power while controlling and holding it accountable
This creates a reliance on the majority to support the government.
What is a minority government?
A government formed when a political party or coalition does not have a majority of overall seats in the legislature
This can lead to instability and requires negotiation with other parties.
What does a breakdown of party solidarity signify?
It indicates that the governing party is divided, potentially leading to a vote of No Confidence
This could happen if enough members from the governing party oppose the government.
What does the need to retain the confidence of the House of Commons impose on the Government?
It compels the Government to explain, justify, bargain, and concede
This is especially true in coalition or minority governments.
Do government defeats in the House of Commons require the Government to resign?
No, unless the House is invited to treat the issue as one of confidence in Government
This allows the government to remain in power despite defeats.
What are the functions of Parliament in relation to the Government?
Controlling and calling into account
These functions depend on the acceptance by Ministers of their collective and individual responsibility to Parliament.
What underpins all debates and parliamentary questions according to Michael Rush?
Ministerial responsibility
This is crucial for the means by which Parliament seeks to exercise its scrutiny.
