Lecture 9 Flashcards

Parliaments

1
Q

Parliaments

A

Denotes legislative bodies in parliamentary systems of government (Europe)

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2
Q

Legislatures

A

Denotes legislative bodies in presidential systems of government (USA)

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3
Q

Functions of parliaments

A
  1. Representation
  2. Control and oversight
  3. Legislation and policy making
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4
Q

Representation with parliaments

A
  • Linkage (relationship between citizen and parliament)
  • Representation (represent our interests
  • Debating (parliament is an arena for public debate
    (5 different ways of representation: formalistic, symbolic, descriptive, substantive and collective)
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5
Q

Control and oversight

A
  • Control: through a no confidence vote

- Oversight: question time, special hearings, budget control

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6
Q

Negative powers

A

Powers to either express opinion on legislation, delay legislation or veto legislation

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7
Q

Positive powers

A

Amendment of legislation

Initiate their own legislation (write bills)

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8
Q

Filibuster

A

A tactic to delay or kill the legislation by long speech

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9
Q

Internal structure parliaments

A
  • Number of chambers
  • Parliamentary committees
  • Members
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10
Q

Number of chambers

A
  • Unicameral Parliament: a legislative body having only one house
  • Bicameral Parliament: a legislative body having two houses (assymetric: one body has more power than the other)
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11
Q

Parliamentary committees

A

Places for specialization: institutions within the parliament where MPs are grouped together

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12
Q

Ad hoc committees

A

Formed on the basis of a particular problem and then disbanded once this issue is solved

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13
Q

Incumbency rates

A

Percentage of MPs that are returning to parliament

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14
Q

Ideal-typical powerful parliament (legislature)

A
  1. Elected independently of the executive
  2. Members elected in small constituencies
  3. Large powers to monitor the executive
  4. Right to veto and initiate legislation
  5. Symmetric bicameralism
  6. Permanent and specialized parliamentary committees
  7. Professional and experienced MPs
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