Legislative Branch Flashcards
Representation U.K.
U.K. MPs elected by public, U.K. Peers either appointed by PMs, around 10% of peers are still hereditary peers so get the role is in family.
2020 Boris Johnson appointed 36 peers to the House of Lords and was criticised for being bias and making Lords even less representative of public
Keep going
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Power over Executive (U.K.)
Vote of No confidence requires a majority vote in House of Commons or the pm’s party needs a majority to remove her to remove PM
E.g Theresa May survived a No Confidence Vote in 2018 with 63% of the vote in her party
On 15 January 2019, a motion of no confidence in the government of Theresa May was tabled in the British House of Commons. On 16 January, the House rejected the motion by a vote of 325 to 306.
Powers over Executive Germany
President can not sign bills (which is kind of his veto) which can’t be overturned by legislative. However very rare as President ceremonial.
Power over Executive (USA)
Impeachment of President requires a majority in House of Representatives and a 2/3 majority in the Senate.
2021 The Senate only got 57/100 votes in favour of impeachment
If President isn’t being constitutional with a veto, the executive can be overturned by a 2/3 majority in both houses of Congress.
Trump’s veto of a defence spending bill overturned in 2021 as Senate got 81 votes in favour of overturning
Experts
Legislatives “ often act as a check on the executive, scrutinising, criticising and publicising its decisions.” - Mike Simpson
“MPs don’t represent the people”-David Runciman
We need to “ rein in the ever-expanding power of the executive branch and enhance the dwindling power of Congress. If we miss this opportunity now, our very system of government may be further and irrevocably damaged. “- Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette
Representation US
House of Representatives elected and each State elects two senators to the senate despite States having uneven population as California’s population is over 60 times the population of Wyoming. However unlike the U.K. the US upper chamber can stop a bill from being passed.
Australian Legislation
A bill can only become a law if it is passed by a majority vote in the Senate and the House of Representatives
Government Surveillance Bill Passed in 2021
U.K. Legislation
Simple: Passes through Commons with majority vote and House of Lords with majority vote with multiple readings and need Executive Queen or King to sign it off which she must do
Finanace bill passed in U.K. in 2021 after going through above process
Social care cap bill
US Legislation
Bills must be passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate with majorities. Prez signs off or vetoes but vetoes can be overturned with a 2/3 senate majority.
Biden signs stopgap funding bill In 2021 after Congress approval
Australian Represenatation
12Aussie senators for each of Australia’s states which isn’t representative as New South Wales’ population is over 10 times bigger than Tanzmania’s population. Only 4 senators not from states and from territories.
LofA
Not fit for purpose as even though the Legislative can often limit an Executive’s power they are often not very representative especially in the upper chambers.
Comparisons
Representative
U.K. US
Us Aus
Laws
U.K. -US
Aus-US
Power over Executive
U.K. US
Germany 🇩🇪 US 🇺🇸
