Political systems - the executive branch Flashcards
How much power does the president (executive) actually have to make lasting changes?
The American system of checks and balanced and separation of powers makes it very difficult for the president to make lasting policy changes.
What are the key factors affecting the ability to the president to make lasting policy changes?
- The American system of checks and balances
- The separation of powers
- Congress/legislative branch
- The supreme court (Judicial)
Why do presidents want to run for office?
To change the country, making policy changes - they use these policies during their campaign.
What is an example of a president (Trump) and their policies during their campaign?
Donald Trump won in 2016 with a promise to “build the wall” across the US-Mexico border, solving what he considered over-immigration.
What is an example of a president (Biden) and their policies during their campaign?
In 2020, Biden promised to “build back better” referencing his COVID-19 recovery plan.
What is the power of appointment?
The president has the power to appoint members of cabinet and Supreme Court Justices.
What is an example of a president using their power of appointment to appoint a supreme court justice?
Donald Trump appointed Neil Gorsuch as supreme court justice in 2017.
Why is the presidents ability to appoint cabinet members important?
Cabinet positions are important as they allow the president to appoint people who will be loyal and who share similar view.
What limits the presidents power of appointment?
The presidents appointments must be approved by congress.
What is an example of a presidents appointment being approved by congress?
The appointment to Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court in 2018 was only confirmed after Senate hearings and a Senate vote.
What is the ‘power of persuasion’ in the US?
In contrast to the UK, the president relies on the ‘power of persuasion’ - using their position to encourage congress to pass legislation by doing deals.
What is an example of a president using the ‘power of persuasion’?
Obama got is Obamacare bill passed by congress by using his power of persuasion.
What is a situation where the ‘powers of persuasion’ are limited?
If a democrat is president (Obama) with a very partisan Republican majority in the house of representative, it would be difficult to pass legislation.
What is arguably the greatest power the president/executive has?
The ability to appoint Supreme Court Justices, despite them having to be vetted by the Senate.
How much power does the UK prime minister have in terms of policy making?
The UK prime minister is normally the leader of the majority party and so can more easily pass their legislation.
What are two factors that may affect the prime ministers ability to make policy changes?
- If they have a majority
- Backbench rebellions
What is an example of a UK prime minister easily being able to pass legislation?
With a healthy majority, in 2019 Johnston passed the EU withdrawal bill, allowing Brexit to begin the following year.
What does the prime ministers ability to easily pass policy tell us about the UK political system?
It shows that policymaking in the UK is largely a numbers game; if you have majority, you can pass legislation easily.
What are the worst circumstances for a prime minister to make policy changes?
If a prime minster does not have a majority in the House of commons and there are backbench rebellions, they become ‘politically paralysed’.
What is an example of a prime minister being ‘politically paralysed’?
Theresa May only had a slim majority in the 2017 general election, she failed to appease the Eurosceptics which resulted in rebellion.
How does the power of appointment work in the UK?
The prime minister can make any cabinet appointments that they wish. This makes them powerful because cabinet members must accept ‘collective responsibility’.
What is ‘collective responsibility’ in the UK parliament?
‘Collective responsibility’ means cabinet members should publicly support government decisions and resign if they disagree with the prime minister.
What is an example of a cabinet member going against ‘collective responsibility?
Tony Blair and his Chancellor, Gordon Brown, disagreed on many matters, but Brown was kept as Blair knew he would cause more trouble rebelling from the backbenches.
Why is the power of appointment in the UK so powerful?
It is so powerful because if a backbench MP wants to be promoted into government, they have to show loyalty to the leader.
What can cause high-profile cabinet members to resign despite the power of appointment in the UK?
If their disagreement with policy outweighs their desire from promotion and loyalty to the prime minister.
What is an example of an MP resigning, despite the power of appointment in the UK?
Johnston appointed Sajid Javid as Chancellor of the Exchequer, but he reigned after a fall out over who should be on his team.
What are the two key things a Prime minister in the UK can use to ensure party discipline?
- The whip system
- The loyalty of backbench MP’s
What do party whips do?
Ensure MP’s vote in accordance with the leader with the threat of punishments.
What is the result of a party properly using their whip system?
They are highly unlikely to lose in parliament.
How powerful is the UK prime minster?
The UK executive has very few limits on their power, in most circumstances they are able to dominate parliament using whips and the possibility to promotion.
