systems of Government Flashcards
3 branches
. judiciary
. legislature
. executive
judiciary
. courts, judges- deal with laws when broken
. responsible for interpreting law
. UK- Supreme Court- 2009
- highest court for all but Scottish criminal cases
. USA- US Supreme Court
legislature
. Parliament (commons, lords)- make laws
- propose+ pass laws
- bicameral
. HoC- lower house but more powerful
- elected> democracy> overtime more important (650)
. HoL- upper house but weaker
- unelected body, inherited, life peers (800)
. US- congress
executive
. government- PM, cabinet, departments
- PM leads cabinet, cabinet ministers lead departments
. puts laws into effect (implements)+ plans policy
. US- President
bicameral system
. HoC- elected MPs (650)> more powerful
. HoL- hereditary titles, life peers, appointed by PM, specialist knowledge (800)
monarch
. involved in Parliament
. royal assent
. final stage of passing law- monarch must agree
. ceremonial, always says yes
. not refused since 1708- Queen Anne
. Royal Assent Act 1967- short title
representative democracy
. general election- 5 years
. vote for party in their constituency to represent area
. eg- Will Quince
. party with majority form gov
. leader of party= PM
. Parliament can remove gov through a vote of no confidence- Johnson+ May survived
- don’t survive= general election
bicameralism
.upper house able to hold lower house to account- scrutinising+ checking legislature
- less party loyalty in HoL
- there for life
- life peers, hereditary peers, bishops
. MPs- can lose job next election
HoC layout
. gov on one side of room (conservatives)
. frontbenchers= PM+ cabinet ministers
. backbenchers= conservative MPs
. opposition- other parties+ independent
. front shadow cabinet- senior opposition MPs- check work of same department in gov
. labour backbenchers
. smaller parties have no shadow cabinet
. speaker- controls debate- chosen in secret ballot box- MPs
