Theoretical Approach Flashcards
What is the structural approach?
A focus primarily on institutions and their structure eg constitution and legislation.
How do congress and parliament differ structurally?
Congress has a separation of powers between the three branches, whereas parliament doesn’t have a separation between the executive and legislative. As ruled by the US constitution, all the branches are separate. The president does not sit in congress like the PM in parliament in the UK.
How do the PM and President differ structurally?
By way of constitutions and legislation, the president can sit 2 terms every 4 years. They possess more power through veto and being commander in chief. They can be replaced by the VP upon death. The PM by contrast can sit 2 terms every 5 years, cannot veto legislation or delay it, and must inform parliament of army action. Their poses too are granted largely by royal prerogative, given by the monarchy and not the constitution.
How is sovereignty different?
The US president’s sovereignty is entrenched in the constitution. Whether they are implied or enumerated, they are their constitutional right to employ. Some actions like veto can be overturned by congress with a supermajority, so their is some accountability afforded by the legislative. In the UK, the PM is picked out from amongst the legislatively, as well as his cabinet. They do not have ability to veto, and cannot even introduce legislation as such.
