Parliament Comparing Legislatures

Westminster Model Democratic, parliamentary system of government Democratic, parliamentary system of government Head of state, head of government, fusion of legislative and executive branches in parliament, opposition parties Head of state, head of government, fusion of legislative and executive branches in parliament, opposition parties Enables a government to be defeated (vote of no confidence) and to be dissolved Enables a government to be defeated (vote of no confidence) and to be dissolved

The Houses of Parliament, also known as the Palace of Westminster, in London

Westminster Palace

Prime Minister “First among equals” “First among equals” MP  leader of majority party MP  leader of majority party Chooses cabinet ministers Chooses cabinet ministers Makes decisions in cabinet, with agreement of ministers Makes decisions in cabinet, with agreement of ministers –Shapes cabinet decisions into policy/law

Prime Minister David Cameron Deputy PM Nick Clegg

Cabinet P.M. and the cabinet are center of policy-making P.M. and the cabinet are center of policy-making Ministers usually leading members of majority party in House of Commons Ministers usually leading members of majority party in House of Commons –Politicians, not policy experts collective responsibility – all members of the cabinet publicly support every cabinet decision collective responsibility – all members of the cabinet publicly support every cabinet decision

Comparing Executives Prime Minister of UK Prime Minister of UK –Serves only as long as he/she remains leader of majority party –Elected as MP –Has an excellent chance of getting his/her programs passed in Parliament –Cabinet members are always MPs and leaders of the majority party –Cabinet members not experts in policy areas: rely on bureaucracy to provide expertise President of the US President of the US –Elected every four years by an electoral college based on popular election –Elected as president –Has an excellent chance of ending up in gridlock with Congress –Cabinet members usually don’t come from Congress (although they may) –Some expertise in policy areas; one criteria for their appointment; head vast bureaucracies

Westminster Palace - House of Commons

House of Commons 650 MPs 650 MPs Party that receives the plurality of the votes becomes the Majority Party in Parliament, the party with the second most votes becomes the “loyal opposition” Party that receives the plurality of the votes becomes the Majority Party in Parliament, the party with the second most votes becomes the “loyal opposition”

House of Commons: Set-up House of Commons set-up with long benches facing each other House of Commons set-up with long benches facing each other Prime Minister sits on front bench of majority side, directly in the middle Prime Minister sits on front bench of majority side, directly in the middle Directly across from the PM sits the leader of the “opposition” party Directly across from the PM sits the leader of the “opposition” party Between members of the majority and opposition parties is a long table Between members of the majority and opposition parties is a long table Cabinet members sit on the front rows of the majority party side Cabinet members sit on the front rows of the majority party side

House of Commons “Shadow Cabinet” – influential members of opposition party “Shadow Cabinet” – influential members of opposition party Backbenchers – less influential members of both parties sit in rear benches Backbenchers – less influential members of both parties sit in rear benches

House of Commons: Debate “Government” – consists of MPs in majority party “Government” – consists of MPs in majority party Question Time/Question Hour – the hour PM and cabinet must defend themselves from questions from the opposition party and from within party Question Time/Question Hour – the hour PM and cabinet must defend themselves from questions from the opposition party and from within party

House of Commons: Debate (cont’d) Speaker of the House – presides over the debates in Parliament Speaker of the House – presides over the debates in Parliament –Speaker supposed to be objective (no party bias) Opposition party seen as the “check” on the majority party within Parliament Opposition party seen as the “check” on the majority party within Parliament –Best utilized during times of debate over policy

Party Discipline If party members do not support their party leadership, the “government” may fall If party members do not support their party leadership, the “government” may fall Vote of Confidence: Vote of Confidence: –Vote on a key issue within the party –If the issue not supported, the cabinet by tradition must resign immediately, and new elections for MPs must be held as soon as possible –Usually avoided by settling policy differences within majority party membership Votes of No Confidence very rare Votes of No Confidence very rare –If the party loses a vote of confidence, all MPs lose their jobs, so there is plenty of motivation to vote the party line

Labour’s Vote of No Confidence (1979) Vote on issue of devolution for Scotland Vote on issue of devolution for Scotland Opposition leader Margaret Thatcher put motion to a vote Opposition leader Margaret Thatcher put motion to a vote Labour lost by one vote ( ) Labour lost by one vote ( ) Led to dissolution of government and new general election Led to dissolution of government and new general election Thatcher’s Conservatives won, began 18 year long hold on government Thatcher’s Conservatives won, began 18 year long hold on government

Blair’s Vote of Confidence: The Higher Education Bill Vote of confidence took place in 2005 Vote of confidence took place in 2005 Bill squeaked by with an approval vote of 316 to 311 Bill squeaked by with an approval vote of 316 to 311 The bill proposed raising university fees, a measure criticized not only by the opposition, but by outspoken MPs from the Labour Party as well The bill proposed raising university fees, a measure criticized not only by the opposition, but by outspoken MPs from the Labour Party as well The vote narrowly allowed Blair’s government to remain in control of the Commons The vote narrowly allowed Blair’s government to remain in control of the Commons

Westminster Palace - House of Lords

House of Lords

Only hereditary/appointed parliamentary house in existence today (Lords are unelected) Only hereditary/appointed parliamentary house in existence today (Lords are unelected) –Hereditary peers: seats that have been passed down through family ties over the centuries (90) –Life peers: people appointed as a result of distinguished service to Britain (672) –Lords Spiritual: senior bishops of the Church of England (26) Lords have declined in authority over last 4 centuries Lords have declined in authority over last 4 centuries

House of Lords: Powers Since the beginning of the 20 th century the House of Lords’ only powers are: Since the beginning of the 20 th century the House of Lords’ only powers are: –To delay legislation –To debate technicalities of proposed bills –May add amendments to legislation, but House of Commons may delete their changes by a simple majority vote Bills can become law without Lords’ approval Bills can become law without Lords’ approval

Reforms to the House of Lords Supported by Blair’s “New Labour” Supported by Blair’s “New Labour” –Wanted to remove hereditary peers Now only 90 Now only 90 Lords lost their judicial functions upon the establishment of the Supreme Court in 2009 Lords lost their judicial functions upon the establishment of the Supreme Court in 2009

Judiciary Branch Supreme Court established by Part 3 of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 and started work in 2009 Supreme Court established by Part 3 of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 and started work in 2009 –Judicial review seen as violating the principle of parliamentary sovereignty (parliament’s decisions are final) So DOES NOT have this power So DOES NOT have this power –Main role is court of appeals

Judicial Branch Decisions of courts based on common law—use of legal precedents to guide legal decisions Decisions of courts based on common law—use of legal precedents to guide legal decisions British courts cannot impose their rulings upon Parliament, the prime minister, or the cabinet British courts cannot impose their rulings upon Parliament, the prime minister, or the cabinet Power of judiciary more limited than in America Power of judiciary more limited than in America