1. Political Institutions and Public Policy: Part I
Scottish Parliament Buidling
Photo Copyright: Kelly Walker, 2009

2. Political Institutions
How are institutions set up and how do they shape the political decision-making process?
Different outcomes may result depending on how a country organizes its executive, legislative, and judicial branches, or other organizations.
Usually, the function of a country’s political institution is defined in a written constitution.

3. The Executive Primary Function: Execute Laws Most important branch
Presidents, Prime Ministers, Monarchs, Dictators, and other officials
Decide government policy
Responsible for the state’s
successes and failures
Photo Copyright: Kelly Walker 2009

4. The Executive Two distinct executive functions:
Head of State- ceremonial position
(no real decision-making power)
2. Head of Government- Chief
political officer (has real
decision-making power)
In some cases, one person may be the Head of State and the Head of Government. Dual Executive
The Queen of England’s Summer Palace
Photo copyright: Kelly Walker, 2009

5. The Legislature Primary Function: Make laws
Parliamentary System: Legislature appoints the head of government (Great Britain)
Presidential System: Executive and Legislative Branch are separate (United States
Authoritarian regimes often have legislative bodies that have no real law-making power (Iran)
Parliament of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Photo copyright: Kelly Walker, 2009

6. The Legislature Unicameral- A one house legislature
Bicameral- A two house legislature
Advantage of a unicameral legislature: Does not have to share power.
Advantage of a bicameral legislature: provides greater representation of the people.
Photo Copyright: Kelly Walker 2009

7. The Judiciary Primary Function: Adjudicate
All states have some form of legal structure
In some states, the judiciary is independent of the political authorities in the executive and legislative branches
In authoritarian states, the judiciary is tied to political authorities
Photo Copyright: Kelly Walker, 2009

8. The Judiciary
Judicial Review- (allows the court to interpret the law) Not present in all states
Clip Art

9. The Bureaucracy
Primary Function- Run the day-to-day operations of government
Civil Service
A network of state organizations adept at advising decision makers about policy options
Includes: ministries, bureaus, departments, and other offices
Specialize in all aspects of government: Education, Economics, Transportation, Trade, etc.

10. The Bureaucracy
Bureaucrats have various powers, dependent upon the type of system in place
Many are career minded professionals who are highly qualified (France)
Technocrats- provide information and policy information in their respective areas of expertise
Photo copyright: Kelly Walker, 2009
Beijing, China

11. Bureaucracy
Max Weber believed all bureaucracies had certain characteristics:
Hierarchical authority structure (chain of command)
Task specialization
Extensive Rules
Clear Goals
The Merit principle
Impersonality (performance is based on productivity)

12. The Military Primary Function: Protect the State
Many contemporary states are run by military organizations
Most states keep the military separate from government (Russia, China)
Photo Copyright: Kelly Walker, 2009
USS Truman

13. Political Institutions and Public Policy: Part I
Last Slide: Photo Copyright: Kelly Walker, 2009
China public policy: Health Care