1. Parliament Comparing Legislatures

2. Westminster Model A democratic, parliamentary system of government modeled after that of the UK system A democratic, parliamentary system of government modeled after that of the UK system Fusion of legislative and executive branches in parliament Fusion of legislative and executive branches in parliament 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

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

4. Westminster Palace

5. Prime Minister “First among equals” “First among equals” Head of Government, MP, and leader of majority party (Conservative Party now) Head of Government, MP, and leader of majority party (Conservative Party now) –Chosen by majority party in Commons PM chooses cabinet ministers PM chooses cabinet ministers

6. Prime Minister David Cameron Deputy PM Nick Clegg

8. Cabinet P.M. and the cabinet are the center of policy-making in the British political system P.M. and the cabinet are the center of policy-making in the British political system Ministers are usually leading members of the majority party in the House of Commons rather than policy experts Ministers are usually leading members of the majority party in the House of Commons rather than policy experts collective responsibility – all members of the cabinet must publicly support every cabinet decision collective responsibility – all members of the cabinet must publicly support every cabinet decision

9. “Chancellor of the Exchequer” Finance minister Finance minister

10. 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

11. Westminster Palace - House of Commons

12. House of Commons 650 MPs in Commons 650 MPs in Commons 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” Shadow govt/cabinet Shadow govt/cabinet

13. Coalition Government A cabinet of in which 2 or more political parties cooperate A cabinet of in which 2 or more political parties cooperate Ex.) Conservatives + Lib Dems Ex.) Conservatives + Lib Dems Tends to result from fragmented legislature and can be unstable Tends to result from fragmented legislature and can be unstable

14. 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

15. Party Discipline If party members do not support their party leadership, the “government” may fall into crisis If party members do not support their party leadership, the “government” may fall into crisis –So, voting behavior of MPs is determined by party affiliation Vote of Confidence: Vote of Confidence: –Vote on a key issue within the party –If the issue is not supported, the cabinet by tradition must resign immediately, and new elections for MPs must be held as soon as possible Lots of motivation to vote the party line Lots of motivation to vote the party line

16. Example of Vote of Confidence – Greece http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6 RE0GciCjw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6 RE0GciCjw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6 RE0GciCjw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6 RE0GciCjw

17. Vote of No Confidence Govt. loses confidence of Parliament when it fails to gain a majority in Commons on a key vote Govt. loses confidence of Parliament when it fails to gain a majority in Commons on a key vote Successful votes of no confidence Successful votes of no confidence –majority vote in legislature forces resignation of govt. –govt. steps down and new govt. must be formed (new elections) Very rare Very rare –Most recent votes of no confidence were 1979 and 1924

18. 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 (311-310) Labour lost by one vote (311-310) 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

19. 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

20. Westminster Palace - House of Lords

22. House of Lords Only hereditary parliamentary house in existence today Only hereditary parliamentary house in existence today –Hereditary peers (90) –Life peers (698) Reforms have changed composition of Lords over past decade Reforms have changed composition of Lords over past decade

23. House of Lords: Powers Delay legislation Delay legislation Add amendments to legislation, but House of Commons may delete their changes by a simple majority vote Add amendments to legislation, but House of Commons may delete their changes by a simple majority vote Initiate bills Initiate bills –Lords may not initiate revenue bills Only House of Commons may do this Only House of Commons may do this

24. Judicial Branch Parliamentary sovereignty – parliament’s decisions are final Parliamentary sovereignty – parliament’s decisions are final –Limited the development of judicial review British courts can only determine whether government decisions violate the common law (precedents) or previous acts of Parliament British courts can only determine whether government decisions violate the common law (precedents) or previous acts of Parliament By tradition British courts cannot impose their rulings upon Parliament, the prime minister, or the cabinet By tradition British courts cannot impose their rulings upon Parliament, the prime minister, or the cabinet

25. Supreme Court Created in 2009 Created in 2009 Court of last resort in all matters Court of last resort in all matters Has jurisdiction to determine devolution disputes – cases in which laws made by devolved legislatures are questioned Has jurisdiction to determine devolution disputes – cases in which laws made by devolved legislatures are questioned Limited powers of judicial review because of parliamentary sovereignty Limited powers of judicial review because of parliamentary sovereignty