POL 252-01Fall 2015

Organized Body

Power and Authority to Make Laws

Political Units: Towns, Cities, States, Nation

U.S. Congress British Parliament German Reichstag

Found in parliamentary systems

Executive selected from within legislature

Executive responsible to legislature

Legislative vote of no confidence

Parliaments = Fused-Powers Systems

Example: United Kingdom

Found in presidential systems

Central feature is separation of powers

Legislature independent from executive

Legislature cannot remove executive (impeachment)

Congressus: “Friendly meeting” or “hostile takeover”’

Example: United States

Govt.

Legislatures

Citizens

Citizen Desires Government

Government Decisions Citizens

Dependent on interaction between legislatures and other actors (e.g. executive)

Example: Recess in U.S. Congress

Important in: Single-Member Districts (SMD) Indirect Election of Executive

EDMUND BURKE TYPES OF REPRESENTATION

Delegate Representation Follow Constituents

Trustee Representation Listen to Constituents

Make Up Own Mind

Foster Compromise

Participation of Minority Groups

Impact on larger societal conflict

Larger problems (e.g. trust in government)

PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM

Large control over policymaking in govt.

Removal of Executive

PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM

Lesser degree of control over policymaking

Political differences due to independence from exec. Divided Government (US)

Development and passage of policy proposals Monitoring agencies to ensure implementation

How does oversight occur?

Question Time

Inquiries and Hearings

Investigative Committees

Reports on Specific Issues

Legislative approval of:

National Budgets

Tax Policies

Denial of funds for domestic programs, wars

HOLD

Prevents bill from being voted on in U.S. Senate

FILIBUSTER

Hold the Senate floor by making speeches so that no action is taken on bill

Cloture vote ends filibuster (3/5 of Senate)

Negative power

Case Examples:

Canada

United States

Germany

Number and Type of Chambers

Number: Unicameral (1) vs. Bicameral (2)

Type: Lower Chamber vs. Upper Chamber

Relationship Between Chambers▪ Breakdown of legislative power▪ Equally Shared?

▪ Equally Divided?

▪ Unequally Divided?

Size

Degree of Legislative Professionalism

Days of Legislative Session

Member Pay and Staff

Turnover Rate

Stability and Expertise of Body

Independence of Institution as Whole

Independence of Individual Members

FUSED-POWERS SYSTEMSEPARATION OF

POWERS SYSTEM

Executive

Legislative

Voters

Voters

Legislative Executive

PARTY CHARACTERISTICS

Candidate Selection Self-Nomination

Political Machines

Leadership Veto?

Internal Organization Centralized or Decentralized

Leadership vs. Equality

PARTY SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS

Electoral System Party-Centered

Candidate-Centered

Party and Campaign Funding Rules on State Financing

Rules on Outside Donations

One candidate is elected from each legislative district.

Political parties may play a role in this decision.

FIRST-PAST-THE-POST (FPTP)

Candidate w/ most votes wins

Do NOT have to win majorityof vote, just plurality

Consequences: Districts represented by other party!

RUNOFF

Top two candidates after first round of voting compete in additionalelections until majority

Case Study: France

More than one candidate chosen from area

What would happen if U.S. adopted this?

How are seats allocated?

OPEN-LIST PR

Voters choose candidates from party list

Candidates elected according to popular vote

CLOSED-LIST PR

Voters vote for party list

Candidates elected in order they appear on list until all seats are filled

ALTERNATIVE VOTE (AV)

Votes tallied

If NO candidate gets majority, the last-placecandidate is eliminated

Votes are reallocated to voters’ more preferred candidates

Continues until one candidate has majority

SINGLE TRANSFERABLE VOTE (STV)

Votes tallied

Votes of winning candidates reallocated to voters’ second and third choices until slate elected

SINCERE VOTING

Voting for candidate who expresses preferences

STRATEGIC VOTING

Voting for candidate with best chance of winning

Representation vs. National Issues

Voters get two votes

Individual Candidate▪ Member with most votes from constituency elected (SMD)

Political Party▪ Party votes tallied; seats based on party strength (PR)

Can you see U.S. adopting hybrid system?