The documents provide information about parliamentary systems of government and compare the UK and US systems. The UK has a parliamentary democracy where the government is formed from and accountable to Parliament. Key powers of Parliament include representation of citizens, lawmaking, scrutiny of the executive, and recruiting ministers from among MPs. Committees provide one method for scrutiny but their effectiveness is debated.
This lecture is designed for first year students of English, and for anyone interested in a simple explanation of what is at stake in current political debates in America
The document provides background information on the American political system, including key events like the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, and the writing of the US Constitution. It then summarizes the main principles and structure of the Constitution, outlining the separation of powers and checks and balances between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches as defined in Articles I-III. The summary also notes that James Madison is considered the key author and discusses reasons like weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation that led to the writing of the new Constitution.
The document summarizes the qualifications, election process, powers, and removal of the President of India. It states that the President is indirectly elected by an electoral college consisting of members of parliament and state legislative assemblies using single transferable vote. The President can be removed through impeachment, which requires a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of parliament. The President holds executive, legislative, financial, and limited judicial powers according to the Constitution but has a largely ceremonial role.
Political parties , pressure group, and role in political systemTr Ue Journlism
Political parties can be defined in several ways. Broadly, a political party is a group of citizens who share similar political views and try to control and influence government by participating in elections and gaining power. There are several types of party systems including one-party systems, two-party systems, and multi-party systems. Political parties perform important functions like educating citizens, participating in elections, forming governments, and checking governmental power.
The document discusses the governance system of the United States, which follows a presidential system. It outlines the requirements to be a presidential candidate, the election process, and the three branches of government: the legislative branch (Congress), executive branch (President and Cabinet), and judicial branch (Supreme Court and federal courts). The presidential system has merits like a fixed executive tenure and unity in administration, but also drawbacks like potential conflicts between the executive and legislative branches. Overall, the presidential system has been successful in the US due to growth of the party system and presidential leadership working with Congress.
The Legislative Branch is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which together compose Congress. The House has 435 members with 2-year terms, while the Senate has 100 members with 6-year terms. Each body has specific leadership roles and powers. Congress has broad powers including taxation, spending, commerce regulation, and declaring war, but also limitations such as a ban on direct taxes until the 16th Amendment. Members receive salaries, benefits, and legal protections for their duties.
The Council of States, also known as the Rajya Sabha, represents the interests of India's 29 states and 6 union territories. Representatives are elected by state legislative assemblies based on population size, with a few representatives chosen from union territories as determined by Parliament. Members must be at least 30 years old and cannot hold any government office or be a proclaimed offender. Rajya Sabha members serve 6-year terms with one-third of the members retiring every 2 years. The Vice President of India serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
The document discusses the roles and powers of the President of India according to the Constitution. It covers the President's role as head of state and government, election process, qualifications, powers related to legislation, finance, judiciary, emergencies, and foreign affairs. The Vice-President has similar qualifications to the President but plays a secondary role as the ex-officio chair of the Rajya Sabha.
This lecture is designed for first year students of English, and for anyone interested in a simple explanation of what is at stake in current political debates in America
The document provides background information on the American political system, including key events like the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, and the writing of the US Constitution. It then summarizes the main principles and structure of the Constitution, outlining the separation of powers and checks and balances between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches as defined in Articles I-III. The summary also notes that James Madison is considered the key author and discusses reasons like weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation that led to the writing of the new Constitution.
The document summarizes the qualifications, election process, powers, and removal of the President of India. It states that the President is indirectly elected by an electoral college consisting of members of parliament and state legislative assemblies using single transferable vote. The President can be removed through impeachment, which requires a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of parliament. The President holds executive, legislative, financial, and limited judicial powers according to the Constitution but has a largely ceremonial role.
Political parties , pressure group, and role in political systemTr Ue Journlism
Political parties can be defined in several ways. Broadly, a political party is a group of citizens who share similar political views and try to control and influence government by participating in elections and gaining power. There are several types of party systems including one-party systems, two-party systems, and multi-party systems. Political parties perform important functions like educating citizens, participating in elections, forming governments, and checking governmental power.
The document discusses the governance system of the United States, which follows a presidential system. It outlines the requirements to be a presidential candidate, the election process, and the three branches of government: the legislative branch (Congress), executive branch (President and Cabinet), and judicial branch (Supreme Court and federal courts). The presidential system has merits like a fixed executive tenure and unity in administration, but also drawbacks like potential conflicts between the executive and legislative branches. Overall, the presidential system has been successful in the US due to growth of the party system and presidential leadership working with Congress.
The Legislative Branch is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which together compose Congress. The House has 435 members with 2-year terms, while the Senate has 100 members with 6-year terms. Each body has specific leadership roles and powers. Congress has broad powers including taxation, spending, commerce regulation, and declaring war, but also limitations such as a ban on direct taxes until the 16th Amendment. Members receive salaries, benefits, and legal protections for their duties.
The Council of States, also known as the Rajya Sabha, represents the interests of India's 29 states and 6 union territories. Representatives are elected by state legislative assemblies based on population size, with a few representatives chosen from union territories as determined by Parliament. Members must be at least 30 years old and cannot hold any government office or be a proclaimed offender. Rajya Sabha members serve 6-year terms with one-third of the members retiring every 2 years. The Vice President of India serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
The document discusses the roles and powers of the President of India according to the Constitution. It covers the President's role as head of state and government, election process, qualifications, powers related to legislation, finance, judiciary, emergencies, and foreign affairs. The Vice-President has similar qualifications to the President but plays a secondary role as the ex-officio chair of the Rajya Sabha.
The President of India is the ceremonial head of state, while the real executive power is vested in the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister. The President is elected indirectly by an electoral college for a 5-year term, and can be re-elected. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President and exercises executive powers along with other ministers. Key responsibilities of the Prime Minister include forming the Council of Ministers, distributing portfolios, advising the President, coordinating policies, and leading the majority party in Parliament.
The document summarizes information about the U.S. Congress from Chapter 10. It discusses the reasons for a bicameral legislature established by the Constitution, including historical precedent from the British Parliament and the need for compromise between state plans. It also describes terms of Congress, sessions of Congress, the size and terms of the House and Senate, qualifications for members of each chamber, committee work and oversight responsibilities of legislators, and their compensation.
The US presidential election process involves primaries, caucuses, and a general election to select the president. From early spring of the year before the election through spring of the election year, candidates campaign and participate in state-run primaries and party-run caucuses to secure their party's nomination. In July and September, the major parties hold conventions to officially nominate their candidates. In September and October, presidential debates are held. The general election occurs on the first Tuesday of November, with the winner needing a majority in the Electoral College. The new president is inaugurated on January 20th of the following year.
Senate of Pakistan is also known as the upper house of Pakistan. The elections for senate are conducted after a time interval of three years for one half of the senate and each senator is allocated a time period of six years. If in any scenario there is no president in Pakistan or he is unable to perform his duties then chairmen of the senate perform the duties of a president unless and until there comes a new president or old one recovers himself.
President of India with his powers and Role in the governing structure.RohitMinz5
Here is the role of the president of India in the governing structure of India. It contains the powers of the president of India. please download if you like, by joining linked in. THANK YOU HOPE YOU LIKE MY PRESENTATION. PLEASE LIKE MY PRESENTATION IF YOU LIKE IT.
This document discusses the origins and significance of judicial review in the United States. It begins by outlining the debate around judicial independence during the ratification period. It then explains how judicial review was established through the Federalist Papers and the landmark case Marbury v. Madison, where the Supreme Court first asserted its power to strike down unconstitutional laws. The document discusses the ongoing controversy around judicial review and accusations of "judicial activism." However, it notes that the courts are still subject to checks and balances through other branches of government.
1) A bill can be introduced in either the House or Senate by a member of Congress and is then assigned to a committee for review.
2) If approved by the committee, the bill moves to the floor for debate and a vote in that chamber.
3) If passed, it moves to the other chamber where the process is repeated - if changes are made, a conference committee reconciles the versions.
4) The final bill is then sent to the President - if signed, it becomes law.
Parliamentary sovereignty is a most thinkable constitutional principle of UK's west minister system of parliament. So, here we discuss some important issues on parliamentary sovereignty.
Constitutional development in India from 1773 to 1947 involved increasing Indian representation in government. Key acts included the Regulating Act of 1773, establishing the Governor-General role; the Charter Acts of 1833 and 1853 expanding legislative councils; the Indian Councils Acts of 1861 and 1892 increasing Indian membership; and the Government of India Acts of 1909, 1919 and 1935 continuing to expand representation and move toward self-government, though communal divisions were also introduced. Independence was achieved in 1947.
This document summarizes key roles in the Indian government, including:
- The Vice President of India, who is elected by Parliament and serves as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Key responsibilities include presiding over Rajya Sabha meetings and acting as President if necessary.
- The Prime Minister of India, who is appointed by the President and must be a member of the party with a majority in the Lok Sabha. As head of the Council of Ministers, the Prime Minister coordinates policies and communicates decisions to the President.
- The Attorney General of India, who is appointed by the President and must be qualified to be a Supreme Court judge. Duties include advising the government on legal matters and representing the
The president of India has several important powers according to the constitution. These include executive powers over the administration, legislative powers such as introducing bills and approving or returning acts of parliament, financial powers such as approving the national budget, judicial powers like pardoning convicted criminals, and emergency powers to declare different types of emergencies. The president can exercise these powers directly or through subordinate officers. Additionally, the president has the power to appoint key government officials and acts as commander-in-chief of the armed forces. While the president has significant authority, executive powers must be exercised according to the constitution and are subject to limited judicial review.
The U.S. government is based on a constitution that establishes three equal branches - the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The president is the head of the executive branch and is elected to 4-year terms. Congress is the legislative branch, composed of the Senate and House of Representatives, and meets in the Capitol building in Washington D.C. The two main political parties in the U.S. are the Democratic and Republican parties.
features of parliamentary form of government are described in this ppt in the simplest manner I can and this is for educational purposes .while making ppt I took help from various books and websites but the most profound material source is Indian polity by M laxmikanth .
This document discusses different voting systems used in elections, including first-past-the-post, supplementary vote, additional vote, and single transferable vote systems. First-past-the-post is used for UK House of Commons elections, where voters select one candidate and the candidate with the most votes wins. Proportional representation systems aim to allocate seats proportionally based on votes. The supplementary vote and additional vote systems allow voters to rank candidates, while single transferable vote uses multi-member constituencies and transfers votes from eliminated candidates.
this ppt describes different froms of government based on power and authority distribution, the merits and demerits of each form of government are also given. for further educative ppt do comment and if time allow i will surely help you in making your ppt.
- United States presidential elections are held every four years to elect the president and vice president. The elections are run by state governments, not the federal government. Voters select electors who then vote for the candidates.
- Candidates must meet ballot access requirements to be listed. Major party nominees and other candidates who meet signature requirements are listed. Voters can also write in candidates.
- If no candidate wins a majority, the House of Representatives chooses the president and the Senate chooses the vice president. Voter turnout has declined in recent decades despite increased registration.
The India Independence Act of 1947 established the independence of India and Pakistan from British rule. It created the two new independent dominions of India and Pakistan, with India comprising most of British India except for certain provinces divided into Pakistan. The Act established that both dominions would be fully independent and have their own legislatures and governor-generals appointed by the King. It outlined that British rule over India would officially end on August 15, 1947 and transferred governing responsibilities to the new Indian and Pakistani governments.
This document summarizes India's election process. It discusses the voter list, nomination of candidates which requires a minimum age of 25, election campaigns which last 2 weeks between nomination and voting, voting procedures using electronic voting machines, counting of votes after polling is complete, and some challenges to free and fair elections such as money power, muscle power, and criminal candidates.
The governor is the nominal executive head of the state, while the chief minister and council of ministers are the real executive. The governor is appointed by the president and holds office at the president's pleasure. The governor has executive, legislative, financial, and emergency powers but acts on the advice of the council of ministers in routine matters. The governor also has discretionary powers in certain areas like ordinance making and has special responsibilities in some states. While constitutionally the head of the state, the governor in practice acts as an agent of the central government.
The document summarizes the four core functions of the House of Lords: making laws, holding the government accountable, acting as a forum of independent expertise, and carrying out judicial work as the highest court in the UK. It provides details on how the House of Lords spends its time scrutinizing legislation, questioning government ministers, and debating policies. It also gives examples of how Lords committees have influenced policy areas like mental health and internet security by gathering evidence from experts.
This document provides an overview of the structure and functions of the Australian parliamentary system at both the Commonwealth and Victorian state levels. It describes that Australia has a constitutional monarchy and a bicameral parliamentary system. The Commonwealth Parliament consists of the Senate as the upper house and the House of Representatives as the lower house. Similarly, the Victorian Parliament has an upper house called the Legislative Council and a lower house called the Legislative Assembly. The roles of both houses include initiating and passing legislation, representing different constituencies, and acting as a check on the government.
The President of India is the ceremonial head of state, while the real executive power is vested in the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister. The President is elected indirectly by an electoral college for a 5-year term, and can be re-elected. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President and exercises executive powers along with other ministers. Key responsibilities of the Prime Minister include forming the Council of Ministers, distributing portfolios, advising the President, coordinating policies, and leading the majority party in Parliament.
The document summarizes information about the U.S. Congress from Chapter 10. It discusses the reasons for a bicameral legislature established by the Constitution, including historical precedent from the British Parliament and the need for compromise between state plans. It also describes terms of Congress, sessions of Congress, the size and terms of the House and Senate, qualifications for members of each chamber, committee work and oversight responsibilities of legislators, and their compensation.
The US presidential election process involves primaries, caucuses, and a general election to select the president. From early spring of the year before the election through spring of the election year, candidates campaign and participate in state-run primaries and party-run caucuses to secure their party's nomination. In July and September, the major parties hold conventions to officially nominate their candidates. In September and October, presidential debates are held. The general election occurs on the first Tuesday of November, with the winner needing a majority in the Electoral College. The new president is inaugurated on January 20th of the following year.
Senate of Pakistan is also known as the upper house of Pakistan. The elections for senate are conducted after a time interval of three years for one half of the senate and each senator is allocated a time period of six years. If in any scenario there is no president in Pakistan or he is unable to perform his duties then chairmen of the senate perform the duties of a president unless and until there comes a new president or old one recovers himself.
President of India with his powers and Role in the governing structure.RohitMinz5
Here is the role of the president of India in the governing structure of India. It contains the powers of the president of India. please download if you like, by joining linked in. THANK YOU HOPE YOU LIKE MY PRESENTATION. PLEASE LIKE MY PRESENTATION IF YOU LIKE IT.
This document discusses the origins and significance of judicial review in the United States. It begins by outlining the debate around judicial independence during the ratification period. It then explains how judicial review was established through the Federalist Papers and the landmark case Marbury v. Madison, where the Supreme Court first asserted its power to strike down unconstitutional laws. The document discusses the ongoing controversy around judicial review and accusations of "judicial activism." However, it notes that the courts are still subject to checks and balances through other branches of government.
1) A bill can be introduced in either the House or Senate by a member of Congress and is then assigned to a committee for review.
2) If approved by the committee, the bill moves to the floor for debate and a vote in that chamber.
3) If passed, it moves to the other chamber where the process is repeated - if changes are made, a conference committee reconciles the versions.
4) The final bill is then sent to the President - if signed, it becomes law.
Parliamentary sovereignty is a most thinkable constitutional principle of UK's west minister system of parliament. So, here we discuss some important issues on parliamentary sovereignty.
Constitutional development in India from 1773 to 1947 involved increasing Indian representation in government. Key acts included the Regulating Act of 1773, establishing the Governor-General role; the Charter Acts of 1833 and 1853 expanding legislative councils; the Indian Councils Acts of 1861 and 1892 increasing Indian membership; and the Government of India Acts of 1909, 1919 and 1935 continuing to expand representation and move toward self-government, though communal divisions were also introduced. Independence was achieved in 1947.
This document summarizes key roles in the Indian government, including:
- The Vice President of India, who is elected by Parliament and serves as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Key responsibilities include presiding over Rajya Sabha meetings and acting as President if necessary.
- The Prime Minister of India, who is appointed by the President and must be a member of the party with a majority in the Lok Sabha. As head of the Council of Ministers, the Prime Minister coordinates policies and communicates decisions to the President.
- The Attorney General of India, who is appointed by the President and must be qualified to be a Supreme Court judge. Duties include advising the government on legal matters and representing the
The president of India has several important powers according to the constitution. These include executive powers over the administration, legislative powers such as introducing bills and approving or returning acts of parliament, financial powers such as approving the national budget, judicial powers like pardoning convicted criminals, and emergency powers to declare different types of emergencies. The president can exercise these powers directly or through subordinate officers. Additionally, the president has the power to appoint key government officials and acts as commander-in-chief of the armed forces. While the president has significant authority, executive powers must be exercised according to the constitution and are subject to limited judicial review.
The U.S. government is based on a constitution that establishes three equal branches - the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The president is the head of the executive branch and is elected to 4-year terms. Congress is the legislative branch, composed of the Senate and House of Representatives, and meets in the Capitol building in Washington D.C. The two main political parties in the U.S. are the Democratic and Republican parties.
features of parliamentary form of government are described in this ppt in the simplest manner I can and this is for educational purposes .while making ppt I took help from various books and websites but the most profound material source is Indian polity by M laxmikanth .
This document discusses different voting systems used in elections, including first-past-the-post, supplementary vote, additional vote, and single transferable vote systems. First-past-the-post is used for UK House of Commons elections, where voters select one candidate and the candidate with the most votes wins. Proportional representation systems aim to allocate seats proportionally based on votes. The supplementary vote and additional vote systems allow voters to rank candidates, while single transferable vote uses multi-member constituencies and transfers votes from eliminated candidates.
this ppt describes different froms of government based on power and authority distribution, the merits and demerits of each form of government are also given. for further educative ppt do comment and if time allow i will surely help you in making your ppt.
- United States presidential elections are held every four years to elect the president and vice president. The elections are run by state governments, not the federal government. Voters select electors who then vote for the candidates.
- Candidates must meet ballot access requirements to be listed. Major party nominees and other candidates who meet signature requirements are listed. Voters can also write in candidates.
- If no candidate wins a majority, the House of Representatives chooses the president and the Senate chooses the vice president. Voter turnout has declined in recent decades despite increased registration.
The India Independence Act of 1947 established the independence of India and Pakistan from British rule. It created the two new independent dominions of India and Pakistan, with India comprising most of British India except for certain provinces divided into Pakistan. The Act established that both dominions would be fully independent and have their own legislatures and governor-generals appointed by the King. It outlined that British rule over India would officially end on August 15, 1947 and transferred governing responsibilities to the new Indian and Pakistani governments.
This document summarizes India's election process. It discusses the voter list, nomination of candidates which requires a minimum age of 25, election campaigns which last 2 weeks between nomination and voting, voting procedures using electronic voting machines, counting of votes after polling is complete, and some challenges to free and fair elections such as money power, muscle power, and criminal candidates.
The governor is the nominal executive head of the state, while the chief minister and council of ministers are the real executive. The governor is appointed by the president and holds office at the president's pleasure. The governor has executive, legislative, financial, and emergency powers but acts on the advice of the council of ministers in routine matters. The governor also has discretionary powers in certain areas like ordinance making and has special responsibilities in some states. While constitutionally the head of the state, the governor in practice acts as an agent of the central government.
The document summarizes the four core functions of the House of Lords: making laws, holding the government accountable, acting as a forum of independent expertise, and carrying out judicial work as the highest court in the UK. It provides details on how the House of Lords spends its time scrutinizing legislation, questioning government ministers, and debating policies. It also gives examples of how Lords committees have influenced policy areas like mental health and internet security by gathering evidence from experts.
This document provides an overview of the structure and functions of the Australian parliamentary system at both the Commonwealth and Victorian state levels. It describes that Australia has a constitutional monarchy and a bicameral parliamentary system. The Commonwealth Parliament consists of the Senate as the upper house and the House of Representatives as the lower house. Similarly, the Victorian Parliament has an upper house called the Legislative Council and a lower house called the Legislative Assembly. The roles of both houses include initiating and passing legislation, representing different constituencies, and acting as a check on the government.
The document discusses the structure and roles of the Australian Parliament. It notes that the Australian Parliament consists of the Queen, represented by the Governor-General, and two houses - the Senate and House of Representatives. It then describes the five main functions of parliament and provides details on the structure of the two houses, their roles, and the role and powers of the Governor-General.
The House of Lords is the upper chamber of the UK Parliament. It meets in the Palace of Westminster along with the House of Commons. The House of Lords currently has around 800 members, who are appointed as life peers or sit due to hereditary peerages. The role of the House of Lords is to scrutinize and amend bills passed by the House of Commons. There have been ongoing debates around reforming the House of Lords, including making it a more elected body, though no major reforms have occurred since 1999 when most hereditary peers lost their seats.
The document discusses India's system of government. It describes the division of powers between the union and state governments. Executive power lies with the President and the Council of Ministers, while the Parliament consists of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and exercises legislative powers. The parliamentary system was adopted from Britain. Bills pass through several readings in the two houses of Parliament before becoming law upon the President's approval.
The document provides an overview of the British political system, including:
1. It describes the key elements of the British political system including the monarchy, government, parliament, and elections.
2. It explains some of the core aspects of the British style of democracy including the informal nature of politics and decision-making, as well as the relationship between individuals and the state.
3. It outlines the roles and functions of key political institutions like the House of Commons, House of Lords, cabinet, and prime minister.
The document summarizes the political system of Great Britain. It outlines that the United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II as head of state. The British Parliament is made up of two chambers - the House of Commons with elected members and the House of Lords containing hereditary peers. It also briefly describes the main political parties and roles of key government ministers.
This document discusses political participation and voting behavior in the UK. It provides an overview of key concepts like democracy, political power vs authority, and different theories that seek to explain voting behavior such as party identification theory, sociological theory, and rational choice theory. It also examines factors that influence voting like social class, partisanship, and more recent short-term influences. Participation in politics has declined over time with fewer people joining political parties or contacting politicians.
This document outlines the public policy formulation process. It begins with defining key concepts like policy and public policy. The public policy formulation process has four phases - initiation, generation, implementation, and evaluation. The initiation phase involves agenda-setting, identifying policy issues, and stakeholder engagement. The generation phase is when policies are formulated and drafted. Implementation involves enacting the policies. Evaluation is monitoring and assessing the policies. The document provides details on steps like policy analysis and stakeholder consultation that are part of the initiation and generation phases of the public policy formulation process.
This document discusses different types of policies and the policy development process. It outlines that there are substantive/administrative policies, vertical/horizontal policies, and reactive/proactive policies. It also explains that policy development involves selecting an objective, identifying targets, determining pathways, designing programs, implementing, and assessing impact. The goal of public policy is to achieve outcomes that benefit society such as reducing poverty through various policy pathways.
The document outlines the key stages of the policy making process:
1) Issue identification where problems are publicized and gain government attention
2) Agenda setting where the government begins serious consideration of issues
3) Policy formulation where various alternatives are developed and considered
4) Policy adoption where policies are legitimized through official government statements and actions
5) Policy implementation which involves all activities that result from officially adopting a policy.
The document discusses different forms of government in Europe. It describes confederations as voluntary associations of states that work together on common issues. Confederations are often precursors to more centralized governments. The document contrasts unitary systems, where central governments hold all power, with federal systems, where power is divided between central and state governments. Parliamentary systems like the UK and Germany separate the roles of head of state and head of government. Presidential systems like the US combine both roles. Citizen participation differs between autocratic, oligarchic, and democratic systems. The EU aims to increase cooperation between member states for mutual economic and political benefit.
Select committees in the House of Commons include departmental committees that scrutinize government departments and policy areas. Departmental select committees have memberships that reflect the balance of political parties in the House of Commons, and their chairs are now elected by a House-wide ballot. Select committees aim to hold ministers and departments accountable for their decisions and policymaking, and to support the House in scrutinizing legislation and public spending. Their core tasks include examining departmental strategies, policies, spending and performance, as well as scrutinizing legislation and major appointments. To fulfill these roles, select committees seek written submissions, hold public evidence sessions, conduct visits, and produce reports.
Democratic oversight of the security sector the nigerian experienceKayode Fayemi
This document discusses democratic oversight of the security sector in Nigeria. It notes that while constitutions may outline provisions for oversight, actual parliamentary oversight is more challenging. It examines legislative oversight in Nigeria over the past three years, looking at constitutional provisions, relationships between security and oversight actors, legal frameworks, political commitment to oversight, and oversight institutions' capacity. Key issues include the role of parliament in defense policymaking and budgeting, use of the military for internal security, and external military assistance. Overall it analyzes the effectiveness of democratic oversight of the security sector in Nigeria.
The document discusses key differences between parliamentary and presidential systems of government. It then examines the concept of parliamentary sovereignty in the UK, noting that while Parliament is legally sovereign, in practice political sovereignty is less clear. It also explores several institutions like the European Union and devolution that have eroded parliamentary sovereignty. The document then analyzes parliamentary committees and significant reforms to the UK Parliament in the 20th century relating to the relationship between the Commons and Lords.
The document is a grant application form for the Cross-Border Programme Croatia-Montenegro under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance.
The application is submitted by the Public Authority for National Parks of Montenegro and the Public Authority for National Park Mljet. The proposed action is called "Protected Area Tourism for Sustainability" and involves upgrading tourism infrastructure and management infrastructure in national parks in Montenegro and Croatia. It also involves training for tourism sector employees to improve skills in areas like product development, brand development, and destination management.
The total budget for the 24-month project is €699,452, with €587,148 requested from the EU. The project aims to support tourism-related economic development in protected areas
Presentation on the National Assembly on Vision and Constitution in IcelandGudjon Mar Gudjonsson
Presentation by Gudjon Mar Gudjonsson, the Ministry of Ideas on the National Assembly on Vision and Constitution in Iceland. Presentation was held at the Radicales in Santiago on June 5th 2014.
The document provides an overview of Canada's parliamentary system and the roles of key individuals and bodies within it. It discusses the hierarchy including the Queen, Governor General, Prime Minister, the legislative branches of the House of Commons and Senate, and the judicial branch. It then focuses on the House of Commons, outlining the roles of the Speaker, Leader of the Opposition, party whips, and the process a bill undergoes to become law which includes several readings and approval by both the House of Commons and Senate.
The document provides information about the parliamentary systems and governments of the United Kingdom, Germany, and Russia.
The United Kingdom has a parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy. Power is shared between Parliament, comprised of the House of Lords and House of Commons, and the Prime Minister. Citizens elect members to the House of Commons. The Prime Minister is the head of government. Citizens have rights like freedom of speech.
Germany has a federal parliamentary democracy. Power is shared between the central government and 16 state governments. The Bundestag is elected by citizens and elects the Chancellor. The Bundesrat represents state governments. Citizens have basic freedoms.
Russia has a federal presidential democracy. Power is shared between the central
The document summarizes key aspects of the UK parliamentary system. It outlines that Parliament is bicameral, consisting of the House of Commons and House of Lords. The House of Commons has 650 MPs elected via first-past-the-post who scrutinize the government. The House of Lords has unelected hereditary peers and appointed life peers who revise legislation. Core functions of Parliament include legislation, scrutiny of the executive, and representation of constituencies.
This document provides an overview of different levels of government in the UK, with a focus on central government and the House of Commons. It discusses that central government is responsible for issues affecting the entire nation, such as changes in law, taxation policy, and national budgets. The central government is called Parliament, consisting of the Monarch, House of Commons, and House of Lords. The House of Commons has around 646 elected MPs who represent constituencies and vote on legislation and policies. It plays key roles in making laws, controlling finances, scrutiny, and protecting individuals.
This document summarizes the key aspects of a parliamentary system of government, including that it requires multiple political parties, a parliament that is dependent on the will of the population and holds constitutional authority, a head of government like a prime minister who is selected by and can be removed by a no-confidence vote of the parliament, and early elections may be triggered if the government loses a no-confidence vote.
The document provides information about the parliamentary systems and forms of government in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Russia.
The United Kingdom has a unitary system with a parliamentary democracy. Power is held by Parliament, composed of the House of Lords and House of Commons. The Prime Minister is elected from the House of Commons and heads the government, while the monarch is the ceremonial head of state.
Germany has a federal system with a parliamentary democracy. Power is shared between the central government and 16 state governments. The legislature is composed of the Bundestag, elected by citizens, and Bundesrat, representing state governments. The Chancellor, elected by the Bundestag, is the head of government.
Russia has a
Parliament is responsible for making and repealing laws in the UK and for scrutinizing the work of the Government. It consists of the House of Commons with 659 elected MPs, the House of Lords with around 700 unelected members, and the Queen. The main roles of Parliament are to pass laws, provide funding for the government through taxation, scrutinize policies and spending, and debate important issues. Elections are held to select MPs for the House of Commons, with the party that wins most seats forming the government.
The document provides an overview of government in Canada, including:
- Canada has a federal parliamentary system with a constitutional monarchy and representative democracy. Power is shared between federal, provincial, and municipal levels.
- The three branches of government are the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The executive branch makes and implements decisions, the legislative branch makes laws, and the judicial branch interprets laws.
- Elections are held every five years or less, with eligible voters choosing between candidates using a first-past-the-post system to elect representatives and determine the type of government, either majority or minority.
Comparing european governments united kingdom russia germany 2012marypardee
The document compares and contrasts the parliamentary systems of government in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Russia. It outlines that the UK has a unitary system with Parliament as the lawmaking body composed of the House of Lords and House of Commons. Germany has a federal system shared between the central and state governments, with the Bundestag and Bundesrat as its two parliamentary houses. Russia also has a federal system with the Federation Council and State Duma making up its Federal Assembly legislature. Each country guarantees basic rights to its citizens.
This document summarizes the separation of powers and key institutions in the British government. It outlines that legislative power lies with Parliament, executive power with the government, and judicial power with the courts. Parliament is comprised of the House of Commons, House of Lords, and Monarch. The government is formed by the ruling party in Commons. Courts, headed by the Supreme Court, interpret the law.
The document provides an overview of the UK constitution, including what a constitution is, the sources of the UK constitution (both written and unwritten), the history and changes over time, key concepts like sovereignty and the unitary system, arguments for and against an uncodified constitution, and the branches of government and separation/fusion of powers. It covers the core structures and concepts that make up the UK's unwritten constitution.
Week 16 day 1-comparing european governments-united kingdom russia germany 2...marypardee
The United Kingdom, Germany, and Russia all have parliamentary systems of government where power is shared between the executive and legislative branches.
In the UK, the House of Commons is responsible for making laws and the Prime Minister serves as the head of government. Germany's legislature is made up of the Bundestag and Bundesrat, and the Chancellor serves as head of government. Russia's legislature consists of the Federation Council and State Duma, and the President is head of state and government.
All three countries guarantee basic civil rights and hold democratic elections, though the UK and Germany have parliamentary democracies while Russia has a presidential democracy with the President directly elected by citizens.
The document provides an overview of the British political system, including its history, branches of government, and key institutions. The modern British government is a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. Real authority rests with the Prime Minister and Cabinet, who are accountable to and can be dismissed by Parliament. The monarch now plays a largely ceremonial role as head of state. The Cabinet is responsible for developing policy and advising the Prime Minister.
The document compares the parliamentary systems of the United Kingdom, Germany, and Russia. It outlines that the UK has a unitary system with Parliament as the lawmaking body composed of the House of Lords and House of Commons. Germany has a federal system with parliament composed of the Bundestag and Bundesrat. Russia also has a federal system with the Federal Assembly consisting of the Federation Council and State Duma. Each country's system of government, leadership roles, and citizens' rights are described.
The three branches of the United States government are the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The executive branch is headed by the President, who enforces laws and commands the armed forces. The legislative branch consists of Congress, which is made up of the House of Representatives and Senate, and makes the laws. The judicial branch is headed by the Supreme Court and interprets laws.
The Constitutional Council of France is the highest constitutional authority that ensures the principles and rules of the French constitution are upheld. It rules on whether proposed statutes conform with the constitution before they are signed into law. The Council also supervises elections and declares their results. It has the power to declare laws invalid if they are contrary to the constitution or treaties that France has signed. The Council is made up of former presidents and nine members appointed by the president, National Assembly and Senate for non-renewable nine year terms.
The document provides an overview of the first days of Congress and the legislative process. It describes how the House and Senate begin their sessions, with the State of the Union address. It outlines the roles of the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate. It then explains the committee system and how bills are introduced and debated before a final vote in both the House and Senate. A bill must pass both chambers before being sent to the President to be signed into law.
The document compares the systems of government in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Russia.
In the United Kingdom, power is centralized and citizens vote for members of Parliament who then select the Prime Minister. Germany has a federal system where power is shared between the central and state governments, and citizens vote for the Bundestag which chooses the Chancellor. Russia also has a federal system but the President has the most power and is elected directly by citizens, while the Prime Minister helps with day-to-day governance. All three countries protect similar citizens' rights.
The document summarizes key aspects of British political institutions, including its unwritten constitution based on statutes and documents. It describes the legislature as Parliament, consisting of the House of Commons and House of Lords. It provides details on their members and roles. The executive is led by the Prime Minister and cabinet. It also discusses the British judiciary system, elections, and major political parties like the Conservatives and Labour.
Here are some key reasons why so few bills become law:
- Many bills die in committee without ever receiving a floor vote. Committees have significant gatekeeping power and can choose not to advance bills.
- There are many opportunities for bills to be blocked, amended, or fail to receive majority support. They must pass both the House and Senate in identical form and then be signed by the President.
- Bills can be derailed by filibusters in the Senate, which require 60 votes to overcome. This makes it difficult to pass controversial legislation.
- Compromise is difficult to achieve when there are ideological divides between the two parties and chambers. It takes consensus to enact new laws.
- Some bills
Constitution of india- A melting pot of constitutionsPrati Jain
The presentation talks about the formation of indian constitution, focusing on its various aspects as being inspired from various other constitutions of world. It was a class assignment. :)
John Rawls (1921-2002) was a hugely influential US philosopher known for attempting to reconcile liberal beliefs in freedom with the need to prevent excessive inequality in society. His best known work, A Theory of Justice (1972), proposed a thought experiment where people create a just society from behind a "veil of ignorance" without knowing their place in it. Rawls argued this would lead people to choose principles guaranteeing equal rights, respect for all, and a minimum standard of living so that the worst off are not below a certain level, even if this requires some inequalities. He called this the "difference principle."
The document provides information about the executive branch of the US government. It discusses the president's constitutional powers, notable past presidents, the increasing role of the president over time, and the president's ability to persuade rather than command. It also outlines the vice president's role and increasing responsibilities. Additionally, it examines the cabinet, federal bureaucracy, and Executive Office of the President, including key offices like the White House Office and roles like the Chief of Staff. Iron triangles and tensions between the cabinet and EOP are also mentioned.
The power of the president is limited to persuasion 30 markeraquinaspolitics
The document discusses the powers of the U.S. President and their dependence on Congress. It notes that the President feels they must "persuade people to do what they ought to have sense enough to do." It also outlines some of the tools Presidents can use to persuade or influence Congress, such as making calls/visits to build support. However, the President is still dependent on Congress for legislation and funding. Even when a party controls both branches, Congress does not always support the President's agenda.
The document compares the Cabinet and the Executive Office of the President (EXOP) in terms of their importance to the President. The Cabinet tends to ensure the work of the executive branch is coordinated, but plays a limited role by meeting infrequently and members may not be close to the President. The EXOP consists of the President's personal aides in components like the NSC and OMB. EXOP members can play a more significant role through closer proximity and longer-term relationships with the President. However, some Cabinet members have also significantly shaped policy. The importance of each depends on the individual President's leadership style.
The document discusses the powers and responsibilities of the US Presidency. It outlines the President's role in proposing and signing legislation, submitting budgets, making nominations, and negotiating treaties. It also examines factors that influence a President's ability to pass proposals, such as popularity, whether the government is divided or united, crises, and relationships with Congress. Overall, the President must use a variety of formal and informal tactics to lead effectively, including bargaining, compromise and persuasion.
The document discusses the presidential veto power granted by the Constitution. It allows the president to return unsigned bills to Congress with objections. Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and Senate. The document provides examples of past presidents' veto records, showing Bill Clinton had the highest success rate at blocking legislation, while George W. Bush had the lowest due to multiple overrides by Congress.
Executive orders allow presidents to manage operations within the federal government without congressional approval. However, the Supreme Court ruled that presidents cannot use executive orders to make new laws. Presidents since the 1950s generally cite which existing laws their executive orders are based on. Signing statements are issued when a president signs a bill into law and can be used to interpret statutes, though some argue this modifies laws without congressional approval. Executive agreements are international agreements made by the president without senate ratification and have the force of treaties despite questions over their constitutionality.
The term "Imperial Presidency" originated in the 1970s to describe the perceived abuse of power by presidents Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon during the Vietnam War and Watergate scandal. Historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr. argued that the presidency had become dominant over Congress, with the executive branch resembling a royal court. Subsequent presidents, including Reagan with the Iran-Contra affair and Clinton with treaties and wars not authorized by Congress, were also said to expand presidential power beyond what the Founding Fathers intended in the Constitution by taking war-making authority for themselves. Whether modern presidencies should truly be considered "imperial" is still debated.
The document outlines the various powers of the US President, including powers they wield alone such as serving as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, receiving ambassadors, and granting pardons. Some powers are shared with the Senate, like making treaties and appointing ambassadors and judges. Other powers are shared with Congress, such as approving legislation. The President also acts as the head of their party and uses the bully pulpit to push their agenda.
The document contrasts the "Imperial Presidency" of the 1960s-70s, when presidential power grew due to expanding foreign policy roles and deference from Congress, culminating in Nixon's presidency and the abuses of Vietnam and Watergate, with the "Imperilled Presidency" of the 1970s, when Congress acted to increase oversight of the president through new organizations, laws, and by threatening Nixon with impeachment to reduce unchecked executive power in the aftermath of the Nixon presidency's abuses.
The British constitution is not set out in a single document but rather has evolved over many years through a combination of written laws, court rulings, conventions and traditions. It serves several functions including distributing power, protecting freedoms, defining limits on government, and providing stability. Unlike other nations like the US, the British constitution is partly written and uncodified, with sources scattered across documents, and can be amended through regular acts of parliament rather than a special process. Recent constitutional reforms under New Labour focused on areas like the House of Lords, devolution, freedom of information and human rights.
The civil service originated in the East India Company and was formalized in the 19th century. A 1954 report recommended professionalizing the civil service by implementing examinations, merit-based promotions, and generalist roles rather than technical specialists. Civil servants are divided into service-wide administrators and specialists, and departmental groups. Reforms since the 1960s have aimed to increase efficiency and introduce private sector practices through initiatives like Next Steps agencies, the Citizen's Charter, and New Labour's Modernising Government white paper. However, critics argue reforms have overly politicized and businessized the civil service at the expense of its traditional impartiality and public service ethos.
As constitutional, parliamentary and electoral reformaquinaspolitics
The document discusses various electoral systems used in the UK, including majoritarian systems like FPTP and alternative vote (AV), proportional representation systems like party list and single transferable vote (STV), and hybrid systems like additional member system (AMS). It also examines the impact that electoral reform has had on different political parties in the UK and prospects for further reform.
This document presents information about the court system and human rights in the UK in a slideshow format. It discusses the different levels of courts, including magistrates courts, crown courts, appeal courts, and the Law Lords. It also addresses civil courts like county courts and the high court. Additionally, it covers ways that human rights are protected, such as through judicial review, administrative tribunals, and political processes. Finally, it discusses police accountability to the public, MPs, and authorities like the Complaints Authority and Police Authority.
Judges in many countries are intended to be independent and impartial arbiters of the law who are not influenced by political pressures or personal biases. They aim to decide cases fairly based solely on the facts and law, and avoid any conflicts of interest, in order to uphold the principle that everyone is equal before the law. However, it can be difficult to be completely unaffected by one's own background or experience.
Judicial review refers to the process by which courts scrutinize actions by the legislature, executive, and other government bodies. Courts have the power to interpret statutes and review administrative actions for legal authority. While UK courts cannot strike down legislation due to parliamentary sovereignty, they can review statutes for compliance with EU law or human rights and determine whether executive actions exceed legal powers. Courts balance interpreting the letter and intention of the law, and their scrutiny of government has increased in recent decades in the UK.
The judiciary upholds and interprets the law, and is intended to perform these functions independently and neutrally. Judicial independence means judges can resist political pressure, as they cannot be easily removed and are appointed based on ability rather than politics. However, critics argue judges may still be influenced by their social backgrounds or political considerations in some cases. The judiciary can defend civil liberties through judicial review and interpreting laws, but is ultimately constrained by the law and parliament.
The document discusses the balance of power between the Prime Minister and the Cabinet in the British government. It presents different views on whether the Prime Minister or Cabinet wields more influence over policy decisions and the direction of the government. It also outlines some of the formal powers held by both the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers, as well as factors like party support, public opinion, and unfolding events that can impact the balance of power between the two.
This document outlines 7 types of ministers in government: 1) Team Players who work collectively, 2) Self-Driven Commanders who are ambitious and link ideas to personal goals, 3) Ideological Commanders who have grand designs based on philosophy/ideology, 4) Managers who are pragmatic, 5) Agents of the Prime Minister who are loyal to the PM, 6) Civil Service Agents who are guided by civil servants, and 7) EU Agents who are motivated to fulfill EU treaty obligations.
The Prime Minister has become increasingly powerful over time, with some arguing the role has become similar to a presidency. Prime Ministers now emphasize personal leadership over the public and distance themselves from their party when needed. The office has also become personalized with the Prime Minister representing the party and its policies. Different Prime Ministers exhibit different styles of leadership from innovators seeking goals to balancers prioritizing stability. Thatcher was a dominant conviction politician while Blair centralized power and adopted a top-down style.
2. What is parliamentary government?
• A political system in which the Government
governs in, and through, the legislature.
• Britain is the oldest parliamentary system in the
world, and Westminster has been described as
“the mother of all Parliaments”
Politics – AS Parliament
3. Comparison of UK & US System
UK US
• In a parliamentary government, the • In the United States, the chief
executive derives from the executive (the President) is directly
legislature elected by the people. The USA is
• The executive is formed by the party therefore a Presidential system
with the most seats in the House of • The President is not a member of
Commons the legislature (called Congress),
• Fusion of powers and neither are any of his Cabinet
• The PM chooses his cabinet from members
the legislature (Lords and • Separation of powers
Commons) • Fixed term elections
• Parliament can remove the • Also bi-cameral, but equal powers
Government on a vote of no between the two chambers
confidence • US system can result in legislature-
• Date of the election is called by the executive deadlock
PM
• Bi-cameral, but the Commons
predominates
Politics – AS Parliament
4. What is Parliament?
• A term used to describe the UK’s legislature (or
law-making body)
• 2 branches; the elected House of Commons, and
the unelected House of Lords
• 646 MPs are elected to the House of Commons.
Each one holds legitimacy, because they have
gained consent to legislate from the people (or
demos) via an election
• There are over 700 peers in the House of Lords
Politics – AS Parliament
5. Six Main Roles of Parliament
• Representation
• Lawmaking
• Scrutiny
• Legitimacy
• Recruitment of ministers
• Deliberation
Politics – AS Parliament
6. Legitimacy
• Parliament awards legitimacy to the government via the
following four steps;
• The people elect representatives to the House of
Commons, …
• … who thus gain legitimacy from the people.
• The Government derives from Parliament, thus …
• … the UK Government is legitimate
• Also bear in mind that Parliament can remove the
Government on a vote of no confidence. The last
successful motion was called in March 1979 against the
Labour government of James Callaghan
Politics – AS Parliament
7. Scrutiny
• One element of a representative democracy is the ability to
hold the executive to account. As such, the members of the
legislature must be able to scrutinise the actions of the
executive
• The Modernisation Committee looks at ways to improve
accountability and scrutiny, and the Committee on
Standards in Public Life considers allegations of sleaze
• There are 6 ways in which the legislature scrutinises the
executive;
– Standing Committees
– Select Committees
– Ombudsman
– Opposition Days
– PMQs
– House of Lords
Politics – AS Parliament
8. What is the difference between standing,
and select committees?
• Standing Committees • Select Committees
• Examine every Bill that • Permanent committees
passes through Parliament made up of MPs appointed
• Every MP will be assigned on the basis of party
to a standing committee at strength
some stage • More powerful than
standing committees
• Can ask ministers to
attend their meetings
Politics – AS Parliament
9. Are Committees effective?
• YES • NO
• Backbench MPs have the • Limited powers, and few
opportunity to scrutinise the resources
executive and bills passed • The government often ignores
through Parliament the reports published by select
• Select Committees can be committees
effective (e.g. the government • Some ministers (e.g. Brown)
was forced to do something have refused to attend Select
about the ‘Gulf War Syndrome’ Committees
due to pressure from the • Party whips hold the upper hand
Defence SC), and in some
cases prestigious (e.g. the • There is always a majority from
Public Accounts Committee, and the Government of the day
the EC Committee in the Lords) • The more able (and ambitious)
MPs tend not to get involved
with committee work
Politics – AS Parliament
10. Representation
• MPs are elected to represent the people
• As they are not delegates, an MP is expected to
follow his / her conscience (the Burkean notion)
• However in practise, an MP may also be
influenced by party whips, the national interest,
self – interest, etc.
• Whilst members of the Lords are not elected, they
can represent certain interests. In recent years, the
Lords has taken a particular interest in defending
civil liberties against an increasingly authoritarian
government
Politics – AS Parliament
11. Does Parliament scrutinise the executive
effectively?
• YES • NO
• A great deal of Parliamentary • Strong party discipline makes
time is spent on scrutiny effective scrutiny very difficult to
• Select Committees have been achieve
relatively effective in holding • Parliament suffers from limited
ministers to account, even in the powers, and few resources
House of Lords • Parliamentary sovereignty has
• A bad performance by a Minister been transferred to the EU
or PM can weaken their power • Referendums undermine
• Backbench Labour MPs have Parliamentary sovereignty
become more rebellious since • The House of Lords has few
2001 (e.g. over education powers
reforms, and the Iraq war) • Since 1997, certain powers
have been transferred to the
devolved assemblies
Politics – AS Parliament
12. How representative is Parliament?
• In theory, the Commons should represent all the
people (i.e. “Government for the people”).
However in practise, the Commons and the Lords
is dominated by white, male, middle-class
members of society
• Women, ethnic minorities, the young and the
working – class are heavily underrepresented in
the UK Parliament. This has always been the
case, although the situation in the Commons has
improved in recent years
Politics – AS Parliament
13. Some facts on representation
• There are 126 women MPs, just under 20% of the House of
Commons
• 18% of the Lords are women
• Some parties do better than others. Just 9% of Tory MPs
are women, which has led Cameron to place pressure on
local associations to select more women candidates (the A
list)
• There are 15 ethnic minority MPs, or just over 2%. In
contrast, 8% of the population is non-white
• The youngest MP is Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire).
She was born on the 5/2/1980
• The average age of an MP is 51
Politics – AS Parliament
14. Lawmaking
• A great deal of Parliamentary time is spent making laws
• Most Bills derive from the Government, but some are
instigated by backbench MPs. They are called Private
Member Bills
• Both the Commons and the Lords are involved in the
legislative process
• The Commons is the predominant body because it’s
members are elected (and therefore hold democratic
legitimacy)
• The power of the Lords is limited by the;
– Salisbury convention (where the Lords will not block a commitment made in
the Government’s manifesto)
– Power of delay limited to just 1 year
– Lords cannot consider a Finance Bill
Politics – AS Parliament
15. Recruitment of ministers
• All ministers derive from Parliament
• The overwhelming majority are taken from the
House of Commons
• Only members of the governing party can join the
executive
• The members of the executive are appointed by
the Prime Minister. He / she can also fire them
(e.g. Charles Clarke in 2006). These powers are
called patronage powers
Politics – AS Parliament
16. Deliberation
• Deliberation is the defining role of Parliament (a
word that derives from the French verb ‘parle’ – to
speak)
• Many people have criticised the way in which
Parliament performs this role. For example, the
decision to send troops to Afghanistan was made
at 2 am, and Parliament spent over 700 hours
debating the issue of fox hunting
Politics – AS Parliament
17. What is the difference between an MP, and
a peer?
• MPs • Peers
• Elected during a General • Unelected. Most peers are
Election (or by-election in appointed by the PM, although
some cases) there are 92 hereditary peers
• The Lords is home to some of
• Anyone over the age of 21
the finest legal minds in the
can stand as a candidate country
• All bar 2 MPs belong to a • 181 peers sit on the cross-
political party benches (i.e. they are
• MPs have been dismissed independent)
as little more than “lobby • The main power of peers is the
fodder” due to their weak ability to amend legislation.
powers vis-à-vis the party They also spend a great deal of
whips time scrutinising the executive
Politics – AS Parliament
18. What powers are held by the House of
Lords?
• Legislative powers (albeit limited). In practise, the
Lords is more concerned with the revision of bills
• Judicial powers – Law Lords are the highest court
in the UK (although a case can go to the European
Court of Human Rights)
• Powers of deliberation
• Clearly, the Lords is much weaker than the
Commons, although no Government can
completely ignore the House of Lords
Politics – AS Parliament
19. Arguments in FAVOUR of the Lords
• Can act as a check on the power of the executive
• Peers are more independent of party whips than MPs
• The quality of committee work is often high
• An opinion poll taken in 2005 revealed that 72% believe the Lords did a
‘fairly good’ or ‘very good’ job
• Part of British tradition
• Peers hold a wide experience of public life, sometimes more so than
their elected counterparts
• Final constitutional safeguard against the Government of the day
• The Lords can be an effective agent of scrutiny
• Last court of appeal in the UK
• The traditional conservative with a small c argument against change;
Politics – AS Parliament
20. Arguments AGAINST the Lords
• Unelected, unaccountable, and therefore undemocratic
• Life peers owe their loyalty to the PM of the day, thus
weakening the independence of the Lords
• Idea of hereditary peers is out-of-date
• The “loans for peerages” scandal of 2006 raised
considerable doubts over the integrity of the whole process
of appointing members of the Lords
• Under-representation of women (around 18% of peers are
women) and ethnic minorities
• Power of the Lords is weak (e.g. power of delay, Salisbury
convention, can’t get involved with Finance Bills, etc.)
Politics – AS Parliament
21. Is the Westminster Parliament effective?
YES NO
• Parliament does represent the people on a • EU / the Government are more important
variety of issues sources of legislation than Parliament
• The House of Commons holds democratic • Referendums tend to undermine
legitimacy parliamentary sovereignty
• Parliament can remove the Government on a • MPs have been described as “lobby fodder”
vote of no confidence due to strong party discipline
• Laws are passed in a democratic and fair • Ministers often ignore Select Committees
manner • The power of the Lords is weak, and its’
• Parliament can often scrutinise the executive members are unelected
in an effective manner • PMQs is little more than a “point-scoring
• It is a useful recruiting ground for government exercise”
ministers • Parliament is weak in comparison to the
• Legislation is often improved via amendments “elected dictatorship”
made by Parliament • The government has often bypassed
• Opinion polls suggest that the public consider Parliament in favour of the media
Parliament to be an effective institution • Certain law-making powers have been
transferred to the devolved assemblies
• Parliament can often appear “out of date” with
modern Britain
Politics – AS Parliament