Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Executive-Legislative Relations - Coggle Diagram
Executive-Legislative Relations
executive:
the political institution responsible for overseeing the execution of laws and policies, and most often associated with the idea of national leadership
types
parliamentary executive:
an arrangement in which the executive emerges from the legislature (most often in the form of a coalition) and remains accountable to it, an must maintain a working legislative majority in other to remain in office
head of government is...
usually continues to hold a seat in the legislature
works in conjunction with a separate head of state
usually the head of the largest party in the coalition
subjects ti neither separate election or term-limits
cabinet:
a body consisting of the heads of the major government departments. sometimes known as council of ministers. more important in parliamentary than in presidential systems
thus executive is collegial
has the advantage of encouraging more deliberation and collective leadership than occurs in a presidential system
types of parliamentary government
cabinet: discussion in cabinet determines overall policy. ministers are team players
ministerial: individual ministers operate with little direction from the prime minister or cabinet. ministers are leaders
prime ministerial: prime minister is the dominant figure, dealing directly with individual ministers. ministers are followers
coalition government:
an arrangement in which the government is formed through asn agreement involving two or more parties which divide government posts between them
general features
head of government is elected or appointed by the legislature
the executive is collegial, consisting of the prime minister (chancellor, minister-president etc.) and the cabinet (ministers)
head of government and the cabinet are dependent on confidence of legislature; they can be dismissed from office at any time
governments
coalition government: usually decided by negotiations between political parties after election
golden rules coalition formation
not include unnecessary partners
have policy agreement
control majority of seats
breaking golden rules
surplus majority coalitions
adds more legitimacy
creates stronger buffer against revolts of MPs
enhances policy connection
coalitions are not always 'connected'
parties may be more office or policy-seeking parties
minority governments: they don't control majority of seats in the parliament
opposition is divided
easier to get policy concessions
single-party government: usually decided by election results
semi-presidential executives:
an arrangement in which an elected president coexists with an appointed prime minister and separately elected legislature
features
president usually appoints the prime minister and can dissolve the legislature
president usually serves a limited number of fixed-length terms
combines an elected president and an appointed prime minister
prime minister and cabinet are accountable to both the president and the legislature
president serves as head of state and shares the responsibilities of being head of government with the prime minister
best of both worlds?
in the case of a president of the proposition and a prime-minister of the opposition, president no choice but to work with the minister, in a state of cohabitation
cohabitation:
an arrangement found in semi-presidential systems when the president is held by a member of one party and the legislature is controlled by another party
in practice, this system was reformed because of political conflicts, so that the elections of president and legislature are at the same time, to avoid them being different colors.
presidential
limited presidential executive:
a presidential executive whose powers are limited by the constitution and by political realities
presidential executive:
an arrangement in which the executive and the legislature are separately and directly elected, and have separate powers and responsibilities
strenghts
winning presidential elections requires support candidates to develop widespread support across a country
a president provides a natural symbol of national unity, offering a familiar face for domestic and international audiences alike
fixed terms provide continuity in the executive, avoiding the collapse of governing coalitions to which parliamentary governments are prone
since presidential system necessarily involves a separation of powers, it should also encourage limited government and thereby protect liberty
weaknesses
only one party can win, meaning that anyone not voting for said party loses, often leads to deadlock
American case
president can make appointments and sign treaties, but only with consent of the Senate
The president van veto legislation, but congress can veto the veto
president is commander-in-chief but only congress can declare war
congress and not the president controls the purse strings
unlimited presidential executive:
a presidential executive whose powers face few constitutional or political limits
features
most significant power focused in the office of the president, the office-holder often being more important than the office
presidents usually face elections, but the outcome is assured by vote rigging, threats and the marginalization of any opponents
presidents face few political limits on their terms in office; absolute monarchs face none
all other government institutions are subservient to the executive, who typically uses patronage to keep them malleable
president serves as head of state and de facto head of government
dictatorship:
a political system in which a leader or ruling elite uses a combination of repression and loyalty to remain in power
general features
head of government is elected directly by the people
the executive is steered by one person; members of the executive are subordinate and serving as advisors
head of government and the state (the president) is independent of legislature and cannot be dismissed from office; H of G enjoys fixed term of office
two heads
head of government:
the elected leader of a government, who comes to office because of voters who identify with their party and platform
constitutional monarchy:
a state headed by a monarch, but where the monarchs political powers are severely limited by constitutional rules. stands in contrast with an absolute monarchy
head of state:
the figurehead leader of a state, who may be elected or appointed, or, in the case of monarchs, may inherit the position
functions
diplomatic function: Putin being received by the Dutch King and Queen
procedural function: Queen Elizabeth' opening sessions of parliament
symbolic function: Queen Wilhelmina's speech during WWII
important qualifications
parliamentary systems
degree of fusion of power: sometimes elected ministers have to give up their seats in parliament (NL), this degree of diffusion decides how powerful individuals can be
direct election of president: sometimes ceremonial presidents are directly elected by the people, but usually they are selected by the parliament
presidential sytems
removal of presidents: impeachment is a possibility, but very complex
powers of presidents: in the US, president cannot fully rule by decree, in Russia the president can do all things the US president cannot do - 'super presidentialism'
presidential or parliamentary?
presidential system advantages
the legislature can fully legislate
executive is democratically elected
provides stability
limited government
strong leadership
presidential system disadvantages
winner takes all
enables poor chief executives
fixed terms make for rigid system
too much focus on one person
the danger of deadlock between legislative and executive