Short Paper #1Short Paper #1Due February 4Due February 4thth !! !!

- all materials for the paper can - all materials for the paper can be found under the “Tutorial #2 be found under the “Tutorial #2

folder” on MLSfolder” on MLS

Tutorials start this week!Tutorials start this week!

Readings and Tasks can be found under the “Tutorial #1” folder on MLS

The Presidential Paradox

Frodo has failed...

So what is all the hand-wringing So what is all the hand-wringing about???about???

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/21/us/politics/president-obama-inauguration.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20130121

The Prime Ministerial ParadoxThe Prime Ministerial Paradox

What? An all-Powerful PM?What? An all-Powerful PM?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadavotes2011/story/2011/05/03/cv-election-weston-majority.html#

Democratic Ideals:Democratic Ideals:

political equality

majority rule

popular sovereignty

political liberty (rights and freedoms)

minority rights

political competition

rule of law

How can we put these ideals into practice?

Not only is Democracy a set of Not only is Democracy a set of ideals…. it is a framework of ideals…. it is a framework of

institutions and procedures for institutions and procedures for putting these ideals into practice.putting these ideals into practice.

How do we “design How do we “design Democracy”???Democracy”???

Different countries have takenDifferent countries have takendifferent approaches…different approaches…

We can trace these differences We can trace these differences through Constitutions…through Constitutions…

…which lay foundation for power relations between:– different parts of state (horizontal power

relations)– different levels of gov’t (vertical power

relations)– government and citizens

Institutions of Government II:Institutions of Government II:Leaders and LegislaturesLeaders and Legislatures

January 22

Relations between different parts of Relations between different parts of state (horizontal power relations):state (horizontal power relations):

Different parts of state analyzed under three functional headings– legislative (law-makers)– executive (law implementers)– judicial (law adjudicators)

three “branches” of government

Some democracies concerned that power should be strictly divided among 3 branches– presidential (“separation of power”) system

Relations between different parts of Relations between different parts of state (horizontal power relations) – state (horizontal power relations) –

cont’dcont’d

Other democracies less concerned by concentration of power in one branch– parliamentary (“fusion of power”) system

Judiciary has role in umpiring disputes

Canadian Parliamentary SystemCanadian Parliamentary System(Fusion of Powers)(Fusion of Powers)

Executive Legislative Judicial

Prime MinisterCabinet

Bureaucracy(Ministries,

Departments)

House of Commons Senate Courts

People

GG

less emphasis on popular sovereignty and individual rights, more on rule of lawand majority rule

Cabinet MinistersCabinet Ministers

Canadian Constitution…Canadian Constitution…

Created democratic parliamentary system, based on the British model

The most important characteristic of this system is that it concentrates power in the hands of a few decision-makers* ideals: less emphasis on popular sovereignty,

individual rights, more on rule of law (strong government) and majority rule

ParliamentaryParliamentaryFusion of PowersFusion of Powers

Prime MinisterCabinet

BureaucracyParliament:

House of CommonsSenate

approves legislationproposeslegislation

controlsimplementationof legislation

Majority vs. Minority Governments

Party discipline is key to executive dominancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliamentary_system

American Presidential SystemAmerican Presidential System(Separation of Powers)(Separation of Powers)

Executive Legislative Judicial

CourtsPresidentHouse of

Rep’sSenate

Bureaucracy(Departments,

Agencies)People

Cabinet

emphasizes popular sovereignty, fragmentation of power, constraints on the majority

The President’s powers are hemmed in at every step by a Congress of which he is not a member, and among whose members he may exercise influence but not authority

House of Rep’s

Senate

Legislates, Controls Budget, Approves Nominations and Treaties, Override Veto, Impeach

Confirms Nominations, Impeach

Nominates Judges

VETO!VETO!

Declare Laws Declare Laws UnconstitutionalUnconstitutional

Declare Acts Declare Acts UnconstitutionalUnconstitutional

Legislatures have important Legislatures have important functions in a democracy…functions in a democracy…

Bring about ‘rule by people’ (popular sovereignty)

Represent the people– minority rights? protect individual rights?

Govern– form the government (majority rule)– legislate: formulate and pass laws

Hold the Leaders to account! act as an Opposition

Legislative

Functions

Parliamentary

Systems

Presidential

Systems

Representational -Rep by pop, link to constituency

But – with party discipline, members can vote against voters?

-Rep by pop, link to district-No party discipline, better link to voters?

Governmental -With majority, can act quickly to pass laws

But – elected Parliament powerless?

-More debate on issues

But – separation of powers leads to gridlock?

Procedural -No confidence vote-Lines of responsibility clear

-Check on President-Discourages abuse of power by one branch-But, blurs lines of responsibility?