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The Structure and Function of Legislatures · The Structure and Function of Legislatures....
Transcript of The Structure and Function of Legislatures · The Structure and Function of Legislatures....
The Structure and Function of Legislatures
The Structure and Function of Legislatures
ObjectivesObjectives
to understand key conceptsto examine the functions of legislaturesto explore different models of representationto discuss key definitions in small groups after plenary
to understand key conceptsto examine the functions of legislaturesto explore different models of representationto discuss key definitions in small groups after plenary
Concepts relevant to legislaturesin appendix
for discussion in small groups
Concepts relevant to legislaturesin appendix
for discussion in small groups
governmentoppositioncabinetmajority governmentminority governmentcoalition governmentparty discipline
governmentoppositioncabinetmajority governmentminority governmentcoalition governmentparty discipline
Parliament as ‘the talking place’Parliament as ‘the talking place’
the legislature is Ontario’s parliamentparliament comes from French verb parler -- to talkmakes decisions on behalf of all Ontarians
the legislature is Ontario’s parliamentparliament comes from French verb parler -- to talkmakes decisions on behalf of all Ontarians
Parliament as ‘the talking place’Parliament as ‘the talking place’
how does a legislature talk?debate, deliberate and decide
what does our legislature talk about?municipal, provincial, national and international issuesstructures the public conversation
who talks?government vs. oppositiongovernment through cabinet
how does a legislature talk?debate, deliberate and decide
what does our legislature talk about?municipal, provincial, national and international issuesstructures the public conversation
who talks?government vs. oppositiongovernment through cabinet
The provincial legislature as the Speaker sees it
The provincial legislature as the Speaker sees it
Government Government OppositionOpposition
CabinetCabinet��
Legislative Assembly of Nunavut
Legislative Assembly of Nunavut
SpeakerSpeakerRegular MembersRegular MembersCabinetCabinet
Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories
Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories
CabinetCabinet SpeakerSpeakerRegular MembersRegular Members
The German legislature(Bundestag)
The German legislature(Bundestag)
CDU/CSP Party SectionCDU/CSP Party SectionSPD Party SectionSPD Party Section
Functions of legislatures Functions of legislatures
Hold the government accountable
Hold the government accountable Provide different viewsProvide different views
Pass lawsPass laws Represent usRepresent us
Functions of legislatures Functions of legislatures
Hold the government accountable
Hold the government accountable
Functions of legislaturesFunctions of legislatures
•Hold the government accountablecollective accountability
cabinet as a whole
individual accountability each minister individually
keep government honest
•Hold the government accountablecollective accountability
cabinet as a whole
individual accountability each minister individually
keep government honest
Tools of accountabilityTools of accountability
Question Period votes of non-confidencemedia ‘scrums’debatescommittee systemOfficers of the Legislature
Auditor General, Ombudsman, Integrity Commissioner
Question Period votes of non-confidencemedia ‘scrums’debatescommittee systemOfficers of the Legislature
Auditor General, Ombudsman, Integrity Commissioner
Functions of legislatures Functions of legislatures
Hold the government accountable
Hold the government accountable Provide different viewsProvide different views
Functions of legislaturesFunctions of legislatures
•Provide different viewsprovide a government in waitingoffer alternative policies to
governmentprime the pump of public debate
•Provide different viewsprovide a government in waitingoffer alternative policies to
governmentprime the pump of public debate
Functions of legislatures Functions of legislatures
Hold the government accountable
Hold the government accountable Provide different viewsProvide different views
Pass lawsPass laws
Functions of legislaturesFunctions of legislatures
•Pass lawsparliament rarely initiates laws,
cabinet almost always doesif government has a majority it is
rarely constrained by the legislature. Why?
•Pass lawsparliament rarely initiates laws,
cabinet almost always doesif government has a majority it is
rarely constrained by the legislature. Why?
The predominance of majority governments
The predominance of majority governments
Number of majority governments in OntarioNumber of majority governments in Ontario
The importance of the lawmaking function
The importance of the lawmaking function
to scrutinize lawsto hold a public debateto confer legitimacy
to scrutinize lawsto hold a public debateto confer legitimacy
Factors that shape legislative discussion and debate
Factors that shape legislative discussion and debate
party disciplinecabinet solidaritymass media shape public conversation
party disciplinecabinet solidaritymass media shape public conversation
Functions of legislatures Functions of legislatures
Hold the government accountable
Hold the government accountable Provide different viewsProvide different views
Pass lawsPass laws Represent usRepresent us
RepresentationRepresentation
legislatures represent uswho are we?
women, men, region, religion, class, ideology, party?
legislatures can privilege different kinds of representation
legislatures represent uswho are we?
women, men, region, religion, class, ideology, party?
legislatures can privilege different kinds of representation
Different kinds of representationDifferent kinds of representation
Representative as agentRepresentative as person reflective of a part of the population
Representative as agentRepresentative as person reflective of a part of the population
Representation in legislaturesRepresentation in legislatures
•Representative as elected officialgeographicideologicalparty basedrepresentative sample of the
population (or mirror representation)combination of above
•Representative as elected officialgeographicideologicalparty basedrepresentative sample of the
population (or mirror representation)combination of above
How should our representatives behave?
How should our representatives behave?
representative as “trustee”decision-making based on wisdom
representative as “delegate”delegate of partydelegate of constituency
representative as “trustee”decision-making based on wisdom
representative as “delegate”delegate of partydelegate of constituency
ConclusionConclusion
legislatures perform an essential role in societyhow they perform their functions is importanttherefore, those things that affect the way legislatures function are important
legislatures perform an essential role in societyhow they perform their functions is importanttherefore, those things that affect the way legislatures function are important
Legislatures matter to electoral systems and vice versa
Legislatures matter to electoral systems and vice versa
Each of the legislature’s functions is partially a consequence of electoral systems through
different chances for alternatives to be hearddiffering abilities to pass lawsdifferent kinds of accountabilitydifferent kinds of representation
Each of the legislature’s functions is partially a consequence of electoral systems through
different chances for alternatives to be hearddiffering abilities to pass lawsdifferent kinds of accountabilitydifferent kinds of representation
Questions to ponder...Questions to ponder...
What kind of representation is important?
depends on what we value• a local or regional representative• different ideological views• more parties or fewer parties• reflective of the population
What kind of representation is important?
depends on what we value• a local or regional representative• different ideological views• more parties or fewer parties• reflective of the population