CHAPTER 15: ASSEMBLIES
Assemblies=legislatures=parliaments (associated with representation and popular
government): both houses or chambers
rarely monopolize law-making power, executives possess ability to make law through
devices such decree and influence the legislative process.
the enactment of law is only one of their functions-not the most important
Parliamentary, presidential and semi-presidential systems
‘Assembly government’: execute and legislative power are vested in the assembly-
no separate executive body
PARLIAMENTARY (West Minister style):
Fusion of legislative and executive
Drawn from and accountable to parliament (effective but responsible government-
accountable to an assembly and through it to the people)
The executive can govern only as long as it retains the confidence of the assembly
which has the ability to remove it
‘executive domination’: combination of strict party discipline and disproportionate
electoral system (plurality system) allows government to control parliament through
cohesive majority in eg the house of commons
- ‘elective dictatorship’: imbalance between the executive and assembly, government
is constrained by the need to win subsequent elections. Members as lobby fodders:
assembly members who vote unquestioningly as their parties dictate
‘immobilism’: political paralysis stemming from the absence of a strong executive caused
by multiple divisions in the assembly
PRESIDENTIAL
Based on the application of separation of powers, assembly and executive independent
from another-checks and balances: internal tensions to protect individual rights and
liberties
dual executive=semi-presidential: elected president in conjunction with a prime minister
and cabinet drawn from the National Assembly: system works in balance of the personal
authority and popularity of the president and political complexion of National Assembly
- Range from balanced: parliament exercises effective constraint over presidency to
asymmetrical: the parliament lacks independence, controlled by the presidency
‘gridlocks’ can occur both when the presidency and the congress are controlled by rival
and same parties
FUNCTIONS
Assemblies=legislatures=parliaments (associated with representation and popular
government): both houses or chambers
rarely monopolize law-making power, executives possess ability to make law through
devices such decree and influence the legislative process.
the enactment of law is only one of their functions-not the most important
Parliamentary, presidential and semi-presidential systems
‘Assembly government’: execute and legislative power are vested in the assembly-
no separate executive body
PARLIAMENTARY (West Minister style):
Fusion of legislative and executive
Drawn from and accountable to parliament (effective but responsible government-
accountable to an assembly and through it to the people)
The executive can govern only as long as it retains the confidence of the assembly
which has the ability to remove it
‘executive domination’: combination of strict party discipline and disproportionate
electoral system (plurality system) allows government to control parliament through
cohesive majority in eg the house of commons
- ‘elective dictatorship’: imbalance between the executive and assembly, government
is constrained by the need to win subsequent elections. Members as lobby fodders:
assembly members who vote unquestioningly as their parties dictate
‘immobilism’: political paralysis stemming from the absence of a strong executive caused
by multiple divisions in the assembly
PRESIDENTIAL
Based on the application of separation of powers, assembly and executive independent
from another-checks and balances: internal tensions to protect individual rights and
liberties
dual executive=semi-presidential: elected president in conjunction with a prime minister
and cabinet drawn from the National Assembly: system works in balance of the personal
authority and popularity of the president and political complexion of National Assembly
- Range from balanced: parliament exercises effective constraint over presidency to
asymmetrical: the parliament lacks independence, controlled by the presidency
‘gridlocks’ can occur both when the presidency and the congress are controlled by rival
and same parties
FUNCTIONS
