Summary
Summary PM v President Powers
- Module
- Politics
- Institution
- Queens University Belfast (QUB)
PM v President Powers
[Show more]
1 review
By: jwishart786 • 6 year ago
Content preview
"The British Prime Minister enjoys much greater legislative freedom than the AmericanPresident." Discuss the validity of this statement. (30 marks).
Para Key Points Key Points
Intro President - recognised most powerful leader in world, Domestically, past presidents frustrated- legislative
indicative - position as Commander-in-Chief, most advanced programmes through "legislative labyrinth".
military force + size of economy - give chief diplomat British PM - unlucky to suffer frustrations.
importance. Parliament - less resistant to executive bills +
occasionally inflicts defeats.
Para 1 High levels party discipline + whipping system - programme Typical vote, one group of Dem. + Rep. voting
of legislation is supported, without exception. against another group of Dem. + Rep.
Only really opposed by opposition. More difficult for government back bills to pass.
Occasional back-bench rebellions - rare + limited - Cameron Majority of 79 in HOR, Obama passed diluted
only in his 5 years has suffered 6. version of Health Care Reform Bill by 7 votes in
Controversial bill - treble university fees, only 6 2010.
Conservative MPS's out of 306 rebelled. September 2010 Anti-Off shoring Bill - harder for
MP's governing side = 'lobby fodder' - blindly follow party American companies to outsource work.
leadership of votes + don't scrutinise properly. Rejected by Senate 53-46, despite a 16 Senator
UK PM controls timetable, 100/125 bills introduced are majority.
passed. US gov. no privilege of controlling timetable, as all
US Congress - party discipline = low. bills sponsored.
End result - 4000 bills introduced in typical session,
only 200 become law.
Para 2 Committee stage - US before second reading + most HOR + Senate members debate the bill, produce a
important stage - scrutiny. report states, main aims, reviews + amendments.
Bills fail here more than any other stage 'legislative sieve'. Estimate cost of implementation + recommends
Over-whelming number of bills, standing committees in future action.
both chambers = pigeon-holed, with no action taken - no Cttee = powerful, borne in mind, whilst they pass
hearings/votes. through, very well scrutinised, many more bills =
Committee = 'legislative sieve', power to deem a bill not 'pigeon-holed'.
worthy. Prof.Denenberg US Congress = 'bastion of negation',
Standing committee members = policy specialists + full the process of passing laws as 'legislative labyrinth'
power of amendment. Anything added/removed. + legislative process = 'built in negative bias'
Congressmen - Cttee. of interest, Walt Minnick (D.) House
Agriculture Cttee from Idaho - rural state known for potato
farming.
Para 3 Cttee. UK - less effective as scrutinising bodies. UK, committee stage after 2nd reading, reaches
Each line is scrutinised by standing committee, deals with committee with principles debated +voted upon.
related legislation in specific area. Scrutiny of legislation more effectively performed in
Bill relating to crime - Criminal Justice System (CJS). environment of committee room, opposed to a
Significant changes = rare, committee built in gov. majority. debate chamber.
Committees - make recommendations + cannot enforce Disadvantageous -Cttee stage after 1st + 2nd
amendments. reading, without powers to pigeon-hole bills +
Committee reports - not debated in debate chambers, if no enforce amendments.
major changes suggested.
Para 4 Legislative process - low levels of party discipline + high November 2010 Obama, lost control of HOR to
levels of independence coupled robust Cttee system = more Republican Party 54 majority (now 58).
effective scrutinising body. Obama also lost control of Senate mid-term
Enhanced where divided government with either elections 2014 - majority of 10 (Rep.)
HOR/Senate controlled by opposing party. Cannot happen - PM - determines date of next
election.
Para 5 Even if Congress imposes amendments + passes a bill - President more formal checks + cannot rely on
President veto blocks bill. advantages PM can use.
Congress override veto - 2/3's in both houses - difficult President overcome lack of Executive presence due
requirement - rarely achieved. to S.O.P. PM rely on "pay-roll vote" + strong
Clinton's 8 years - veto 36 occasions, overridden just twice. whipping system + party loyalty.
Obama - 2 vetoes, with 0 overridden. Possibility divided gov. + ineffective patronage with
PM - no such power, invoke Parliament Act. increased indp. of Congressmen shorter terms -
President not as much legislative freedom.
Con. Despite winning Presidential election - margin 7.2% more Senator, Mary Landrieu (D.) Louisiana, her aye vote
total votes, 9.5 million more votes + 192 more ECV's. secured - $300 m in Medicaid for her state.
Promised health care coverage over 40 million more She said "I'm not thinking about my re-election".
Americans, Rep. saw fit negotiate hard achieving 'ear-
marks'.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller MarkC57. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £3.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
62890 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy revision notes and other study material for 14 years now