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Summary of chapter 5

Summary of chapter 5. Classifying cabinets Theories of coalition formation Advances Relationship between type and number of parties Interesting? Small number of parties => Majorities more frequent. Executive-Legislative Relations. Majoritarian: Executive Dominance

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Summary of chapter 5

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  1. Summary of chapter 5 • Classifying cabinets • Theories of coalition formation • Advances • Relationship between type and number of parties • Interesting? • Small number of parties => Majorities more frequent

  2. Executive-Legislative Relations • Majoritarian: Executive Dominance • Consensual: Legislative Dominance • Parliamentary vs. Presidential Gov’t • Reliance on legislature’s confidence vs. fixed term • Selection by legislature vs. popular election • Collegial executive vs. one-person executive

  3. Parliamentary vs. Presidential Government • Many combination are possible • Empirically there are only ‘pure’ presidential or parliamentary systems • Switzerland is the only exceptions. • Semi-presidentialism • Vary in strength of presidents • France, Austria, Iceland, Portugal, Finland • Lijphart – depends on president’s support • Dissolution power

  4. Israel (Is Lijphart right?) • Before 1996 – Parliamentary • Now: • Prime Minister is directly elected • Parliament elected at same time • Parliament can dismiss Prime Minister • Prime Minister can dissolve Parliament • Either requires a new election? • Similarity to a presidential system

  5. Parliamentary vs. Presidential Government • Separation of Powers: • In presidential systems it implies that the same person can not serve in both legislative and executive branch • In parliamentary systems, generally, cabinet members are legislators • Netherlands, Norway and Luxembourg the exception

  6. Parliamentary vs. Presidential Government • Presidents don’t have the right to dissolve the legislature • Exceptions: France, Israel • In parliamentary system dissolution rights may or may not exist • Norway: Fixed term • Restricted dissolution rights • Unlimited: UK

  7. Parliamentary vs. Presidential Government • Head of state/government • Presidential systems: President is both head of state and government • Parliamentary systems: Monarch/President head of state, PM head of Government • Botswana: PM is both • South Africa under Nelson Mandela

  8. South Africa T.he President is elected for five year term by the parliament The Cabinet consists of the President, as head of the Cabinet, a Deputy President and Ministers. The President appoints the Deputy President and Ministers, assigns their powers and functions, and may dismiss them. The President: • must select the Deputy President and Ministers from among the members of the National Assembly; • may select no more than two Ministers from outside the Assembly. The Deputy President must assist the President in the execution of the functions of government.

  9. Separation & Balance of Power • Not a simple relationship between presidentialism/parliamentarism and balance of power • Presidents, as well as PMs, can be either strong or weak (Belgium vs. UK, US vs France)

  10. Presidential Power • Reactive & Proactive Powers • Veto Power • Decree Power • Strength & Cohesion of Presidential Parties • Popular election • Claim to legitimacy

  11. Presidential Power • Dependence on Partisan Power • May lead to instability of power • Constitutional Powers • Generally stable • Vetoes and Decrees still work ‘fairly’ well • Popularity • ????….

  12. How do we measure balance of power? • Cabinet durability as an indicator for parliamentary government • Q: May inhibit cabinet’s ability to pass a coherent policy program, but does it shift power to the legislature? • The fourth French Republic? Italy? • Cabinet stability vs. Regime stability • How to measure cabinet durability?

  13. How do we measure balance of power? • When does a cabinet end? When does a new one begin? • Important factors: • Partisan composition • Elections • Change in PM • Change in type of cabinet (winning, minority, oversized?) • Lijphart: Combines measures.

  14. How do we measure balance of power? • Lijphart: Nothing more stable than the U.K. ??? • Lijphart: U.S.? Switzerland? • Term limits?

  15. Cabinet Type and Cabinet Durability • Durability: Minimal winning party > Minimal winning coalition > Minority party > Oversized > Minority coalition • Caretaker cabinets • Short duration of oversized cabinets. Why?

  16. Executive Dominance and Majoritarian Governments • Figure 7.2 • Shows a fairly strong relationship • However, executive dominance is really durability and ‘majoritarian cabinet’ is really percentage of minimal winning, one party governments => Seems like somewhat an uninteresting finding

  17. Summary • Attempt to measure balance of power • What is power? Ability to pass legislation/influence policy – even if legislator opposes • What is the outcome? • Better measures? Veto power, Decree power, Agenda setting, etc… President Legislature

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