Political Science 1020E Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Presidential System, Majority Government, Responsible Government
28 Apr 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
February 12, 2018
Parliamentary Government
Parliamentary government: In a nutshell
Parliamentary System: a close interrelationship between the political executive (PM and Cabinet) and
Parliament (law-making body). The executive is generally composed of members of the House of
Commons (the elected parliamentary body) and must maintain the support of the House of Commons
- Historical origins in the UK – popular struggles of ‘commoners’ – making breakthrough to hold
monarch accountable to the popular will
- Strong and fast government
o Concentrated governing power in the political executive and not independent or separated
legislature
o Not divided into a separate legislative branch, ie the presidential system
▪ Intentionally divided policymaking power
o Shared institution – parliament (Prime Minister and Cabinet)
- Individual members of parliament (regular or backbench MPs) have little power – is given to
cabinet
o MPs have limited power to shape gov’t policy agenda
o Under the PM’s leadership
o Congressional colleagues have significant political power
- Majority government gives great autonomy to cabinet
Majority govt: the govt formed when the PM’s party has a majority o the members of the House of
Commons – a single party forms the govt
Minority govt: single party governs but needs to gain the support of one or more other parties to pass
legislation and to stay in office
Can be negotiated on an issue-by-issue basis or be part of a general formal or informal agreement
Coalition gov’t: two or more political parties jointly govern, sharing the Cabinet positions
Negotiate to decide which Cabinet positions each party will receive and the policies the govt will
pursue
Parties relatively close in ideological terms
o Election result changes dynamic – majority or minority or coalition gov’t?
o Minority harder to navigate, negotiation necessary to have majority support for bills
- What is a coalition government?
o Government has a minority and two or more parties with seats in gov’t join together to
become a super party
▪ Coalition has more seats in parliament – a partnership
• Members of opposition parties sit as members of the cabinet
o Ex. Germany!
▪ Minority parliament: party doesn’t get enough, has to constantly negotiating for
support
• Cabinet made up of major party
• Issue by issue basis to stay in power
o More prominent in Europe because they have more political parties
▪ Electoral system: rewards parliamentary seats by popular vote
▪ A wide representation of parties in parliament
- Sets up strong parliament and executives but also has restraints
o Federalism and Charter of Rights impose some constraints on Executive Dominance
o Charter of Rights and freedoms
Core principles
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- Legitimate power (Authority) rests with political executive not the formal executive
o Head of state – queen of UK and governor-in-general
▪ An important but ceremonial position, has the responsibility to ensure that
legitimate gov’t is in place
o Queen of Canada symbolizes Canada’s historic ties to Britain and continuing
membership in the commonwealth
o Other commonwealth countries (India, Pakistan) no longer have the Queen as head of stat
- Political executive is accountable to parliament for its action and retains majority support of
elected members or resign
o Elite members – the cabinet
- Responsible government requires executive have 50% of support for legislation
Responsible govt: the political executive (the PM and Cabinet) is accountable to Parliament for its actions
and must retain the support of the elected members of Parliament to remain in office
o Loyalty to executive
o Executive not directly accountable or dependent for their survival
o Political executive composed of elite members largest party in House of Commons
(rarely Senators)
- Prime Minister is leader of the largest party in House of Commons
- Party discipline means that MPs vote as partisan blocs – types of vote:
o Regular
o Votes of conscious
▪ As they see fit
- Parliament is dissolved, and election called if political executive loses confidence of legislature or
if fixed election dates (4/5 years)
Players: Executive
Governor in general
- Head of State (UK Monarch through Canadian Governor-General)
o Appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the Canadian PM
o Carries put the duties and responsibilities of the monarch at the national level in Canada
- Constitutional responsibility –
o Ensure gov’t formed
o Sit in parliament, form executive, set out an agenda
o Agrees to prorogue the parliament (from the PM)
▪ Dismiss parliament to regroup
▪ Happened in 2008 with the Harper gov’t
o Session interrupted and then renewed
o Dissolution when parliament ends and there is an election
o Speech from the throne at the start of each parliamentary session
▪ The agenda of political executive’s intentions
o President has no power with what Congress does
o “royal assent” to legislation
- Symbolic
o Represent country, great dignitaries, support causes
- Cost
o $25 million per year, 2 residencies (Rideau Hall, La Citadelle)
Prime Minister
- Winning party leader
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
