POLS 102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Bicameralism
Document Summary
A key in governmental function, especially in democracies, is to pass legislation. In practice, though, the executive is usually the original source of most laws (e. g. in the uk and even the presidential us) President has power to propose policy areas, in the uk the legislature sits in with executive. In many european countries the european union is the source of many laws. In this situation some legislatures (e. g. the uk parliament) run the risk of being regarded as mere rubber stamps for decisions taken elsewhere. Another key function in democracies is holding the executive to account for its decisions. Powerful legislatures, like the us congress, can check the executive even though the president is not a member. Weak legislatures, like the uk parliament, can only hold the executive to account in specific circumstances (e. g. when the governing party has no overall majority) Draw executive from legislature (uk), legislature and executive are separate (us)
