POLI 101 Lecture Notes - Unanimous Consent, Parliamentary System, John Boehner
Document Summary
Stressing comparisons to canada and other parliamentary systems. How us is different than most: separation of powers not parliamentary system. Each branch has power to block action by the other (details later). One problem with separation of powers: it doesn"t take into account political parties. They can reduce effect of separation, or increase it: with unified control, parties may cause two branches to act like one team rather than act independently. Congress often did not check the bush administration, and. Bush claimed power to ignore provisions of laws: with divided control, institutions may not cooperate at all. Congress the most powerful national legislature of any major country, by far. Both play full role in the legislative process. 100 members, two from each state elected for staggered six-year terms. Committees for each area of policy budget, foreign affairs, military, agriculture, health, homeland security, etc. 435 members, allocated to states by population elected to two-year terms, all elected at same time.
