Parliamentary System

Executive derived from legislature Fusion of powers Parliamentary sovereignty Unitary system Centralisation & decentralisation (devolution)

Executive derived from legislature A parliamentary system is one in which the executive is derived from and can be removed from by the legislature. This is the opposite of the presidential system in the USA in which there is a strict separation of personnel between the executive and legislature.

Fusion of powers Under the concept of the fusion of powers, government ministers who head up the executive branch departments sit as members of the legislature at the same time. Until 2003, the Lord Chancellor sat in all 3 branches of government! (He was a Law Lord (judiciary), a member of the House of Lords (legislature) and a member of the cabinet (executive). This later changed under Labour’s programme of reform.

Parliamentary Sovereignty The 3 branches of government in the UK are not equal. The UK constitution is based on the principle that the legislature is supreme or “sovereign”. It is Parliament to which government ministers are accountable. Parliament is supreme in the sense that no court can declare an Act of Parliament unconstitutional.

Unitary System The UK has a unitary system of government i.e. one in which all power is concentrated in a single national institution (parliament). All local or devolved government power exists only at the pleasure of the national government, meaning that the powers devolved to regions can also be withdrawn (although in reality this is unlikely to happen).

Centralisation & Decentralisation Centralisation The act of consolidating power under a central control. Decentralisation The spread of power away from the centre to local branches or governments

Centralisation and Decentralisation In a unitary form of government power is centralised in one body or institution (i.e. parliament). However, modifications of the unitary form of government came with the devolution of power to the Scottish Parliament, and the assemblies in Wales and Northern Ireland. There has also been consideration given to the idea of regional assemblies in England. This is known as the decentralisation of power.

Centralisation & Decentralisation Advantages of Centralisation Promotes national unity Promotes uniformity of laws, taxation, education etc Promotes equality e.g. redistribution of wealth easier Single currency and central control of taxation and infrastructure promote prosperity Advantages of Decentralisation Provides enhanced opportunities for democratic participation Promotes higher degree of responsiveness (govt ‘closer to the people’) – accountability enhanced Legitimacy enhanced Guards against central govt tyranny with checks and balances

EXAM FOCUS What are the main features of the UK constitution? 10 marks = 10 minutes Minutes Start Timer

Homework Reading/Note taking Sources of the Constitution p