Short Paper #1 Due February 4 th !! - all materials for the paper can be found under the “Tutorial #2 folder” on MLS

Tutorials start this week! Readings and Tasks can be found under the “Tutorial #1” folder on MLS

The Presidential Paradox

Frodo has failed...

So what is all the hand-wringing about??? tics/president-obama- inauguration.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0&nl =todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_ tics/president-obama- inauguration.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0&nl =todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_

The Prime Ministerial Paradox

What? An all-Powerful PM? s2011/story/2011/05/03/cv-election-weston- majority.html# s2011/story/2011/05/03/cv-election-weston- majority.html#

Democratic Ideals: political equality majority rule popular sovereignty political liberty (rights and freedoms) minority rights political competition rule of law How can we put these ideals into practice?

Not only is Democracy a set of ideals…. it is a framework of institutions and procedures for putting these ideals into practice. How do we “design Democracy”??? Different countries have taken different approaches…

We can trace these differences through Constitutions… …which lay foundation for power relations between: – different parts of state (horizontal power relations) – different levels of gov’t (vertical power relations) – government and citizens

Institutions of Government II: Leaders and Legislatures January 22

Relations between different parts of state (horizontal power relations): Different parts of state analyzed under three functional headings – legislative (law-makers) – executive (law implementers) – judicial (law adjudicators) three “branches” of government Some democracies concerned that power should be strictly divided among 3 branches – presidential (“separation of power”) system

Relations between different parts of state (horizontal power relations) – cont’d Other democracies less concerned by concentration of power in one branch – parliamentary (“fusion of power”) system Judiciary has role in umpiring disputes

Canadian Parliamentary System (Fusion of Powers) Executive Legislative Judicial Prime Minister Cabinet Bureaucracy (Ministries, Departments) House of Commons Senate Courts People GG less emphasis on popular sovereignty and individual rights, more on rule of law and majority rule

Cabinet Ministers

Canadian Constitution… Created democratic parliamentary system, based on the British model The most important characteristic of this system is that it concentrates power in the hands of a few decision-makers * ideals: less emphasis on popular sovereignty, individual rights, more on rule of law (strong government) and majority rule

Parliamentary Fusion of Powers Prime Minister Cabinet Bureaucracy Parliament: House of Commons Senate approves legislation proposes legislation controls implementation of legislation Majority vs. Minority Governments Party discipline is key to executive dominance

American Presidential System (Separation of Powers) Executive Legislative Judicial CourtsPresident House of Rep’s Senate Bureaucracy (Departments, Agencies) People Cabinet emphasizes popular sovereignty, fragmentation of power, constraints on the majority

The President’s powers are hemmed in at every step by a Congress of which he is not a member, and among whose members he may exercise influence but not authority House of Rep’s Senate

Legislates, Controls Budget, Approves Nominations and Treaties, Override Veto, Impeach Confirms Nominations, Impeach Nominates Judges VETO! Declare Laws Unconstitutional Declare Acts Unconstitutional

Legislatures have important functions in a democracy… Bring about ‘rule by people’ (popular sovereignty) Represent the people – minority rights? protect individual rights? Govern – form the government (majority rule) – legislate: formulate and pass laws Hold the Leaders to account! act as an Opposition

Legislative Functions Parliamentary Systems Presidential Systems Representational - Rep by pop, link to constituency But – with party discipline, members can vote against voters? - Rep by pop, link to district - No party discipline, better link to voters? Governmental - With majority, can act quickly to pass laws But – elected Parliament powerless? -More debate on issues But – separation of powers leads to gridlock? Procedural - No confidence vote - Lines of responsibility clear - Check on President - Discourages abuse of power by one branch - But, blurs lines of responsibility?