The Branches of Government

11 important questions on The Branches of Government

What are political systems?

They are a set of interrelated institutions that formulate and implement the collective goals of society. They all work together to prescribe and proscribe rules within society.

What is separation of powers?

The doctrine that proposes that the three chief functions of government should be separated into branches of government. That there should be no overlap of personnel between the branches, which includes interdependence. Applied most strictly in presidential systems of government. Ensures checks and balances.

Executive, legislative and judiciary branches are the three main branches of government. Explain them.

  • The executive administers laws with a head of state (president/monarch) along with a head of government (PM) and their cabinets. Implements the law.
  • The legislative makes the laws, they are the House of Representatives and the senate (bicameral) or just one house such as in greece (unicameral)
  • The judical branch interprets the laws and are the courts with the highest being the Supreme Court
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What is a prime minister?

A head of government whose power derives from their leadership of the majority party, or a coalition of parties, in a parliament of assembly. They do not work in a presidential system of government so are not encumbered(weighed down) by separation of powers. They usually work within a cabinet, so executive power is shared collectively. They are head of governments! Example: Mark Rutte.

What is a president?

A formal head of state.
  • Constitutional presidents however are largely ceremonial as they are a feature of parliamentary government whose executive power is wielded by a prime minster and/or cabinet. Example: Ireland
  • Executive presidents combine the political power of a chief executive with the formal responsibilities of a head of state. Presidencies of this kind constitute the basis of a presidential government and conform to the principles of separation of powers. Example: USA

What is the difference between head of government and head of state?

A head of state represents the people nationally and internationally (president or monarch) while the head of government deals with the everyday tasks. A head of state is more ceremonial while a head of government is the elected official tasked with running the country. Example: Head of state is Dutch king Willem-Alexander while Mark Rutte is head of government.

What is the difference between political and official executive?

Political executive is the government of the day carried out by elected officials, for example Barack Obama.
Official executive is the machinery of the government, the bureaucracy carried out by non-elected state officials. Example civil services.

What is a parliament?

An assembly or group of individuals elected to represent the people of their respective constituency. They are, ideally, a representation of the state. They are the backbone of the legislative branch and are tasked with deliberating and introducing new laws to be executed by the executive brand and interpreted by the judicial.

What are the functions of legislatures?

They provide representation and express what the voters think and feel. They also are supposed to check and provide accountability on the executive branch. Criticisms are that they do not accurately represent society even though they should be, they represent societal elites. Example: are that women are underrepresented within legislatures despite being half the population. Parliamentary debates help form public attitude and provide a forum for the expression of various opinions and set the agenda. This helps provide transparency and partisanship.

What is a coalition? And name the four different forms of coalition.

A grouping of rival politicians and parties either through common threat or by recognizing that their goals cannot be reached working separately.
  • Electoral coalitions are alliances in which parties agree not to compete against one another in order to maximize their joint representations.
  • Legislative coalitions are agreements to support a particular bill or program.
  • Governmental coalitions are when two or more parties come together to create a majority.
  • Grand coalitions comprise all major parties but are usually only formed during national crisis. 

What is a member of parliament? (MP)

An MP is the individual elected to represent a constituency in parliament. They are ideally supposed to protect and express the wishes of those who elected them. An MP can also be a representative in the U.S House.

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