Home Random Page


CATEGORIES:

BiologyChemistryConstructionCultureEcologyEconomyElectronicsFinanceGeographyHistoryInformaticsLawMathematicsMechanicsMedicineOtherPedagogyPhilosophyPhysicsPolicyPsychologySociologySportTourism






Representative Government and Responsible Government

E-Reader - Week 7

 

Principles of the Westminster Model of Parliamentary Democracy

Overview

The Westminster Parliament is one of the earliest parliaments, often described as the 'Mother of Parliaments,' is the Parliament of England. A form of parliamentary democracy known as "The Westminster Model" has evolved from this particular institution, located at Westminster in London. This system has been exported to many different countries and settings; both inside and outside the Commonwealth. Not all governing bodies that describe themselves as parliaments follow the Westminster model. However, developing a new understanding of parliamentary democracy begins with this model.

 

Several key concepts underlie the Westminster model of parliamentary democracy. Parliament is composed of three different units: the Crown, the House of Lords and the House of Commons (also known as the Lower House). Tracing British parliamentary development involves explaining how the House of Commons became the dominant unit. However, the other two units remain part of the Westminster model. The word 'parliament' can be confusing because it is often used in different ways. For the purposes of this study, the use of the word parliament as it applies to the British model should be understood as a reference to the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

 

The evolution of the Westminster model of Parliament from the medieval period to the present follows four themes:

1. transfer of authority from the Crown to Parliament

2. transfer of authority from the House of Lords to the House of Commons

3. the development of a system of responsible government

4. the gradual broadening of the right to vote into universal adult suffrage.

Representative Government and Responsible Government

Over time British parliamentary democracy has evolved in ways that have led to its association with the concepts of representative government andresponsible government. Representative government is based on the notion that those who serve in government are placed in their positions as a result of citizen selection. Citizens choose people to represent them in the parliament. Some controversy underlies this seemingly simple concept. The word 'represent' means to make present something that, in fact, is not present. Representatives enable an indirect citizen presence in the legislative process.

 

Representative government and approaches to representation are common to all elected legislatures, not just parliaments. Responsible government, however, is found uniquely in parliamentary systems. Responsible government refers to a system in which there is a fusion of political power rather than the separation of powers that accompanies presidential systems. It signifies the presence of the executive within an elected legislative assembly and the power of that assembly to remove or confirm the executive in their position. A formal legislative vote that expresses a lack of confidence in the executive can remove them from their position or trigger a new election. Under the Westminster model the authority to remove a government from office or call a new election rests with the Crown. In practice the Crown acts on the basis of what has transpired in the House of Commons. Moreover, the executive is collectively responsible for the activities of government.



 

Parliamentary government is also associated with the presence of a dual executive. There is a ceremonial executive, which possesses some constitutional powers as well as performing symbolic functions, and a political executive, which performs the basic governing functions. In the British model, the Crown (the Queen) now serves as the ceremonial executive (or head of state) while the Prime Minister is head of government.


Date: 2015-12-18; view: 651


<== previous page | next page ==>
Distributive policies | Shared Power and Parliamentary Sovereignty
doclecture.net - lectures - 2014-2024 year. Copyright infringement or personal data (0.006 sec.)