POSC 1000 Introduction to Politics

POSC 1000Introduction to Politics Parliamentary Systems Russell Alan Williams

Unit Eleven: Parliamentary Systems Required Reading: • Mintz, Chapter 14. Outline: • Introduction – Formal Institutions • Parliamentary Systems • Legislative Institutions • Executive Institutions • Conclusions

1) Introduction - Formal Institutions: • Formal institutions include: • Unitary vs. Federal Systems • Presidential vs. Parliamentary Systems • More important distinction • Basis of major differences between Canada and the US

Basic functions of all government systems: • Legislative Activities: Making laws, passing legislation • Implementing the government’s agenda • E.g. New bills etc. • Executive Activities: Implementing and administering laws • The actual work of governing E.g. Overseeing the work of ministries • Judicial Activities: Resolving disagreements about interpretation of laws • E.g. Interpreting the Constitution

In “Parliamentary Systems”: Close relationship between executive and legislative activities • Government must have support of legislature • Government selected from legislature, not elected by people In “Presidential Systems”: “Separation of power” between different activities • President and bureaucracy = executive • Congress = legislative • Neither is dependent on the other as both have been elected

2) Parliamentary Systems: A) Legislative Institutions: • Parliament = Generally is “bicameral” = Two houses • Britain: HoC and House of Lords • Canada: HoC and Senate • “upper house” often not elected i) “House of Commons”: Elected chamber • Each “Member of Parliament” (MP) is elected from a geographical constituency

“House of Commons” . . . . The government: • “Head of Government”: Person who runs government • In parliamentary system this is normally the leader of the party with the most MP’s = the prime minister • “Cabinet”: Members of the political executive • In parliamentary system these are normally MP’s selected by prime minister from their own party • Cabinet proposes all major legislation and controls the budget • Principles: “Cabinet Secrecy” & “Cabinet Solidarity”

“Majority Government”: When one party has more than 50% of MP’s • Easy for PM and cabinet to pass legislation E.g. Dunderdale government (2011-????) Harper Government (2011 – until the end of time . . . ) • “Minority Government”: When party with most MPs (but not majority) forms a government but cannot pass legislation without support of other parties • E.g. Paul Martin Government (2004-2006) • E.g. Harper Governments (2006-2009) • Traditionally = requires formal arrangement • In Canada = ?????? Current situation?

“House of Commons” . . . . The opposition: • “Official Opposition”: Party with 2nd most MP’s • Always leads question period and criticisms of government policy • “Loyal Opposition”: Other parties – loyal to the state, not to the government Other key concepts: • “Private Members”: All MPs not in Cabinet • Can propose own legislation, but hard to get on the “order paper” for debate • Normally vote “party lines” on all legislation = “Party Discipline” • “Non Confidence Motion”: Vote on whether the Gov’t has the support of the House of Commons • Government defeat = election or new government

House of “Commons Committees”: Divided by policy area – do the work of the HoC • Investigate issues, hold hearings, debate early legislation • Important in parliamentary system? • Not so much . . . . • “Filibuster”: The use of delaying tactics to prevent government legislations from passing. • E.g. An MP gives a never-ending speech • “Closure”: A procedure that allows government to end debate on legislation with a majority vote • E.g. Ends a filibuster • “Prorogation”: The suspension or end of a Parliamentary session by the Governor General . . . At the request of the PM • E.g. Ends all the fun and games . . . .

ii) “Senate”: Upper chamber in Canada – appointed by the prime minister • Terms last until age 75 – Good work if you can get it! • Functions: • “Sober second thought”– Senate can block HOC legislation • Regional representation – All four major regions are allocated senators • Central Canada Ontario = 24 Quebec = 24 • Western Canada Manitoba = 6 Saskatchewan = 6 Alberta = 6 British Columbia = 6 • Eastern Canada Nova Scotia = 10 New Brunswick = 10 Prince Edward Isl. = 4 • Newfoundland = 6 • Northern Canada Yukon = 1 Northw’t Territories = 1 Nunavut = 1

ii) “Senate”: • PM can add 8 additional Senators anytime “the Queen sees fit” (?) • E.g. 1991 GST debate • Who gets in? • Former politicians, cabinet ministers and hockey players . . . • How are they removed? • Miss two entire sessions of parliament (!) • Serious crime (!) • Many senators can serve for thirty + years • Activities? • Similar organization to HoC – Committees etc • Can engage in independent policy investigations • Senators have larger office budgets than MP’s

ii) “Senate”: • Views of the Senate? • Public indifference –it just doesn’t matter • However Senate can be influential • Informal – Banking legislation • Formal – Has blocked legislation • GST • Senate reform(!) • Public hostility – calls for abolishment of Senate or reform • E.g. “Triple E” Senate • Alberta “elected” senators in 1989 and 2004

Parliamentary Systems Cont. B) Executive Functions • “Head of State”: The head of all government institutions • In parliamentary systems “Head of State” is mainly ceremonial • “Constitutional Monarchy”: System where powers of monarch have been reduced to a largely symbolic role • E.g. Head of state is either the Monarch or a representative of the Monarch • Canadian Federal Government = “Governor General” • Appointed for five year terms on recommendation of the PM • Canadian Provinces = “Lieutenant-Governor” • Appointed for five year terms on recommendation of the PM

Text emphasizes ceremonial responsibilities of Governor Generals . . . but they have real responsibility Interpret Constitutional Conventions regarding: • Selection of prime ministers • Should be leader of most popular party, but what if there is no clear winner . . . ? • Calling of elections • Should be when government is defeated or asks for an election, but it can be fuzzy . . . ?

Example: GG in practice . . . The “King-Byng Affair”! • Mackenzie King (Lib) was PM in minority government • Conservatives had more seats • Gov could not pass legislation • Asked Governor General Lord Byng to call an election • GG refused – invited the Conservatives to form a government! • Byng was constitutionally correct, but this meant the GG was exercising power – turned out out to be unpopular move Controversy: Should we elect our Head of State?

The 2008 “Jean-Harper Affair”:

“Head of Government”: Prime minister Premiers (in Provinces) • Chooses cabinet ministers • Oversees “Central Agencies”: Organizations that coordinate government activity • Privy Council Office • Prime Ministers Office • Treasury Board • Department of Finance • Oversee government administration • Drafts legislation and Budgets • Canadian PM is particularly powerful: • Appoints: Judges, Senators, Cabinet ministers • Dominates own party caucus =“Executive Dominance”: Little role for legislature in day to day operations of government

3)Conclusions on Parliamentary System: • Key points: a) Government executive is formed from parliamentary caucus • All ministers are either an MP or a Senator • Ensures close link between executive and legislature • Virtue: Government can always be questioned b) Conflicting Principles:

“Responsible Government”: Cabinet is responsible to the HoC • Not the public! • HoC can “throw out” a government • “Party Discipline”: Ensures all MP’s vote along party lines • Particularly strong in Canada E.g. Gov’t members rarely vote against gov’t bills =Little role for parliament in designing legislation =Little role for parliament in holding majority gov’ts accountable • Just who is cabinet responsible too?

POSC 1000 Introduction to Politics