17.2.6
Legislative: Powers & Functions
Scrutiny
Scrutiny
Congress and Parliament scrutinise the executive branch of government, represent their constituents and have lawmaking powers.
Scrutiny in Parliament
Scrutiny in Parliament
- Parliament has many opportunities to scrutinise the executive.
- Question time, including Prime Minister’s questions, provides the opportunity to question a minister’s actions and policies.
- Select committees scrutinise government departments and question the ministers leading them.
- Backbenchers write questions to ministers, and MPs ask about issues which affect their constituents.
- A vote of no confidence can be tabled to try to remove the government and prime minister.
Scrutiny in Congress
Scrutiny in Congress
- Congress scrutinises the executive differently to Parliament
- Separation of powers means that no executive members are members of Congress, and so there is no oversight on the floor of either chamber, as with Question Time in Parliament.
- Congress can remove a member of the executive from office through impeachment.
- Committees summon members of the executive to answer questions before them, however, the president does not appear before a committee.
- Congress votes to confirm executive and Supreme Court appointments.
- Congress votes to ratify treaties.
Lawmaking
Lawmaking
Congress and Parliament scrutinise the executive branch of government, represent their constituents and have lawmaking powers.
Lawmaking in the US
Lawmaking in the US
- In Congress, the Senate and House of Representatives have equal lawmaking powers.
- Bills must pass through both the House and the Senate, which includes a committee and voting stage before it can be signed into law by the president.
- Bills pass through both houses of Congress at the same time.
- If the bill fails in one of the chambers then it dies and does not become law.
Lawmaking in the UK
Lawmaking in the UK
- In Parliament, the House of Commons has more lawmaking power than the House of Lords.
- The House of Lords can propose amendments and delay legislation, but lacks the power to stop bills passing into law.
Comparing lawmaking 1
Comparing lawmaking 1
- In Parliament, most legislation is from the government’s legislative programme.
- In Congress there is no government programme of legislation.
Comparing lawmaking 2
Comparing lawmaking 2
- Parliament has a small number of bills introduced in a session.
- In Congress thousands of bills can be introduced in a session.
- In the 114th Congress, over 10,000 bills were introduced.
- Parliament introduced 193 bills between 2015 and 2016.
- Fewer bills entering Congress are passed into law than in Parliament.
- Members of Congress introduce more bills than members of Parliament.
Representation
Representation
Congress and Parliament scrutinise the executive branch of government, represent their constituents and have lawmaking powers.
Comparing representation 1
Comparing representation 1
- Representation of constituents is highly important in Congress.
- Whilst representation of constituents is still important in parliament, the party has more of an influence over parliament’s members than in Congress.
Comparing representation 2
Comparing representation 2
- Members of Congress prioritise representing their constituents over their party, as constituents choose each party’s candidate for Congress and vote for them in elections.
- In the UK, the party has influence over MPs because they select the candidates who stand for election.
- In 2016 the Republican member Tim Huelskamp lost his primary in Kansas to another Republican nominee and so could not stand for congressional election for the Republican Party.
Comparing elections
Comparing elections
- The frequency of elections differs between Congress and Parliament which can impact how well members represent their constituents.
- Seats in the House of Representative are elected every two years and every six years in the Senate.
- In the UK, there is a vote for members of the House of Commons every five years, whilst the House of Lords is unelected.
1Democracy & Participation
1.1Representative & Direct Democracy
1.2Wider Franchise & Suffrage
1.3Pressure Groups & Other Influences
2Political Parties
2.1How Political Parties Work
2.2Established Political Parties
2.3Emerging & Minor Political Parties
3Electoral Systems
3.1Different Electoral Systems
3.2Referendums & How They Are Used
4Voting Behaviour & the Media
5Conservatism
5.1Conservatism: Core Ideas & Principles
5.2Conservatism: Differing Views & Tensions
6Liberalism
6.1Liberalism: Core Ideas & Principles
6.2Differing Views And Tensions Within Liberalism
7Socialism
7.1Socialism: Core Ideas & Principles
7.2Differing Views And Tensions Within Socialism
8The UK Constitution
8.1Nature & Sources of UK Constitution
8.2Constitutional Change since 1997
8.3Role & Powers of Devolved UK Bodies
9The UK Parliament
9.1Houses of Parliament
9.2Comparative Powers
9.3Legislative Process
10The Prime Minister & the Executive
10.1The Executive
10.2Ministerial Responsibility
10.3Prime Minister & the Cabinet
10.3.1Role of the Prime Minister
10.3.2Prime Minister's Powers
10.3.3Limits on the Prime Minister's Powers
10.3.4Role of the Cabinet
10.3.5Prime Minister & Cabinet: Relations
10.3.6Prime Minister & Cabinet: Balance of Power
10.3.7Prime Minister & Cabinet: Case Studies
10.3.8End of Topic Test - PM & Cabinet
10.3.9Top Grade AO3/4 - PM & Cabinet
11Relationships Between Government Branches
11.1The Supreme Court
11.2Parliament & Executive Relations
11.3The European Union & the UK
11.4Sovereignty in the UK Political System
12US Constitution & Federalism
12.1Nature of the US Constitution
12.2Principles of the US Constitution
12.3Federalism
13US Congress
13.1Structure of Congress
13.2Functions of Congress
14US Presidency
14.1Presidential Power
14.2The Presidency
14.3Interpretations & Debates of the US Presidency
15US Supreme Court & Civil Rights
15.1Nature & Role of Supreme Court
15.2Supreme Court Appointment Process
15.3The Supreme Court & Public Policy
15.4Protection of Civil Liberties & Rights
15.5Debates & Interpretations of the Supreme Court
16US Democracy & Participation
16.1Presidential Elections
16.2Electoral College
16.3Electoral Campaigns
16.4Incumbency
16.5Democrats & Republicans
16.6Internal Conflict & Ideology
16.7Support & Demographics
17Comparing Democracies
17.1Theoretical Approaches
17.2UK & USA Similarities & Differences
17.2.1Constitution: Nature
17.2.2Constitution: Provisions & Principles
17.2.3Federal System & Devolution
17.2.4Legislative: Lower Houses of Government
17.2.5Legislative: Upper Houses of Government
17.2.6Legislative: Powers & Functions
17.2.7Executive
17.2.8Supreme Court
17.2.9Supreme Court: Judicial Independence
17.2.10Civil Rights
17.2.11Civil Rights: Interest Groups
17.2.12Party Systems & Parties
17.2.13Campaign Finance & Pressure Groups
17.2.14End of Topic Test - Comparing UK & US
17.2.15Application Questions - UK & USA
18Feminism
18.1Feminism: Core Ideas & Principles
18.2Different Types of Feminism
19Nationalism
19.1Nationalism: Core Ideas & Principles
19.2Different Types of Nationalism
Jump to other topics
1Democracy & Participation
1.1Representative & Direct Democracy
1.2Wider Franchise & Suffrage
1.3Pressure Groups & Other Influences
2Political Parties
2.1How Political Parties Work
2.2Established Political Parties
2.3Emerging & Minor Political Parties
3Electoral Systems
3.1Different Electoral Systems
3.2Referendums & How They Are Used
4Voting Behaviour & the Media
5Conservatism
5.1Conservatism: Core Ideas & Principles
5.2Conservatism: Differing Views & Tensions
6Liberalism
6.1Liberalism: Core Ideas & Principles
6.2Differing Views And Tensions Within Liberalism
7Socialism
7.1Socialism: Core Ideas & Principles
7.2Differing Views And Tensions Within Socialism
8The UK Constitution
8.1Nature & Sources of UK Constitution
8.2Constitutional Change since 1997
8.3Role & Powers of Devolved UK Bodies
9The UK Parliament
9.1Houses of Parliament
9.2Comparative Powers
9.3Legislative Process
10The Prime Minister & the Executive
10.1The Executive
10.2Ministerial Responsibility
10.3Prime Minister & the Cabinet
10.3.1Role of the Prime Minister
10.3.2Prime Minister's Powers
10.3.3Limits on the Prime Minister's Powers
10.3.4Role of the Cabinet
10.3.5Prime Minister & Cabinet: Relations
10.3.6Prime Minister & Cabinet: Balance of Power
10.3.7Prime Minister & Cabinet: Case Studies
10.3.8End of Topic Test - PM & Cabinet
10.3.9Top Grade AO3/4 - PM & Cabinet
11Relationships Between Government Branches
11.1The Supreme Court
11.2Parliament & Executive Relations
11.3The European Union & the UK
11.4Sovereignty in the UK Political System
12US Constitution & Federalism
12.1Nature of the US Constitution
12.2Principles of the US Constitution
12.3Federalism
13US Congress
13.1Structure of Congress
13.2Functions of Congress
14US Presidency
14.1Presidential Power
14.2The Presidency
14.3Interpretations & Debates of the US Presidency
15US Supreme Court & Civil Rights
15.1Nature & Role of Supreme Court
15.2Supreme Court Appointment Process
15.3The Supreme Court & Public Policy
15.4Protection of Civil Liberties & Rights
15.5Debates & Interpretations of the Supreme Court
16US Democracy & Participation
16.1Presidential Elections
16.2Electoral College
16.3Electoral Campaigns
16.4Incumbency
16.5Democrats & Republicans
16.6Internal Conflict & Ideology
16.7Support & Demographics
17Comparing Democracies
17.1Theoretical Approaches
17.2UK & USA Similarities & Differences
17.2.1Constitution: Nature
17.2.2Constitution: Provisions & Principles
17.2.3Federal System & Devolution
17.2.4Legislative: Lower Houses of Government
17.2.5Legislative: Upper Houses of Government
17.2.6Legislative: Powers & Functions
17.2.7Executive
17.2.8Supreme Court
17.2.9Supreme Court: Judicial Independence
17.2.10Civil Rights
17.2.11Civil Rights: Interest Groups
17.2.12Party Systems & Parties
17.2.13Campaign Finance & Pressure Groups
17.2.14End of Topic Test - Comparing UK & US
17.2.15Application Questions - UK & USA
18Feminism
18.1Feminism: Core Ideas & Principles
18.2Different Types of Feminism
19Nationalism
19.1Nationalism: Core Ideas & Principles
19.2Different Types of Nationalism
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