25: Evaluate the main roles and functions performed by political parties within the UK political system.…
In his thinking – which is entirely true – the role of the senate is an advisory role to the government and checking the laws that are passed by the House of Commons. However, for the purposes of democracy, he sites that even if the members of the senate are appointed as independent candidates, the selection process ought to be on the basis of merit and ought to follow the due process. I am in support of the arguments presented by this author because he looks at the public good. At times the House of Commons might pass laws while looking at their immediate self-interest, however, an experienced senate remains as one of the bodies to bring justice…
[55] C.E.S. Franks. “The Canadian Senate in Modern Times,” in Protecting Canadian Democracy: The Senate You Never Knew, ed. by Serge Joyal. Montreal & Kingston Mc Gill-Queen’s University Press, (2003): 151.…
Two broad coalitions with more ideogical differences within them than between them. ‘To what extent is this still an accurate description of the democratic and republican parties?’ (30 marks)…
The original point of the Constitutional crisis, which led to the dismissal of Gough Whitlam and his government, was the senate’s decision to break political conventions and hold up supply. In 1975, the treasurer Bill Hayden brought down the government’s budget for 1975-76. Attached were the common appropriation bills, which were required to be passed by both houses of parliament to give the government its supply. At this point, the Labour party, led by Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, had the majority of seats in the house. However, 2 Labour senators left their seats. Convention stated that the premier would appoint a new senator of the same political party- yet; despite this, 2 non-labour senators were appointed to fill the vacancy, giving the Liberal-Country party the power to block the appropriation bills if desired, and therefore hold up supply. Malcolm Fraser, leader of the opposition, confronted Whitlam and asked him to resign. At this point it was clear to both parties that Liberal would win such an election, and so Whitlam refused. Fraser then decided as predicted, to use his numbers in the senate to hold up supply, which in turn would force the government to run out of money and therefore call an election, highlighted by Fraser’s statement in the House of Representatives in 1975 – “We will use the power vested in us and delay the passage of money through the…
The Fathers of Confederation conceived of the Senate as a “chamber of sober second thought.” However, almost ever since its creation, as the unelected arm of the legislature, people have suggested ways in which to reform the upper house. Concerns of illegitimate representation, party loyalty, and patronage are the main reasons the argument for change continues. This paper aims to review a couple of recent reform proposals, and then argue, leaving constitutional practicality behind, that the Senate should receive a major overhaul in how it is formed and represented.…
There are different ways that MPs hold the government to account; there are debates, select committees and questions, however there are many reasons in which these methods can be seen as ineffective. Accountability is forcing the government and it’s ministers to justify their policies, for opposition parties’ accountability may imply alternatives to the proposals of the government.…
HomeAbout ParliamentSenateResearch and EducationPlatypus and Parliament: The Australian Senate in Theory and Practice3. The electoral and party systems…
Political parties are key institutions at the heart of the political system. However, the claim that political parties are in decline puts forward the case that the significance of the party role is diminishing. It suggests that other institutions and processes are increasingly carrying out the functions of political parties, and that these alternatives are now dominating these roles and carrying them out more efficiently.…
The Canadian Senate has often been referred to as the sober second thought. The house of commons was originally set up to have two chambers, the upper and the lower, to carefully decide Canadian laws. The Senate, in the upper house, reviews proposed legislation and ultimately decides whether a bill becomes a law. They are responsible for protecting the interests of Canadians, in all regions, and of all minorities.1 Recently however, there has been a big concern for more accountability. Many…
Bibliography: 1. Desserud, Donald (2006). The Confidence Convention under the Canadian Parliamentary System. Ottawa, Ontario: Canadian Study of Parliament Group.…
The political party compromise in Congress is considered part of the democratic process but often takes suggested legislation and laws, which are needed and helpful for the public, and makes the original legislation or law impotent or useless. The merits of the original legislation or law is watered down by the creation, presentation, and ratification process due to amendments or additions based on party lines. A non-compromising ratification process can only be accomplished if the creation, presentation and voting processes are changed making Congressional party line votes and alliances impossible. There should be no compromise in Congress and the only consideration when voting on these far reaching legislative actions is what is best for…
The House of Commons holds both legislative functions and is also designed to hold the executive accountable. It can be argued that due the introduction, and reforms, of select committees and the regular questioning of ministers the House of Commons is effective. However, it could also be argued that party loyalty and whips have become more important than effective scrutiny.…
If individual voice out their opinion individually there will be no order in the House of Commons and difficult to accomplish their party engender and will not have clear “distinction between the government and the opposition in Parliament” . The role of party discipline allows the legislature to “operate effectively, ensures stability of government and eliminates suspense from parliamentary votes” according to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. In “Canadian Parliamentary Review – Article,” John Reid, an ardent supporter of party discipline, argue that “under our system of responsible government, the public at an election has great power to make decisions which give them ability to vote effectively results from party…
First Question: “Even if important laws win enactment just as often under conditions of divided party control, might they not be worse than laws? Isn’t “seriously defective legislation” a likelier result?”…