POL101Y1 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Presidential System, Unicameralism, Responsible Government
Document Summary
Liberal-democracy theory argues that representative assembly should be central institution for converting political inputs into outputs. Most visible function of democracy is to legislate: representative assembly called the legislature. Functions of the assembly: ensures the executive branch carries out business of government. Cannot perform government tasks but can cause them to be performed, investigate performance and debate results. Responsible government is the mechanism used to retain assembly control: local representation. Collective level speak in assembly for constituents" interests. Individual level speak for individuals" complaints about government: provide opposition. Criticize policies and programs: educates public by drawing public"s attention to debates, socializes the public. Assemblies serve as a check on executive power: executive prepares most of the assembly"s business and admin details, but executive must have support of a majority of the assembly. Decline of assembly linked to decline of bicameralism: unicameralism assemblies are less common but not rare (canadian provinces use this, common in homogenous societies trying to stop fragmenting.
