government and political systems. this week government and civil society political systems
TRANSCRIPT
GovernmentGovernment
and political systemsand political systems
This weekThis week
Government and civil society
Political systems
Government and civil societyGovernment and civil society
““Government” or “state”?Government” or “state”?
“State” is the better word
5 Characteristics1. Institutions2. Rules a territory3. Rules a population4. Monopoly of the legitimate use of force
internally and externally5. Diplomatic recognition from other states
The philosophical origin of the The philosophical origin of the modern state: The social contracmodern state: The social contractt
An intellectual justification for the state
From the state* of nature to the social contract
The need for public order & laws protection of life protection of property
Thomas Hobbes,1588-1679
John Locke,1632-1704
Jean-Jacques Rousseau,1712-1778
* Meaning the situation, the condition
The real, historical origin of the The real, historical origin of the satesate
Wars, civil wars & conquest National independences
achieved by force achieved by referendum
The state as a “protection racket” (Charles Tilly)
English Civil War 1642-1645
Voters in the South Sudan independence referendum, 2011
The constitutionThe constitution
Writing the state into existence The basic law of the state
determines the institutions basis for all other laws constrains the leaders, too
Changing the basic law: amending the constitution
The state and civil societyThe state and civil society
The influence of liberalism
Separate…
…yet mutually dependentCivil society
State
Country XYZ
IndividualsInterest groups
Socialmovements
(Business)
Criminalorganizations
Family
The function of the stateThe function of the state
State-civil society relations The systemic model
Individual 3Group 1
Group 2
Group 3Group n
Individual 1Individual 2
Individual n
State(political system)
Inputs:demands
& supports
Outputs:Rewards &deprivations
Feedback
David Easton 1917—
Country XYZ
POLITICAL SYSTEMSPOLITICAL SYSTEMS
The question of legitimacyThe question of legitimacy
Legitimate rulers & legitimate institutions who has the right to make decisions? according to what process?
Preventing the concentration of political power (in democracy)
The division of powers inside the stateThe division of powers inside the state
Origins in Roman Republic (508BC to 27BC) Modern version, a gradual process Strict division vs. flexible division of powers
MonocameralMonocameral(1 chamber(1 chamberor house)or house)
BicameralBicameral(2 chambers(2 chambersor houses)or houses)
1 upper house1 upper house1 lower house1 lower house
MonocephalousMonocephalous(1 head)(1 head)
BicephalousBicephalous(2 heads)(2 heads)
Legislative Legislative powerpower
(parliament)(parliament)
Executive Executive powerpower
(government)(government)
JudicialJudicialpowerpower
(courts/judiciary)(courts/judiciary)
JudgesJudges
Parliamentary system (Parliamentary system (Canada))
JudicialJudicialpowerpower
ExecutiveExecutivepowerpower
LegislativeLegislativepowerpower
Flexible division of powers
Canadian constitution
Parliamentary system: Parliamentary system: legislative power
One seat = one riding Members elected by direct
suffrage, 4-year terms Proposes, debates, amends,
passes laws Holds the government to
account (Question Period 1, 2) Party discipline Majority party forms the
government* Moderated by the Speaker
(neutral despite belonging to a party)
Number of seats varies by province Appointed by Governor General on
recommendation of Prime Minister Proposes, debates, amends, passes
laws Party discipline Retirement at age 75 Moderated by Speaker (neutral
despite belonging to a party) Controversies: not elected, low
attendance by some, expenses claims
House of House of CommonsCommons
308308
SenateSenate105105
Parliament of Canada
Current seats Current senatorsby party, by province
Where the real work is done:Where the real work is done:Parliamentary committeesParliamentary committees
Members can’t read all bills Party leaders appoint members to committees
committee composition reflects composition of House
committees can be high-profile or low-profile Where most of the work is done
issue-based committees in-depth examination of bills hearings from civil society drafting of reports based on hearings amendment to the bills
Bills go back to the full parliament for vote
Committees of the Parliament of CanadaCommittees of the Parliament of Canada - - House of Commons committees committees - - Senate committees committees - Joint committees- Joint committees
Hearings sometimes Hearings sometimes fairly dry, , sometimes controversial (sometimes controversial (1, , 2))
A committee room
Parliamentary system: Parliamentary system: executive power
Bicephalous Cabinet comes from House of Commons Cabinet needs support of the House of Commons The Prime Minister: only a tradition Queen Elizabeth II appoints GG on advice of Prime Minister Prime minister can prorogue parliament (suspend work) Prime minister can ask the GG to dissolve the House (i.e.,
call an election) GG gives Royal Assent to bills, which then become law
CabinetCabinet(including PM)(including PM)
GovernorGovernorGeneralGeneral
Head ofstate
Head of government
Government of CanadaCurrent Governor General
David L. Johnson, since 2010
Parliamentary system: Parliamentary system: judicial power
Highest court in the land, hence Supreme Court
9 judges Appointed by Queen in Council (GG)
on advice of Prime Minister Judges the constitutionality of
government decisions Controversies:
interpreting vs. making law judges’ bilingualism: compulsory or
not
JudicialJudicialpowerpower
Back Row: The Honourable Madam Justice Andromache Karakatsanis, the Honourable Mr. Justice Thomas A. Cromwell, the Honourable Mr. Justice Michael J. Moldaver, and the Honourable Mr. Justice Richard Wagner. Front Row: The Honourable Madam Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella, the Honourable Mr. Justice Louis LeBel, the Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin, P.C. Chief Justice of Canada, the Honourable Mr. Justice Morris J. Fish, and the Honourable Mr. Justice Marshall Rothstein.
A random case from March 2012:John Virgil Punko vs. Her Majesty the Queen
Presidential system (Presidential system (US))
LegislativeLegislativepowerpower
(Congress)(Congress)
ExecutiveExecutivepowerpower
JudicialJudicialpowerpower
Strict separation Strict separation of powersof powers
United States constitution
Presidential system: Presidential system: legislative power
Districts roughly proportionate to population
Elected by direct suffrage, 2-year terms
Proposes, debates, amends, passes bills
Negotiates bills with Senate Moderated by majority
leader (can change rules on partisan basis))
2 senators per state Elected by direct suffrage, 6-
year terms Proposes, debates, amends,
passes bills Negotiates bills with House of
Representatives Approves appointment of
ambassadors, Supreme Court judges; ratifies treaties
1/3 replaced every 2 years Moderated by majority leader
(can change rules on partisan basis)
House of Representatives
435435
Senate100100
Both chambers need to pass a bill and the president must sign the bill for it to become law. Congress overturn a presidential veto with a 2/3 majority in both chambers.Controls the budget.
US Capitol
Presidential system: executive Presidential system: executive powerpower
Monocephalous: head of government + head of state Elected by indirect suffrage for 4 years Cannot be removed* Cannot dissolve Congress Chooses secretaries to head government
departments Can propose bills to Congress Must sign bills from Congress or veto them within 10
days
ExecutiveExecutivePower:Power:
PresidentPresidentUS constitution
PresidePresidential system: judicial powerntial system: judicial power
Highest court in the land, hence Supreme Court
9 judges for life Appointed by president Confirmed by Senate Judges the constitutionality of
laws & government decisions Controversies:
interpreting vs. making law a very, very politicized appointment
process
JudicialJudicialpowerpower
US Supreme Court building
Current justices: Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor (top row, from left), Associate Justice Stephen G. Breyer (Hon.’95), Associate Justice Samuel A. Alito, and Associate Justice Elena Kagan; Associate Justice Clarence Thomas (bottom row, from left), Associate Justice Antonin Scalia, Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy, and Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
How to elect a US president step 1:How to elect a US president step 1:Parties Parties choose a presidential choose a presidential candidatecandidate Party Primaries (Jan. before election year to summer of
election year) debates between candidates inside parties party members in each state give support to a candidate support takes the form of delegates
National Conventions held in summer of election year delegates vote for the person they want run for president for
their party the person chosen is the party nominee & the presidential
candidate for that party The nominees choose a running-mate
presidential nominee + running-mate = presidential ticket running-mate will be vice-president if ticket wins
Democratic Party
Republican Party
How to elect a US president step 2: How to elect a US president step 2: The role of the The role of the Electoral CollegeElectoral College
Each state, plus the District of Columbia, is given Electors
Number based on seats in the House of Representatives
Itself based on population size
Electors pledge to vote based on popular vote
Total = 538
How to elect a US president step 3:How to elect a US president step 3:Election dayElection day First Tuesday after the first Monday of November Voters vote for the ticket of their choice Voting methods & rules vary by state (computer,
touch-screen, punch-card, paper ballot, bubble-filling, etc.)
On the same day: many more separate elections Congressional elections (all House seats & 1/3 Senate
seats) governor of the state legislature of the state school board police chief ballot initiatives (referenda) many other elective offices
How to elect a US president step 4:How to elect a US president step 4:The The Electoral College voteElectoral College vote
ObamaMcCain
First Monday after the second Wednesday of December Ticket with most popular votes in a state gets all the
Electors of that state (except for Maine & Nebraska) Electors cast their vote in secret
The ticket with the most Electoral College votes wins
270 College votes are needed
Conclusion
Different organization of the institutions
Different relations between the three powers
Different ways of translating people’s voice into state decisions
ANNEX 1ANNEX 1: Looking inside the state: : Looking inside the state: public administration & state public administration & state employeesemployees
Roles Planning Advising Implementing Delivering
services
Status Few political
appointees Professionals Non-partisan Job security for
some Accountable
auditor ombudsperson
The State
ANNEX 2ANNEX 2: Semi-presidential : Semi-presidential systemsystemThis is for your personal interestThis is for your personal interestThere will be no exam question on thisThere will be no exam question on this
Not exam material
Not exam material
Semi-presidential / Semi-presidential / mixed system mixed system (France)(France)
LegislativeLegislativepowerpower
ExecutiveExecutivepowerpower
JudicialJudicialpowerpower
PresidentPresident
GovernmentGovernment
French constitutionin English (Fifth Republic)
Strict separation Strict separation of powersof powers
Not exam m
aterial
Not exam m
aterial
Semi-presidential system: legislative power
Elected by direct suffrage Proposes, debates, amends,
passes bills Can censure the government
(prime minister & minister) who must resign
Elected by 150,000 “grands électeurs” for 9 years
1/3 replaced every 3 years Proposes, debates, amends,
passes bills
AssemblAssembléeéeNationaleNationale
577577
Sénat331
Palais Bourbon Palais du Luxembourg
Both chambers must approve the same bill for it to be law.The president must sign the bill for it to be law (promulgation).
Not exam material
Not exam material
Semi-presidential system: Semi-presidential system: executive powerexecutive power
Elected by direct suffrage for 5 years
Chooses prime minister Can dissolve the Assembly Presides Council of
Ministers Promulgates laws May be removed by High
Court
Prime minister chooses ministers from the National Assembly to form the government
Ministers resign from the Assembly
Government needs support of Assembly
Proposes bills Falls if censured by
Assembly
Executive powerExecutive power
PresidentPresident
GovernmentGovernment
Palais de l’Élysée Hôtel de Matignon
François HollandePresident & head of state
Jean-Marc AyraultPrime minister &
head of government
Not exam materialNot exam material
Semi-presidential system: judicial
Dual role consultative judges public
decisions Citizens vs. the
state
Four main chambers
Citizens vs. citizens Breaks or affirms
judgments of lower courts
Judicial powerJudicial power
5, Quai de l’horloge
Conseil d’ÉtatConseil d’ÉtatConseil d’État
Cour de cassationCour de cassation
Conseil Conseil constitutionnelconstitutionnel
Next slideNot exam material
Not exam material
Semi-presidential system: judicial
A third judicial body: the Conseil constitutionnel
9 judges for 9 years, non-renewable 3 appointed by the president 3 appointed by the speaker of the National
Assembly 3 appointed by the speaker of the Senate
1/3 replaced every 3 years Main roles
consultative: executive or legislative asks it to assess constitutionality of laws & policies
supervises presidential elections & proclaims results
Not exam material
Not exam material