L2.7: Constitution and Government

To discover how the constitution influences Government

To identify the relationship between Constitution and Government

Executive

This branch of government are also known as the

Administration and they carry out the

function of administering the laws passed by the

Legislative.

This branch of government

upholds the law in the courts.

Legislative Judiciary

This branch of government

makes and passes the law and scrutinises the

Executive branch

“The English Constitution”

by Walter Bagehot

Walter Bagehot lived from 1826-1877 and said that he knew the ‘efficient secret’ of the British political system.

“It is the fusion of executive and legislative power.”

From what you have just seen of members of the Cabinet also being in the House of Commons, what do you think he may have meant?

In America the three branches of Government are kept very separate.

Executive

Legislative

Judiciary

The idea behind this is that if they are all separate, no one element of Government will become too powerful. They will ‘check’ and ‘balance’ each other.

Executive Legislative

PARLIAMENTARY GOVERNMENT

What links are you aware of between the Legislative and the Executive in the UK?

Who do you think has the most power? The Executive or Parliament?

Think about how this will vary

2011

19971980's

Least Powerful

Most Powerful

2011

1997

1980's

Does the Executive have a lot of power over House of Commons at the moment?

What will influence how strong the Government is?

Parliament’s powers over Government

They can veto legislation - refuse to pass it

They can ask questions of The Government - and so hold them to account

They can dismiss a Government - by a vote of no confidence

They can hold up Government legislation so that it runs out of Parliamentary time and fails

They can amend or change legislation - change what the Government wants to do

They can scrutinise the workings of the Government - in committees and in Prime Ministers Questions etc

They can refuse to pass a budget

Parliament’s powers over Government

Which powers of Parliament are missing?

They can veto legislation - refuse to pass it

They can ask questions of The Government - and so hold them to account

They can dismiss a Government - by a vote of no confidence

They can hold up Government legislation so that it runs out of Parliamentary time and fails

They can amend or change legislation - change what the Government wants to do

They can scrutinise the workings of the Government - in committees and in Prime Ministers Questions etc

They can refuse to pass a budget

I am a member of the Cabinet and

the PM. Some of my Parliamentary

party members (MPs) seem to be trying to disrupt my legislative

program

Make a plan to try and think of ways you can successfully get it through.

Have the Cabinet meeting. Remember, these are not public and cannot be talked about outside the Cabinet room. You can, therefore be devious.

Draw up a plan of at least six points.

Collective Cabinet Responsibility

Traditionally, by convention, the party that is in control of the Executive also has a majority in the House of Commons.

The Cabinet works by the principle of collective responsibility which means that the Cabinet keep what goes on in Cabinet secret and to the outside world, they all appear united.

L2.7: Constitution and Government

To discover how the constitution influences Government To identify the relationship between Constitution and GovernmentHow does the Constitution influence the behaviour of Government? - Can you answer that question?

- If not, what more do you need to know in order to answer that question?