assemblies chapter 15 politics

Assemblies (legislatures/parliaments) are deliberative bodies that represent the people, make laws, scrutinize the executive, and debate public issues.

They ensure representation, accountability, law-making, transparency, and act as a check on executive power.

Proposing, debating, amending, and passing laws.

They express the interests of citizens through elected members who reflect territorial, social, partisan, and ideological diversity.

Through questions, committees, investigations, votes of confidence, and reviewing executive actions.

Acting as forums for public debate, shaping opinion, and legitimising policy choices.

Legislatures help select, train, and promote political leaders, including ministers.

Involvement in constitutional amendments, institutional design, and major legal reforms.

A legislature with one chamber. It is simpler, cheaper, and more decisive but may lack checks and deeper scrutiny.

A legislature with two chambers (upper & lower). Provides checks, better scrutiny, and representation of regions or elites.

Strong bicameralism: Two chambers have equal or near-equal powers (e.g., USA). Weak bicameralism: Lower house dominates; upper chamber has limited veto powers (e.g., UK).

Parliamentary: Legislature is fused with executive; government depends on assembly confidence (UK, India). Presidential: Legislature is independent of executive; separation of powers (USA, Brazil).

They allow detailed scrutiny, expert input, and non-partisan analysis. Prestigious in US Congress; weaker in Westminster systems.

Strength of the executive Party discipline Committee autonomy Constitutional powers Bicameral structure Electoral system Existence of a strong party majority

A political system where the legislature is the most powerful institution (historically common, now rare).

Systems where the executive controls or heavily influences the legislature (common in Westminster systems with strong party discipline).

Strong executives Party discipline reduces independence Media + technocracy shift power away Pressure groups bypass legislatures Globalisation limits national legislative autonomy

A legislature that automatically approves executive decisions without meaningful scrutiny (common in authoritarian regimes).

Social diversity not reflected Low trust in politicians Elitism and corruption Lobby influence Alienation from citizens

Decision-making increasingly shifts to experts, bureaucracies, and international bodies, reducing legislative power.

Delegate: Representative follows voters’ instructions. Trustee: Representative uses their own judgment in the public interest.

The doctrine that the legislature is the highest authority, able to make or unmake any law (e.g., UK).

A tactic used in legislatures (notably US Senate) where members delay or block legislation through prolonged debate.

The disconnect between voters’ preferences and the demographic or ideological makeup of assemblies.