Positives and negatives of the Westminster Model


	Positives and negatives of the Westminster Model
	Advantages The two-party system means that voters are presented with a clear choice between the government and the opposition The constitution is uncodified and so can be easily amended The system of representative democracy means that the government is held accountable through elections Individual ministerial responsibility means that ministers must account for their actions in Parliament Parliament can force the resignation of the government if it is not fulfilling its duties The electoral system has historically produced strong single-party governments so governments can deliver their promises	Disadvantages As the executive dominates the legislature, a government with a majority can do anything it wants - elective dictatorship Governments can use legislation to restrict the rights of citizens, and the judiciary can do nothing about this The independent and unelected judiciary upholds the rule of law but cannot overturn laws made by the unelected Parliament Local government is weak The concentration of power at the centre means that politics is not as responsive to local needs and issues There are limited opportunities for political participation outside of elections
	Evaluation

The two-party system means that voters are presented with a clear choice between the government and the opposition
The constitution is uncodified and so can be easily amended
The system of representative democracy means that the government is held accountable through elections
Individual ministerial responsibility means that ministers must account for their actions in Parliament
Parliament can force the resignation of the government if it is not fulfilling its duties
The electoral system has historically produced strong single-party governments so governments can deliver their promises

As the executive dominates the legislature, a government with a majority can do anything it wants - elective dictatorship
Governments can use legislation to restrict the rights of citizens, and the judiciary can do nothing about this
The independent and unelected judiciary upholds the rule of law but cannot overturn laws made by the unelected Parliament
Local government is weak
The concentration of power at the centre means that politics is not as responsive to local needs and issues
There are limited opportunities for political participation outside of elections

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