Governing the UK - Parliament

UK Government

Three branches of government:

• Executive.
• Judiciary.
• Legislature.

The Legislature

• It legislates, has a legislative function and it passes legislation.
• A legislature is a type of representative deliberative assembly with the power to adopt laws. They are commonly referred to as parliament or congress.
• Bicameral system: a legislature which has two houses e.g. UK Parliament and USA Congress.
• Unicameral system: a legislature which has one house e.g. Folketing (Denmark), Knesset (Israel) and the New Zealand Parliament.

Advantages and disadvantages of a bicameral system

Advantages                                                                 Disadvantages

• More opinions.                                                        Time-consuming. 
• Stability.                                                                 Can lead to filibustering.
• More varied representation.                                      Unequal representation.
• The passing of quality legislation.                              Deadlock.

• An unpassed law/idea is called a bill, When it's passed, it's called an act.

Why is the House of Commons more powerful?

• Elected.
• Represents constituencies.
• The elections are legitimate.

Legitimacy

• Legitimacy is given through elections, in a democracy.
• Legitimacy - rightful authority.
• There are exceptions, such as the non-elected police, who exert rightful authority.
• Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses.
• Mandate - permission.

The Executive

• Executes or carries out the law.
• …