APComp: Unit 2, Political Institutions - Comparing Legislatures, Unicameral vs Bicameral, Committee Systems

What This Means

Comparing legislatures is essential for understanding how countries are governed. A legislature is the group of people elected to make laws. The type of legislature, whether unicameral or bicameral, affects how laws are made and how power is distributed. For example, the UK has a unicameral legislature, the House of Commons, which is responsible for making laws. This means that the UK's prime minister has significant power over the legislative process.

Key Terms & Concepts

• Unicameral: A single-chamber legislature, where all members meet together to make laws. Example: The UK's House of Commons is a unicameral legislature.
• Bicameral: A two-chamber legislature, where laws are made in two separate groups. Example: The US Congress is a bicameral legislature, with the House of Representatives and the Senate.
• Chamber: A group of members in a legislature who meet together to make laws. Example: The UK's House of Commons has 650 members.
• Electoral threshold: The minimum percentage of votes required for a party to win seats in a legislature. Example: In Germany, the electoral threshold is 5%, meaning that parties must win at least 5% of the vote to enter the Bundestag.
• Committee: A small group of members who work together to discuss and refine laws before they are voted on. Example: In the US Congress, committees like the House Judiciary Committee review and mark up bills before they are voted on.
• Quorum: The minimum number of members required to be present for a legislature to meet and make decisions. Example: In the UK's House of Commons, a quorum is 40 members.
• Veto: The power of a head of state or government to reject laws passed by a legislature. Example: In the US, the President has a veto power over laws passed by Congress.
• Legislative initiative: The power of a legislature to introduce and pass laws without the consent of the executive. Example: In Mexico, the Congress has the power to introduce and pass laws without the consent of the President.
• Separation of powers: The division of power between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government. Example: In the US, the separation of powers is enshrined in the Constitution, with the legislative branch making laws, the executive branch enforcing laws, and the judicial branch interpreting laws.

How This Works in Practice

• In the UK, a vote of no confidence can force a prime minister to resign, demonstrating the power of the legislature over the executive.
• In the US, the Senate has a unique role in the legislative process, with the power to advise and consent on presidential appointments, including Supreme Court justices.
• In China, the National People's Congress has the power to amend the Constitution, but in practice, the Communist Party exercises significant control over the legislative process.

Common Misunderstandings

• Misunderstanding: A unicameral legislature is always more efficient than a bicameral legislature.
• Correction: While unicameral legislatures may be more efficient in some ways, they can also lack checks and balances, leading to potential abuses of power. Example: In the UK, the unicameral House of Commons has been criticized for lacking sufficient checks on the power of the executive.
• Misunderstanding: A committee system is always more effective than a single-chamber legislature.
• Correction: While committees can be effective in refining laws, they can also be slow and bureaucratic. Example: In the US Congress, committees have been criticized for being slow to act on important legislation.
• Misunderstanding: A veto power is always a check on the legislative branch.
• Correction: A veto power can be a check on the legislative branch, but it can also be used to block laws that are in the public interest. Example: In the US, the President's veto power has been used to block laws aimed at protecting the environment and promoting social justice.

Quick Comparison Table

Last-Minute Exam Cram

• A unicameral legislature is not the same as a single-chamber legislature – unicameral means one chamber, but the chamber can still be divided into subgroups.
• The UK's House of Commons is a unicameral legislature with 650 members.
• The US Congress is a bicameral legislature with 535 members.
• A committee system can be used in both unicameral and bicameral legislatures.
• The electoral threshold in Germany is 5%.
• The President of the US has a veto power over laws passed by Congress.
• The National People's Congress in China has the power to amend the Constitution.
• A quorum is the minimum number of members required to be present for a legislature to meet and make decisions.
• The separation of powers is enshrined in the US Constitution.
• A legislative initiative is the power of a legislature to introduce and pass laws without the consent of the executive.