POLI SCI 1st Edition Lecture 9 Outline of Last Lecture 1. The Cabinet 2. Liberal Democrats3. Political Responsibility4. Individual Responsibility 5. Law-Making6. Parliamentary Opposition7. Opposition8. Accountability and ResponsibilityOutline of Current Lecture 1. Parliamentary vs. Presidential System2. Vote of No Confidence3. Majoritarian or Consensus?4. The Scottish Referendum and its Consequences5. Issues to be Addressed6. The "West Lothian Question"7. "West-Lothian" Problems8. The Rise of UKIP9. The UK in the EUCurrent Lecture - The United KingdomParliamentary vs. Presidential System - - Head of Government: prime minister, premier, chancellor, minister-president, taoiseach- Head of Government: president- PM responsible to: PM and cabinet responsible to legislature and...-dependent on its confidence-can be dismissed by a vote of no confidence- President responsible: only to "the people"-elected for constitutionally prescribed period-cannot be forced to resign by a vote of no confidence (but impeachment or recall are possible)-cabinet = responsible to president (not parliament)Vote of No Confidence:- Vote of No Confidence - initiated by legislature-government must resign if not backed by legislative majorityThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.- Constructive Vote of No Confidence - government can only be removed if new one voted in; happens in single step- Vote of Confidence - initiated by government, government must resign if not backed by legislative majority-ultimate form of party discipline (key form to enforce party discipline)-don't want their leader to lose office- Form of Executive: collective and collegial executives-even if PM "first among equals" -important decisions made collectively by cabinet (even principle of collective responsibility)- Form of Executive: one-person, non-collegial executives-cabinet-advisory, subordinate-president can make decisions against advice of cabinet- Executive-Legislative Relations: executive and legislature are "fused"-cabinet drawn from legislature-cabinet relies on legislative majority party to govern -majority party relies on cabinet to implement its party agenda-interdependent: legislature can dismiss PM and PM can call new elections- Executive-Legislative Relations: separation of powers-illegal to be member of both branches-possibility of "divided government" - one party has majority in executive while another party has majority in legislature-president cannot dissolve legislature-very difficult to impeach president- Elected By: -PM: selected by legislature-all PMs and cabinets require formal vote of investiture- Elected By: The people (directly or via electoral college)Majoritarian vs. Consensus?-Is a parliamentary or a presidential regime an example of a majoritarian or consensus democracy? Which characteristics make each a majoritarian system, which don't?- Presidential - -separation of powers = less majoritarian, allows for possibility of divided government-power in hand of executive = more majoritarian-president above cabinet = more majoritarian (not a collegial executive)-not clear which this is (some aspects of both)- Parliamentary - -power dispersed across parties = less majoritarian-codependent executive and legislature = less majoritarian -Liphart has hard time integrating these into his framework because both of these systems have aspects of both-Liphart: is power dispersed or concentrated? -can still look at this as a useful tool-wide-ranging consequences for each system-no such thing as gridlock in the UK-which system the best? Depends what outcome you wantThe Scottish Referendum and its Consequences:-referendum on 9/18/14-"should Scotland be an independent country?"-Result: 55.3% no, 44.7% yes-Turnout: 84.59%-UK remains one country, but potentially wide-ranging consequences-further devolution to subnational units (more powers)-devolution so far: unevenly distributed powers, constitutional uncertainties-3 days before referendum: in case of "no," leaders of 3 main parties pledge...-transfer of "extensive new powers"-Scottish parliament will be made permanent-proposals to be on the table before JanuaryIssues to be Addressed:-exact content of further devolution-including transfer of some powers to big citiesThe "West Lothian Question":-Why should Scottish (or Welsh or North Irish) Westminster MPs vote on "English-only" matters?-in practice very rarely an issue, but apparently unfair-Proposals: -Conservatives - English-only parliamentary votes on English laws, would dilute Labour's voting strength-Labour - English regional assemblies converting populations roughly size of Scotland, would benefit Labour's strongholds (big cities, north)-LIberal Democrats - English-only legislation amended by special committes of English MPs before floor voteUKIP - English equivalent of regional assemblies"West Lothian" Problems:-"English-only" votes: could undermine basis of UK political system - strong PM who enjoys majority support in Parliament-what if UK PM has majority when Scottish MPs are voting, but not otherwise?-English parliament: England = 85% of UK population-would undermine authority of central government-discussion increasingly in context of 2015 electionThe Rise of UKIP:-2014 European Parliament election results:-UKIP: 27.5%, 24 MEPS (+11 relative to 2009)-right-wing, anti-EU populist party -first ever win in a UK wide election-Labour: 25.4%-Conservatives: 23.9%-Green: 7.9%-Liberal Democrats: 6.9%-UKIP gained its first 2 Westminster seats after recent defections of 2 Conservative MPs-on the rise for 2015 election-no projected absolute majority-pulls political spectrum toward rightThe UK in the EU: -Cameron promised referendum in 2017 on UK's EU membership (should he win in 2015)-in effort to ward off UKIP: indicates he might campaign in favor of leaving EU-until then: wants to "renegotiate" EU status-limit "freedom of movement"-limit influence of ECHR, perhaps even quit-Liberal Democrats rule out future coalition over