Task 7 Flashcards
(24 cards)
Constitutional presidents
are a feature of a parliamentary system
responsible for ceremonial duties eg figuerhead
the executive power is held by the cabinet or prime minister
executive presidents
combine the the responsibilities of the head of state with those of the chief executive
basis of presidential government
may be limited or unlimited
unlimited presidentialism
near unchecked powers
dictatorships
often exist in a one party state
limited presidentialism
powers are limited by the constitution, political democracy, party competition
powers are also checked by publicly accountable assemblies
holds the power of patronage
is counterbalanced by congress
senate must ratify appointments and can ratify treaties and impeach the president if neccessary
congress & president
congress often cuts some of the presidents legislative plans
congress can deny the president a course of action
if congress is dominated by opposing party president might not be able to get anything done by creating a gridlock
congress has the power of impeaching the president
president & federal bureaucracy
exists to serve the president though it often acts as a constraint to the president
president appoints about 4000 members of the high and mid level of the administration
bureaucracy often acts in accordance to own interests
supreme court & president
force president to shape the political agenda by exercising influence over him/her
Justices are appointed by the president but may be rejected by the senate
once a justice is appointed they can do what they want as they have tenure (unfireable)
media & president
vital to presidents who need to appeal to the public through the media
media seeks the truth and is politically independent
constraints on the prime ministers
does not have a free hand in hiring/firing
needs to maintain party and cabinet unity
primes ministers are only as powerful as the cabinet lets them be
political executive
made of elected politicians
ministers are accountable to the assembly and must make policy in accordance with the priorities of the party they represent
official executive
appointed civil servants
offer advice and administer policy
required to act politically unaffiliated
loyal to the minister
how is political and bureaucratic executive blurred
senior civil servants have substantial influence in policy making
presidential executives (USA)
president is the only elected official
cabineet members are appointed officicals
civil servants are temporary and politically partisan
communist executives (china and ussr)
distinction is irrelevant due to the fact that its a one party system
chinese bureaucrats are ideologically commited supporters
responsibilities and structure of executive branches
usually pyramid structure
tend to be centralized around the leadership of an individual
status and responsibilities of the executive branches
head of state: office of formal authority and large symbolic importance
head of government: policy making and political responsibilities
separat in parliamentary systems
one and the same in executive presidential system
role of executive in presidential system
president is the head of state and government
elected separately from the legislative branch
powerful and has veto powers
role of executive in parlamentary system
prime minister is head of the government while the president is ceremonial head of state
derives power from the legislative branch
can be removed by vote of no confidence
role of executive in semi-presidential system
combines elements of both presidential and parliamentary systems
executive includes both a president and minister with distinct roles
presidential hierarchy
president
cabinet
advisory staff
parliamentary systems hierarchy
prime minister
cabinet members
members of parliament
ceremonial head of state
semi-presidential hierarchy
president
prime minister
cabinet members
members or parliament
media & executive relationship
information dissemination: media serves as channel for the executive to communicate policies
to an extent hold the government/ executives accountable by reporting on government actions
executive utilizes the media to shape public opinion and garner support
importance of leadership skills for the executive
decision making: executives must make informed and timely decisions
communication: effective communication is essential for conveying policies and building public trust
strategic vision: executives must have a clear vision in mind for the future and must be able to formulate it coherently to implement long-term strategies
crisis management: executive must remain composed and make decisive decisions
