Amanda M.

Labrado
PLSC 210
Prof. Miller
2/21/10
Homework #4
Philosophical foundations of The American Political System
1. Describe how the powers or responsibilities of two or more of the three branches of
government overlap (“checks and balances”) in the following areas:
(a) the process by which a bill becomes a law:
The powers of the House of Representatives are overlapped by those of the Senate; the
powers of the Senate are overlapped by those of the President; the powers of the
President are overlapped by both the votes of the Senate and the House of
Representatives.
(b) the appointment of judges, ambassadors, cabinet secretaries, and other important
officials:
The President’s nominations of judges, ambassadors etc. are given advice upon by the
Senate and are approved by the Senate; therefore, the President’s powers to elect officials
are overlapped by the Senate.
(c) the removal from office of presidents and judges:
The Congress decides whether a President /Judge is to be removed from office if unfit to
be there and the Pres. Or Judge to be removed may write a statement on why they are fit
to stay.
(d) making agreements with foreign countries
The president can do this with consent from and agreement with the Senate.
(e) going to war
Congress has the right to declare war but has no checker to stop it from doing so if it is
done without a purpose.
2. (a) What is the “Jeffersonian Model”
Leading and using political parties to get the country and Congress to vote on a candidate
based on an “electoral majority in spite of the separation of powers” so that the
government is controlled by one party.
(b)What problem was it devised to surmount
The Jeffersonian Model was devised to surmount the “antimajoritarian bias of the
separation of powers”.
(c)Why doesn’t Hudson think it works very well anymore?
“it permits only episodic periods of majority rule”, and because the President and
Congress are elected separately, it leaves the president with little power of the members
of Congress who are of a different political party. Lastly, Bicameralism “impedes unified
government, even if it is controlled by the same political party,” to take action.
3. According to Hudson, what are the two main problems that the separation of powers
poses for democracy? Give at least two examples of each.
Responsiveness and Accountability
a. The S.O.P.s is biased against “majorities supporting change inhibit[ing]
governmental responsiveness to serious problems, citizen concerns, and substantive
policy innovation.”
 b. “Minority interests can prevail over majority interests” and prevent the majority
from gaining what they desire.
c. When government slips-up, it is almost impossible to tell whether the president or
Congress (or who in congress) should be held responsible because of the separation of
powers, which results in bad policy making.
d.”Fingers will be pointed” [when the government enacts a defective policy that
lead to disaster] but “no one will be held to account” because of the separation of powers,
everyone could be responsible.
4. Explain the differences between the U.S. System of separation of powers (SOP)and a
parliamentary system (PS)regarding:
(a)How the chief executive is chosen:
PS:Voters elect members of legislature (Parliament) and whatever party is the majority in
the House of Commons, and is approved by the head of state, is the party that forms the
government.
S.O.P.: Voters choose a party that will be their elector in voting on the president they
choose.
(b) How the chief executive can be removed from office
SOP: Impeachment by Congress
PS: Resignation because of pressure from supporting Party
(c) how frequently (and when) national elections are held
PS: Every 5 years between February and the first Thursday of June.
SOP: Every 4 years in November between November 2nd and 8th on the Tuesday following
the 1st Monday.
(d) the degree of cooperation between the executive and legislative branches
PS: P.M. must be in complete cooperation with his supporting party in Parliament (House
of Commons and Lords) in order to keep his position as head of government.
SOP: Pres. Doesn’t need to cooperate much w/ Congress b/c can’t be removed unless has
committed a crime.
5. Should the U.S. switch to a parliamentary system? Give at least two arguments in favor,
and two against.
Yes, The U.S. should switch because a Parliamentary System would allow people to vote
for policies which they could expect to see enacted.
No, if the U.S. were to switch to a Parliamentary system, there might be a limit on the
parties people vote on because of successes of other parties, i.e. if the republicans were to
be a great party with full support from Parliament, there would be almost no chance for
the Democrats.
Yes, the U.S. should switch because then bad politicians like G.W. Bush could be removed
from office and our country would be protected from turmoil.
No, we shouldn’t switch to a Parliamentary system because there wouldn’t be checks and
balances, meaning that bills might be passed that could upset the country.
Federalism
6. (a) What is the difference between unitary constitutional systems, confederations, and
federations?
Unitary Confederation Federation
One single central gov. For say: the Pres is “legal sovereignty is shared
Has choice to give the between the federal
responsibilities to ‘Junior partner” of government “and its states
regional / local govts multitude of political (sub-units)
(devolution) bodies and acts as an “neither can abolish the
The loc/reg gov “agent” of the centre, other”
decisions can be controlling only what Has “multiple levels of
overthrown by centre+ the surrounding governance”
exist only by central political Bodies allow. Each ”tier” has “a different
govs will functions”
States are “guaranteed a
voice in nat’l policy making”
(b) Give examples of each type of system
Great Britain is under a Unitary System.
Iroquois nation is a confederacy: decisions made by member-state legislation. (Wikipedia)
The U.S. is a Federation. (it has self-governing states)
(c) What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?
Unitary
Disadvantage: minimal Checks on the unitary system. If unitary system is led by tyrannous
leader it can easily fall because of the power over local and regional governments.
Advantage: Quicker to make decisions w/o checks and more responsive to majority
interests
Confederation
Adv: Almost full citizen control over government, parties make decisions unanimously, no
direct power (Wikipedia).
Disadvantages: Minority is not represented fairly, limited amount of power over multitude
of poli. bodies.
Federation
Adv: state and federal gov. keep each other in check and cannot eradicate each other,
everyone is represented.
Dis: slow to respond to desires of citizens, cannot regulate state governments if they are
in accordance with federal standards.
7. Is the European Union a federation? Compare and Contrast with the U.S.
8. Is California a unitary state, a federation, or a confederation? Explain.
California is a federation because we share sovereignty with the government; we have
multiple levels of government and rely on a centre (Executive Branch) that controls
external relations such as defense, foreign affairs, immigration, and currency, while
California is left to control “education, law enforcement and local government”. It is also a
federation because we are a state that is “guaranteed a voice in national policy making
through an upper chamber of assembly.” (Ch. 14 Hague & Harrop)
9. Describe the differences between the three structures for local government, providing
examples of each.