The British and American Systems of Government - Case Study Example

In the British and American systems of government, power is ultimately held by prime minister and president respectively It seems obvious that the president and prime minister hold ultimate power until one considers the subject in detail. Each for instance is elected only for a relatively short term and at some time in the future will step down, willingly or otherwise, and in many instances they will be replaced by someone from another party who will have different policies and view points. Also each is responsible to the electors who put him in his elevated position. Responsible too, to his party members, especially to those who have been elected into power alongside him. Nor is he completely free to act as he wishes in a unilateral way. There are checks on such activity or else both the leaders of both United States and the United Kingdom would be mere dictators. The president for instance can be removed from office for important crimes such as treason or the accepting of bribes. There are differences in the two positions. The president, immediately upon taking office, becomes head of the various armed services, whereas in the United Kingdom these offices are held by others. The president, together with the vice president, make up the executive. The post of deputy prime minister is a very new one in the United Kingdom, coming in only with Margaret Thatcher, yet in recent years there have been several instances of others being in charge on a temporary basis, as when for instance the prime minister is out of the country. The American President takes his power wherever he goes. Powers of the President The History Learning Site ( 2000) cites Bowles as having said ‘ The President of America is not the Government of America.’ The theory, if not always the practice, is that the executive, the judiciary and the elected legislature, all work together to achieve what is believed best for America. The President has to be perceived as the strong and decisive leader of his nation, yet at the same time must spend hours in negotiation if he wants to achieve his desired ends. Bowles is also quoted as having said ‘A president cannot lead unless he appreciated the perspectives of other elected politicians and accepts their legitimacy.’ A president has an inner cabinet - his advisors on various aspects. In theory these can come from any political background , so that only the president and vice president may share a party, because those felt to be the best at particular tasks are chosen, whatever their affiliations. There are some things however that the president is able to do by himself, although of course even here he may ask for advice. These areas are to do with appointments to various high offices –ambassadors, federal judges and the justices in the Supreme Court, as well the members of his cabinet. Except in cases of impeachment he also has the right to grant reprieves and pardons. He can recommend certain legislation, and also has the power to veto bills presented. This power is again not absolute. If two thirds or more of Congress disagree with his decision things go no further. He can make treaties with other countries, but again he requires a majority of two thirds of Congress to agree. Powers of the Prime Minister Being elected as head of his party and then winning a general election is not the end of things for a British Prime Minister. He must then be formally invited to form a government by the reigning monarch. After that he can stay as long as he wishes, or is able to maintain the confidence of his party and the electorate. In theory that could be for the rest of his life, but in practice elections intervene and people make new choices. Sir Robert Walpole was head of government for more than 20 years. In 1746 the Earl of Bath was asked to form a government, but proved unable to get others to agree to serve with him. He lasted only 2 days. The greatest limit upon any prime minister’s power is his own political party. Without the support of all elected members his position becomes a weak one and legislation will not go ahead. This is what happened to Mrs Thatcher in 1990 and to her successor, John Major. In his case it was his attempts to make closer ties with Europe that led to a massive defeat for the Conservative party in 1997. Another limiting point is that any thing seen as going wrong is seen to be his fault, even if this is only in the most remote way - the present monetary crisis , the war in Iraq – all these came to the door of Labour prime ministers. In earlier administrations Eden was felt to be at fault, because of his handling of the Suez crisis in the1950s and Ted Heath was seen as being to blame for the three day working week in the1970s. Membership of the European Union brings its own limitations - the Europeans have laws which they seek to impose upon all members and these may at times conflict with what a prime minister feels is best for Britain. Any prime minister normally relies upon those closest to him – his cabinet, but it was a cabinet member, Geoffrey Howe, who was instrumental in bringing Mrs Thatcher to the point of resignation. Each prime minister chooses his own cabinet. These are not elected positions, but are from among the elected members of his own party. In recent years government has become more prime ministerial than cabinet. This perhaps was seen clearly under Mrs Thatcher, who, although she had advisors, both within the cabinet and outside it, was very much her own women, making her own decisions. Prime ministers such as Tony Blair have tried to continue in this way, not always successfully, especially because of what was perceived as the over use of unelected advisors. Unlike the American presidency the role of the Prime Minister evolved very gradually over hundreds of years. First of all kings had advisors. Only in the late 19th century did the role of prime minister really emerge, and the term did not come into use until the 20th century. Also during the 20th century the role of the House of Lords gradually decreased and that of the prime minister and his cabinet increased. In more recent years the post of deputy prime minister has emerged, Geoffrey Howe being the first to be given this title in 1989. At the present time the leader of the Liberal Party has that position in a coalition government. This is unlike the American system where a Presidential candidate has a running mate who then goes on to take the post of Vice President - not really having powers of his own, but ready to step in if needed, as Lyndon Johnson did when President Kennedy was assassinated. Deputy Prime Ministers act rather as true deputies, stepping in if the Prime Minister is out of the country for some reason for instance. If a Prime Minister were to die in office, or leave their post for whatever reason, although his deputy might step in on a very temporary basis, he would not automatically become Prime Minister. When Mrs Thatcher resigned Geoffrey Howe did not step into her place. Instead there was a leadership election, and, to the surprise of almost everyone, including possibly the man himself, it was John Major who emerged triumphant. With the British parliamentary system the powers of executive and legislation are joined in one to a large extent. Parliament is the legislative body which passes the laws and the Prime Minister and his cabinet are the executive. Unlike the President of the United States, the prime minister is himself a member of parliament and elected as such. He continues for instance to have responsibility for the constituency which elected him as their member of parliament, as do the members of his cabinet. The party which wins an election also decides who should be their party leader and therefore the prime minister. That is not all there is to it however. The choice is not totally theirs, but the sovereign also has to invite that person to form a government on her behalf. Because he is elected as leader by elected members of his party, if he looses their confidence then they can also vote to decide upon someone else to take his place. No national election need be held, the whole matter being settled within parliament. This makes the post of prime minister somewhat more precarious than that of president, but on the other hand will make him more likely to stick to policies approved in general by his party, rather than making unilateral decisions. If no clear leadership candidate is found then a general election must be held. These take place in the United Kingdom anyway at least every 5 years, although often they occur more often. Head of State In the United States of America the President is also the head of state as well as being in charge of the government. His is the final responsibility. A different position prevails within the United Kingdom where there is both a parliamentary democracy, but also a sovereign. This means that the two positions are separate. The present Queen Elizabeth II has been head of state since the early 1950’s, but during that time has had a series of prime ministers to deal with , from both Conservative and Labour parties. Each autumn she makes a speech in the House of Lords outlining government polices and plans for the next parliamentary session. Despite all the powers of the House of Commons, and of the Prime Minister in particular, on this occasion the prime minister and his colleagues only attend by invitation. There isn’t room for them all, so they crowd into the doorway, standing while the Lords sit. The Queen is resplendent in all her royal robes and wears her crown. This despite the fact that the speech she makes will have been written by commoners, members of the lower house. Some would see this situation as anachronistic, but it is a very British solution that has worked well over many years. Despite the aspirations of certain prime ministers, of their wives who wish to be seen as ‘first lady’, the queen, although unelected, is ultimately the head of state and accepted as such. As well as co-signing any legislation, and requesting people to form governments, she, her predecessors and eventual successors, provides continuity over the longer term within an ever changing system. Conclusion All earthly power is temporary. In some cases it is simply man’s mortality that brings it to an end - as in the case of Alexander the Great for instance. In other cases powerful leaders come to a violent end by assassination. All too often they are forced out by failure - in the case of presidents and prime minister only a percentage serve their full term. The constitution of 1787 did not specify a length of office. Although in the past President F.D. Roosevelt served 4 terms in office that is no longer possible, because of the 22nd amendment. (1951) Two terms or two elections are the maximum, a pattern set long ago by George Washington who himself decided to serve only two terms. The only way a president can serve for longer is if he takes over from another elected person who has died before completing his term and this occurs in the second half of that term. He can then be elected twice more. Few would want such responsibility for longer. References 22nd AMENDMENT, 1951, Constitution, shmoop, available from, http://www.shmoop.com/constitution/22nd-amendment.html ( accessed 4th March 2011) THE POWERS OF THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT, History Learning Site, 2000-2011, available from http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/pres1.htm ( accessed 4th March 2011) UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION 1787, Primary Documents in American History, Library of Congress , 31st January 2011, available from http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/Constitution.html ( accessed 4th March 2011) Read More