Legislature
A legislature is the body within a political system that makes the laws.[1] In Britain the legislature is Parliament. There are about a hundred new laws passed by Parliament every year.[2]
Chambers
A legislature may have one chamber (unicameral) or two chambers (bicameral).[1][3] In Britain, the second chamber is the House of Lords. Some of its members are hereditary peers, who have the right to sit there because of their family. Others are life peers chosen by the government, and some are bishops.[4][4] The Lords cannot reject a Bill once it has passed two successive readings in the lower house.[5]
Writing in 1931, Harold Laski argued that "A legislative assembly should, in general, consist of a single chamber."[6] He was against second chambers. This was his own view.
What legislatures do
"Legislatures have several key roles which include representation, deliberation, scrutiny, and legislation."[1] This means they represent the people, debate issues, check the work of the government and make laws. Another role is to approve taxes and to check how the government spends money.[3]
In history, the role of legislatures often developed around the finances of governments and monarchs.[3]
Around the world
The Inter-Parliamentary Union, an international body, recognised that 193 countries had national legislatures.[3] Laski argued in 1931 that a modern legislature needs to be based on universal suffrage, so that all adults can vote for it.[7]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Axford, Barrie; Browne, Victoria; Huggins, Richard; Isaacs, Rico (2018). Politics: An Introduction (3rd ed.). Routledge. p. 317. ISBN 9781317243748.
- ↑ Axford, Barrie; Browne, Victoria; Huggins, Richard; Isaacs, Rico (2018). Politics: An Introduction (3rd ed.). Routledge. p. 318. ISBN 9781317243748.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Axford, Barrie; Browne, Victoria; Huggins, Richard; Isaacs, Rico (2018). Politics: An Introduction (3rd ed.). Routledge. p. 321. ISBN 9781317243748.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Axford, Barrie; Browne, Victoria; Huggins, Richard; Isaacs, Rico (2018). Politics: An Introduction (3rd ed.). Routledge. p. 322. ISBN 9781317243748.
- ↑ Axford, Barrie; Browne, Victoria; Huggins, Richard; Isaacs, Rico (2018). Politics: An Introduction (3rd ed.). Routledge. p. 319. ISBN 9781317243748.
- ↑ Laski, Harold J. (2015) [1931]. An Introduction to Politics. Routledge. p. 58. ISBN 9781317586708.
- ↑ Laski, Harold J. (2015) [1931]. An Introduction to Politics. Routledge. p. 53. ISBN 9781317586708.