A basic distinction is between 'parliamentary' and 'presidential' systems. Within parliamentary systems, there is also a distinction between single party and multi-party executives, which has provoked a wide ranging debate over the impact of each model. Yet critics allege that their role in both tasks is becoming marginalised. The basic composition, role and powers of legislatures vary greatly between countries, and different strategies have been used to bolster their authority. This session will examine some of these differences between legislatures, the rationale behind these variations, and the effectiveness with which legislatures perform their role.
Electoral systems are the 'glue' that binds governments, elected members and voters.
Like legislatures, there are a wide variety of electoral systems in operation across the world. This session explores the reasons for these variations, examines the impact of different systems and assesses the tensions involved in designing electoral systems. The intersection of pressures from economic globalisation, changing notions of national identity and more specialised forms of service planning and delivery can be seen in tensions over territorial governance. Across many liberal democracies, there is a trend towards the decentralisation of power to reflect these pressures. This session focuses on the principal causes of devolution, the different models of decentralised government that arise and their impact on political behaviour and decision making.