Summary
Highlights
Legislatures create laws, represent constituents, check the power of the executive and judicial branches, legitimize government actions, and educate the public on political issues. In the US, most proposed laws die in committees.
Representation can be geographic, as seen in the US House of Representatives with districts, or by class, like the House of Lords and House of Commons. A bicameral legislature, with two houses, slows down the legislative process but adds checks and balances.
First-past-the-post systems, where the candidate with the most votes wins, typically lead to two-party systems. Proportional representation systems, where seats are allocated based on the percentage of votes a party receives, tend to result in multi-party systems, allowing more diverse voices.
Representatives can act as delegates, voting according to their constituents' wishes; trustees, using their own judgment; or politicos, blending both approaches. A representative's vote often depends on the strength of constituent consensus versus their personal convictions.
Legislatures provide oversight of other government entities through investigations and impeachment. They also confer legitimacy on the government, as citizens generally accept laws passed through the legislative process. Legislatures are also responsible for informing the public.
There is a risk of the executive branch becoming too powerful, leading to an 'imperial presidency.' This is exacerbated when presidents bypass institutions to communicate directly with the public or when the legislature fails to act as a check on executive power.
The US system of checks and balances can lead to gridlock, especially with divided government where different parties control the presidency and legislature. This stability, while preventing rapid changes, can hinder policy creation compared to more dynamic parliamentary systems.
Parliamentary systems, while allowing for quicker policy changes, can be unstable due to votes of no confidence. Proportional representation often necessitates coalition governments. These coalitions can be fragile, giving smaller parties disproportionate influence and leading to 'immobilism' when consensus is hard to achieve.
District elections can suffer from gerrymandering, where districts are drawn to favor one party. Representatives also face conflicting loyalties between their district's interests (e.g., keeping a military base) and the broader national interest, sometimes leading to 'pork barrel politics' and increased budgets.
Even authoritarian governments may have legislatures with varying degrees of power. When the public perceives these laws as legitimate, it lends greater legitimacy to the government itself.