Political Systems

Methods Followed : Four different methods of choosing the chief executive have been followed in practice first, the hereditary principle, second, direct election by the people, third, in direct election by a body of intermediate electors, themselves either popularly elected or chosen by some branch of the government and, fourth, election by the legislature. In … Read more

Principles of organization main point is Principle of Objective Principle of Division of Work Principle of Unity of Command Principle of Span of Control Principle of Scalar Chain Principle of Delegation Principle of Absoluteness of Responsibility Principle of Parity of Authority and Responsibility Principles of organization : What the Executive Organ Embraces. The second great … Read more

Nature of the legislative mandate. The Constitutional establishes the Public Protector as one of the several independent institutions that are to strengthen and support constitutional democracy. These institutions, which have different but complementary mandates are established by Chapter 9 of the Constitution. Nature of the legislative mandate – role of the representative : Classification of … Read more

Professional or occupational representation.One of the most striking of the newer political theories that are being advanced today is that of occupational representation. Under this system, we would elect our legislators, not as now from territorial districts, but from groups of trades and industries. Professional or occupational representation : Criticism of proportional party representation. While … Read more

Representation of minority parties Early Advocates. The question whether the constitution should not guarantee representation, proportional or otherwise, to the minor political parties in the state, especially the more important ones, has had supporters dating from the epoch when in practice the principle of minority representation was unknown. John Stuart Mill in his classic book … Read more

General Principles. Concerning the constitution and mode of recruitment of the lower chambers there is now substantial unanimity of opinion and of practice that it should rest upon a popular basis, that its members should be elected by direct, equal, secret, and what is commonly described as universal suffrage, and that the tenure of their … Read more

Constitution of Upper Chambers. It is not possible here to discuss in detail the constitution of upper chambers, even of the more important states. Upon examination it will be found that they may be grouped in the following classes : First: Those which are constituted wholly or predominantly upon the hereditary principle. They include the … Read more

Constitution of the legislative organ. The Unicameral Principle. For a long time it was regarded almost as an axiom in political science that legislative bodies especially national legislatures should be constituted of two chambers, and in practice the great majority of them are so constituted today. This principle, said Bryce, is the quad semper, the … Read more

Ancient Legislative Organs. Representative legislative assemblies as we know them today are of comparatively recent origin. Montesquieu observed that the ancients had no notion of a legislative assembly composed of representatives of the people. In the states of antiquity the legislative power was not delegated to small select bodies of representatives but was exercised by … Read more

Distribution of the powers of government. The Two-Power Theory. Strictly speaking, the powers of government may be classified as first, those which consist in the formulation and expression of the will of the state, and, second, those which have to do with the execution of the will thus expressed. The first power may be comprehended … Read more