Topic 2.6 Notes – Legislative Systems

What Legislative Systems Are

A legislature is the institution that makes, approves, changes, and gives legal legitimacy to laws and major public decisions. In some systems it also taxes, approves budgets, confirms appointments, approves treaties, removes officials, or helps choose executive leaders.

That list matters because legislatures do not all do the same job. Some actively write policy. Some mostly approve decisions made elsewhere.

• Core functions can include:
  • lawmaking through debating and passing bills
  • budget and taxation through approving spending and revenue
  • confirmation of cabinet, judges, or other officials
  • treaty approval
  • impeachment or removal
  • oversight of the executive
  • selection or approval of executive leaders
  • legitimization of decisions already made by parties, executives, or religious bodies

A unicameral legislature has one chamber. That usually means fewer internal hurdles and more concentrated authority.

A bicameral legislature has two chambers. That can divide representation and powers, add checks, and slow or revise legislation.

Election method also matters, but not in a simple way.

• Elected does not automatically mean independent or democratic. China’s NPC is formally elected, but the CCP controls the process.
• Appointed does not automatically mean powerless. Russia’s Federation Council and the UK House of Lords still have real functions.

The exam loves one distinction here. Separate formal constitutional powers from actual political independence.

The Six Legislative Systems

What Each Legislature Does

Each country’s legislature shows a different mix of powers.

• China: The NPC elects the president, approves the premier, passes laws and constitutional amendments, and often legitimizes CCP decisions. The classic example is the 2018 amendment removing presidential term limits.
• Iran: The Majles approves laws, oversees the budget, and confirms cabinet nominees. The Guardian Council reviews all legislation for compatibility with Islam, the constitution, and Sharia. It also vets candidates. If there is a dispute, the Expediency Council may step in.
• Mexico: The Chamber of Deputies approves legislation, levies taxes, and verifies election outcomes. The Senate confirms Supreme Court appointments, approves treaties, and approves federal intervention in states.
• Nigeria: Both chambers approve legislation. The Senate has distinctive confirmation and impeachment powers.
• Russia: The State Duma passes legislation and confirms the prime minister. The Federation Council approves budget legislation, treaties, judicial nominees, and troop deployment.
• United Kingdom: The House of Commons approves legislation and determines who can form government. The monarch appoints the PM who can command Commons support. The House of Lords reviews, amends, and delays bills.

How Structure Shapes Power

Structure changes how legislatures matter.

• Unicameral does not mean stronger. China and Iran each have one chamber, but both are constrained by outside control.
• Bicameralism often means chambers have different jobs, not duplicate ones.
  • Mexico’s and Nigeria’s Senates both do confirmations, but Mexico also handles treaties and federal intervention.
  • Russia’s upper chamber stands out for troop deployment and judicial nominees.
  • The UK’s Lords mostly revise and delay, not co-govern equally.
• The UK is the clearest case of asymmetric bicameralism. The Commons clearly dominates the Lords.
• In federal systems like Mexico and Nigeria, upper chambers matter partly because they link the national government to the states.

Formal Power vs Real Power

This is the most important comparison move in the topic.

• China: The NPC is constitutionally supreme, but CCP control makes it more a body of legitimization than independent policymaking.
• Iran: The Majles is elected, but the Guardian Council and Supreme Leader sharply limit it.
• Russia: The Federal Assembly has formal powers, but executive dominance and United Russia weaken independence.
• United Kingdom: The Commons is genuinely central because the government depends on its support.
• Mexico and Nigeria: Separately elected presidents and legislatures create more bargaining and checking opportunities.