Part II: Political Institutions

1. Part II: Political Institutions Institutions – What Are They? March 11th, 2004

2. Political Institutions... • what are political institutions? • have both formal and informal (operational) aspects • widely-held and deeply-ingrained sets of shared understandings • about the appropriate process for collective decision-making • about the spheres subject to collective decisions (vs. those reserved for the individual)

3. Political Institutions... • solidified relationships of political power • rigid – i.e. difficult to change • institutions are never neutral – they privilege some interests over others • e.g. legislatures • Canada • Britain • US • France

4. Political Institutions and Democracy • each model of democracy will have divergent views on various institutional arrangements

5. Political Institutions and Democracy • e.g. bicameral legislatures • participatory/majoritarian democracy • would not like bicameralism to the degree that it is intended to counteract majority rule on basis of representation by population • elite democrats • would like bicameralism to the degree that upper house is typically insulated from immediate electoral pressures • even unelected upper house is appointed by elected officials • liberal democrats • would like bicameralism to the degree that second house would act as a check on lower house – making it more difficult for gov’t to act and limiting government

6. Political Institutions and Democracy • e.g. separation of powers (presidential system) vs. fusion of powers (parliamentary system) • liberal democrats • would like separation of powers which is designed to create checks and balances on government’s ability to act • elite democrats • would like fusion of powers system which allows elected executive significant power to pursue the common welfare • majoritarian democrats • conflicted – trade-off between their two favoured values (opportunities for mass participation and ability of government to pursue the common welfare) • would probably strive for balance between these values

7. Constitutions The Master Institution March 11th, 2004

8. Constitutions • what do they do? • outline the formal rules for collective political decision-making • place formal limits on the spheres subject to collective decision-making • in doing so, they outline the relationship between other political institutions • executive, legislature, judiciary

9. Constitutions – Main Elements • outline the various political institutions and relationships among them • including different orders of government (e.g. federalism) • outline the process of decision-making • prescribe the rights of citizens • outline the spheres subject to collective decision-making • prescribe a method of adjudication of disputes about the constitution

10. Constitutions and Political Power • formally outline solidified relationships of power • are shaped by political and historical context • are never neutral • advantage some political interests and disadvantage other political interests • recognize certain types of political claims while ignoring others • “Some issues are organized into politics, while other issues are organized out of politics.” E.E. Schattschneider • three examples • US, France, Canada

11. The American Constitution • What is the main thrust of the American Constitution? • protecting against the tyrannical use of power by government • how – limit what government can do! • legal prohibitions • fragmenting of power

12. The American Constitution • function of the Constitution – fragmenting and limiting power of government • creates the three branches of government at the federal level • creates the two orders of government (federal government and state governments) • limits governments in their relationships with citizens

13. Freedoms & Rights • negative vs. positive freedoms • negative freedoms • things that government must not do • do not require government action (rather stipulates how government must not act) • positive freedoms • things that governments must do in order for people to exercise their freeom • requires government action

14. The American Bill of Rights • focuses exclusively on negative freedoms • “Congress shall make no law...” [1st Amendment] • “the right...to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed” [2nd amendment] • “the right of the people...against unreasonalbe searches and seizures, shall not be violated” [4th amendment] • “No person shall...be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.” [5th amendement]

15. The American Constitution • why limited government? • belief that security of property was synonymous with individual liberty • concern that the landless masses would use the government to confiscate the wealth of the land-owners • emphasis on securing the rights of property • esp. Amendments 2 through 5

16. The French Constitution... • Preamble (1789): “The representatives of the French people...believing that the ignorance, neglect, or contempt of the rights of man are the sole cause of public calamites and of the corruption of governments, have determined to set forth...the natural, unalienable, and sacred rights of man...”

17. The Rights of Man, 1789 • Article 1: Men are born and remain free and equal in rights. Social distinctions may be founded only upon the general good. • Article 4: guarantees the “freedom to do everything which injures no one else.” • Article 5: “Law can only prohibit such actions as are hurtful to society.” • Article 17: property as an “inviolable and sacred right”

18. Preamble to the 1946 Constitution • “guarantees women equal rights to those of men in all spheres” • “Each person has the duty to work and the right to employment.” • “All men may defend their rights and interests through union action and may belong to the union of their choice.” • “All workers shall...participation in the collective determination of their conditions of work and in the management of the work place.”

19. Preamble to the 1946 Constitution • “The Nation....shall guarantee to all...protection of their health, material security, rest and leisure. All people who...are incapable of working, shall have the right to receive suitable means of existence from society.” • “The Nation guarantees equal access for children and adults to instruction, vocational training and culture. The provision of free, public and secular education at all levels is a duty of the state.”

20. The Canadian Constitution • BNA Act, 1867 • preamble • “Whereas the Provinces of Canada....have expressed their desire to be federally united into one Dominion under the Crown...with a constitution similar in principle of that of the United Kingdom...” • “whereas such a Union would conduce to the welfare of the Provinces and promote the interests of the British Empire....”

21. The Canadian Constitution • BNA Act, 1867 • themes: • parliamentary sovereignty • i.e. no bill of rights limiting power of gov’t • peace, order and good government (s.91 Constitution Act)

22. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1982) • preamble: “Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law...” • enumerated rights • fundamental freedoms • democratic rights • legal rights • equality rights • language rights and minority language education rights • mobility rights

23. Limits on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms • Section 1: reasonable limits • rights are guaranteed “subject only to such reasonable limits...as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.” • Section 33: Notwithstanding Clause • application • does not apply to democratic rights, mobility rights, minority language education rights

24. The Canadian Constitution Act (1982) • equalization and regional disparities (Schedule B, Part III) • “...the government of Canada and the provincial governments, are committed to • promoting equal opportunities for the well-being of Canadians; • further economic development to reduce disparity in opportunities; • providing essential public services of reasonable quality to all Canadians • “...the Government of Canada [is] committed to...” • to the principle of making equalization payments to ensure that provincial governments have sufficient revenues to provide reasonably comparable levels of public services at reasonably comparable levels of taxation.

25. The Canadian Constitution Act (1982) • issues organized into constitutional politics • linguistic issues • territorial/regional issues

26. Constitutions and Political Power • American Constitution, 1789-91 • focuses on negative freedoms (limits ability of collectivity to use the state) • protects property • French Constitution, 1946 • focuses on positive freedoms • recognizes class politics and organizes them into politics • Canadian Constitution, 1982 • encompasses both negative and positive freedoms • limited protection of the rights of individuals in relation to governments • organizes linguistic and territorial/regional issues into politics

27. Constitutions and Political Power • no constitution is neutral! • political institutions (including constitutions) represent solidified relationships of power • all political institutions privilege certain interests and disadvantage other interests