Comparative Study of Parliamentary Parties and Cabinets in 12 Countries

Coalition Government as a Reflection of a Nation’s Politics and Society: A Comparative Study of Parliamentary Parties and Cabinets in 12 Countries (Routledge Research in Comparative Politics)

by Hikaru Yoshizawa

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	8768 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	306 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported
X-Ray for textbooks	:	Enabled
Item Weight	:	14.1 ounces
Dimensions	:	5.39 x 1.06 x 8.5 inches

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Parliamentary parties and cabinets are key components of parliamentary systems of government. Parliamentary parties are groups of elected representatives who share a common political ideology and work together to advance their agenda. Cabinets are composed of the ministers who are responsible for running the day-to-day operations of the government. The relationship between parliamentary parties and cabinets is complex and varies from country to country.

This article provides a comparative study of parliamentary parties and cabinets in 12 countries: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Structures of Parliamentary Parties

The structure of parliamentary parties varies from country to country. In some countries, parliamentary parties are highly disciplined and centralized, with a strong leadership structure. In other countries, parliamentary parties are more decentralized and less disciplined.

The following table provides a summary of the structures of parliamentary parties in the 12 countries studied:

| Country | Party Structure | |---|---| | Australia | Highly disciplined and centralized | | Canada | Decentralized and less disciplined | | France | Highly disciplined and centralized | | Germany | Decentralized and less disciplined | | India | Highly disciplined and centralized | | Ireland | Decentralized and less disciplined | | Italy | Highly disciplined and centralized | | Japan | Decentralized and less disciplined | | Mexico | Highly disciplined and centralized | | Spain | Decentralized and less disciplined | | United Kingdom | Highly disciplined and centralized | | United States | Decentralized and less disciplined |

Functions of Parliamentary Parties

Parliamentary parties perform a number of important functions in parliamentary systems of government. These functions include:

• Providing a forum for the development and articulation of policy
• Providing a mechanism for the selection of leaders and candidates
• Providing support for the government in the parliament
• Holding the government to account
• Representing the interests of their constituents

The relative importance of these functions varies from country to country. In some countries, parliamentary parties play a more central role in the political process than in others.

Structures of Cabinets

The structure of cabinets also varies from country to country. In some countries, cabinets are composed of a small number of ministers who are responsible for a wide range of portfolios. In other countries, cabinets are composed of a larger number of ministers who are responsible for more specialized portfolios.

The following table provides a summary of the structures of cabinets in the 12 countries studied:

| Country | Cabinet Structure | |---|---| | Australia | Small number of ministers responsible for a wide range of portfolios | | Canada | Large number of ministers responsible for more specialized portfolios | | France | Small number of ministers responsible for a wide range of portfolios | | Germany | Large number of ministers responsible for more specialized portfolios | | India | Large number of ministers responsible for more specialized portfolios | | Ireland | Small number of ministers responsible for a wide range of portfolios | | Italy | Large number of ministers responsible for more specialized portfolios | | Japan | Small number of ministers responsible for a wide range of portfolios | | Mexico | Large number of ministers responsible for more specialized portfolios | | Spain | Large number of ministers responsible for more specialized portfolios | | United Kingdom | Small number of ministers responsible for a wide range of portfolios | | United States | Large number of ministers responsible for more specialized portfolios |

Functions of Cabinets

Cabinets perform a number of important functions in parliamentary systems of government. These functions include:

• Providing leadership and direction to the government
• Developing and implementing policy
• Managing the day-to-day operations of the government
• Representing the government in the parliament
• Holding the government to account

The relative importance of these functions varies from country to country. In some countries, cabinets play a more central role in the political process than in others.

Relationships between Parliamentary Parties and Cabinets

The relationship between parliamentary parties and cabinets is complex and varies from country to country. In some countries, parliamentary parties have a great deal of influence over the cabinet. In other countries, cabinets are more independent of parliamentary parties.

The following table provides a summary of the relationships between parliamentary parties and cabinets in the 12 countries studied:

| Country | Relationship between Parliamentary Parties and Cabinets | |---|---| | Australia | Parliamentary parties have a great deal of influence over the cabinet | | Canada | Parliamentary parties have a moderate amount of influence over the cabinet | | France | Parliamentary parties have a small amount of influence over the cabinet | | Germany | Parliamentary parties have a moderate amount of influence over the cabinet | | India | Parliamentary parties have a great deal of influence over the cabinet | | Ireland | Parliamentary parties have a moderate amount of influence over the cabinet | | Italy | Parliamentary parties have a great deal of influence over the cabinet | | Japan | Parliamentary parties have a small amount of influence over the cabinet | | Mexico | Parliamentary parties have a great deal of influence over the cabinet | | Spain | Parliamentary parties have a moderate amount of influence over the cabinet | | United Kingdom | Parliamentary parties have a great deal of influence over the cabinet | | United States | Parliamentary parties have a small amount of influence over the cabinet |

This article has provided a comparative study of parliamentary parties and cabinets in 12 countries. It has examined the structures, functions, and relationships with each other of these key components of parliamentary systems of government. The study has found that there

Coalition Government as a Reflection of a Nation’s Politics and Society: A Comparative Study of Parliamentary Parties and Cabinets in 12 Countries (Routledge Research in Comparative Politics)

by Hikaru Yoshizawa

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	8768 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	306 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported
X-Ray for textbooks	:	Enabled
Item Weight	:	14.1 ounces
Dimensions	:	5.39 x 1.06 x 8.5 inches

FREE