Mike Erickson
It would be thought that the basic function of the parliament is that they make the rules that govern the people. The truth is that the House of Commons (and Senate) fall best into the rule-making category, although, as the shown, the rules are actually formulated in the executive branch (Dyck 572). MP's and senators articulate local and other interests, and party caucuses try to come up with compromises in which diverse interests are aggregated (Dyck 572). The Commons also engages in political recruitment and political communication, and these four functions may actually be more important that its legislative role (Dyck 572). Another way to address the functions of the House of Commons is in it's relationship to the prime minister and Cabinet (Dyck 572).
A major thing about the House of Commons is that they do not make policy or govern. Instead through motions of confidence and nonconfidence, it decides who will form the government; second, it provides that government, on behalf of he people, with the authority, funds, and other resources necessary for governing the country; third, it make the government behave by acting as a constant critic and watchdog; and fourth, it provides an alternative government by enabling the opposition to present its case to the public and become a credible choice for replacing the party in power (Dyck 572).
The thing about policymaking is that the parliament may be involved in the initiation phase by raising issues in the daily question period and in general debates (Dyck 573.) It is then virtually nonexistent in the priority-setting and policy formulation process (Dyck 573). Where the Commons dominates the most is in the legitimation statge (Dyck 573). The bills that are introduced have to be passed by the House of Commons. This means that Cabinet proposals embodied in bills are made legitimate by their passage through the formal, authorized, democratic channels on the Commons (Dyck 573).
The...
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