Difference between revisions of "Berroll System"

Latest revision as of 19:01, 12 October 2007

The Berroll System is a democratic, parliamentary system of government that was proposed by Edward Berroll, a Billopeshian political analyst, in 1964. The system involves a clear setup of the executive and legislature of a nation's government as well as a number of procedures for operating it. It is considered a very unique arrangement and view of the parliamentary system, almost to the point where it is not identifiable with any other current active systems. Its irregularity has prevented it from becoming a popular system but it is still fully operational in the nation of Billopesha where it was founded. It was officially made the government system of Billopesha in the Billopeshian Constitution of 2005.

Key Characteristics

These are the major features that distinguish the Berroll system from any other government system.

Executive

• The head of state, separate from the head of government, is nominal chief holder of executive power who holds reserve powers, but mainly acts as the state representative of the nation. This involves being the official at any external assembly including any regional or supranational government. The head of state is also the Chief Justice of the judiciary, who is directly in charge of the council or court that organises the constitution but it restricted on the powers over the civil and criminal courts. The de jure (by law) title of Commander-in-Chief is given and this is considerable more de facto (in practice) than in normal parliamentary systems. There is also the power to appoint a 'block' of the government officials of their choice to the upper house of parliament.

• The executive branch is a cabinet. The head of government is appointed by the Grand Lord and is approved by the upper house. He/she acts as the presiding officer of all cabinet meetings, keeping cooperative relations between cabinet members and has to approve of resultant actions but doesn't have much influence and can not appoint the the top ministers. There is also the exclusive right to call for a no-confidence vote against a cabinet minister in the Upper House if they are more hindering toward the govenment than being productive and although the head of government does not run any part of parliament, he/she still has a seat in the upper house.

• There are usually more than one 'prime' minister of state elected via direct democracy, usually by the public, and they have the power to appoint the under ministers. The under ministers are mainly selected from the government's own previously selected 'block' of officials that sit in the upper house of parliament and although the prime ministers don't run any part of parliament, they still have seats in the upper house.

• Under ministers are given some independence but the prime ministers have the exclusive right to call for a no-confidence vote against a under minister in the Upper House if they are more hindering toward the govenment than being productive.

• The prime ministers have the ultimate power to decide the legislative agenda in collaboration with the head of the upper house of parliament.

• One cabinet post is the deputy head of state who keeps relations between the cabinet and the head of state. No real powers are involved but the same person can act as a minister for another department in the cabinet, usually the foreign secretary.

Legislature

• A bicameral legislature in which there is an upper and lower house, the lower of which is elected by the public. The whole of parliament has the ability to independently dismiss the executive government by a no-confidence motion. The upper house contains academically qualified, head of government appointed and head of state appointed and party appointed members.

• The large majority of the upper house members are independent with political parties having equal representation in the 'block' they have. The large majority of the lower house is partisan with a independent block.

• The parliament can independently discuss issues and from that give suggestions to the cabinet via their head of house. Members also have a form of parliamentary immunity from prosecution.

• The head of the upper house is a member of the Cabinet who can put any bill into the upper house and is also the deputy head of government. The position is appointed by the head of government from his/her 'block' but has to be democratically approved by a upper house election. It involves the ultimate power to formulate a bill from the cabinet's suggestions and on the upper house's approval.

• The head of the lower house is a member of the Cabinet who is the leader of the majority party in the house so is thus elected via representative democracy. He/She has the power to officially delay, restrict or suggest alterations to a bill that has already being decided on by the upper house and has been discussed or voted on by the lower house.

Blocks

Blocks are fixed number groups of members of parliament that are all chosen in a particular way or have a specific function. They are exclusive to the Berroll system and are a major difference from the usual parliamentary setup. In the system, the following blocks are usually included but it could vary between nations:

• Upper House
  • Head of State Block (appointed) = ~10%
  • Head of Government Block (appointed) = ~25%
  • Leader of the Upper House Block (appointed) = ~25%
  • Partisan Block (voted by party) = ~10%
  • Qualified Block (qualified) = ~30%

• Lower House
  • Independent Regional/Provincial Block (voted by region/province - appointed into Upper House) = ~10%
  • Partisan Constituent Block (voted by constituency) = ~90%

Criticisms

Nations under the Berroll System

• Billopesha
  

See Also

• Parliament
• Democracy