CSEC

Social Studies
Government
 Content
• Different types of government
• The structure of government 1: the legislature
• The structure of government 2: the executive
• The structure of government 3: the judiciary
• Functions of government
• Electoral processes
• How political parties prepare for elections?
• What influences the outcome of elections?
• What influences voter participation?
 Different types of government
• The different branches of government are the:
• Legislature
• Executive
• Judiciary
• Each branch of government should function independently of the
others and each should also act as a check on the others.
• To achieve this check and to avoid abuse, the constitutions of
Commonwealth Caribbean countries operate the principle of
separation of powers which divides the powers of government
between the three branches.
 Exam Tip:
Make sure you are familiar with the different
government systems in the Caribbean and the different
powers and functions of prime ministers and heads of
state.
The Structure of
Government 1:
the legislature
 The Legislature
• Structure of Parliament
• The legislature (parliament) can have one body in which case, it is called a
unicameral legislature, or two bodies, which is known as a bicameral
legislature.
• Grenada, Barbados, Jamaica- bicameral legislatures
• Guyana and Dominica have a unicameral legislature.
• A bicameral legislature comprises an Upper House, sometimes called the
Senate and the Lower House, known as the House of Representatives/House of
Assembly.
• Legislatures have a limited term of office, usually five years, after which
Parliament is dissolved and elections are held.
 The Legislature
• Composition of Parliament
• In a bicameral legislature, members of the Senate (Upper
House) are Senators who are nominated, not elected. The
Senate might include:
• Independent senators-nominated by the Head of State
• Government Senators- nominated by the Prime Minister
• Opposition Senators- nominated by the Leader of
Opposition with sitting members in the HOA
 The Legislature
• Composition of Parliament
• Independent senators- they do not represent a political party. They
usually represent particular interests, such as business/education
• Where there is a PM, he/she is able to nominate a majority of senators,
which means the government will have the majority votes in the senate.
The government will also have a majority in the HOA since it will have
the most members there also.
• The HOA (Lower House) is made up of Members of Parliament (MPs)
elected from the governing party and members of the opposition party.
• Some governing MPs are appointed as Ministers by the PM and together
they form a Cabinet.
 The Legislature
• The Role of the Opposition
• The opposition parties criticize and oppose government policies with
which they disagree. A strong opposition:
• Ensures that the legislature keeps the power of the executive in
check
• Ensures that the government is accountable for its actions,
revealing weaknesses, mismanagement or corruption
• Introduces its own bills to improve the governance of the country

• The effectiveness of the opposition can be limited if:

• Ministers use delaying tactics
• It is frequently out voted because it is a minority
 The Legislature
• The Role of the Prime Minister
• The PM is the Head of Government.
• The PM is the leader of the political party that has won an election and
is the person best able to command the confidence and respect of the
majority of the elected members of the HOR

• In some Caribbean countries, the PM is able, in consultation of the

Leader of the Opposition, to choose judges to recommend to the
Governor General for appointment.
 The Legislature
• The Role of the Prime Minister
• The functions and roles of the PM:
• Determines the size of the Cabinet and chooses its members
• Recommends the appointment/dismissal of cabinet members to the
governor-general
• Assigns/reassigns responsibilities to cabinet members
• In a constitutional monarch, chooses a governor-general and recommends
the appointment to the monarch
• Chairs cabinet meetings
• Advises the governor general/President when to dissolve Parliament
• Fixes the dates for elections
• Takes the lead in formulating policies for the country
• Coordinates the work of the various ministries
 The Legislature
• The Role of the Head of the State
• The Head of State may be a Governor-General, an executive
President or a titular president
• Executive President- full constitutional powers
• GG/titular President- ceremonial functions and
limited/discretionary powers to appoint
• The PM, leader of Opposition, independent senators, members of
the local privy council
The Structure of
Government 2:
the executive
 The Executive
• The Executive branch conducts the ordinary business of government and is
known as the Cabinet.
• In all independent Caribbean countries, except Guyana, the Cabinet consists
of the Prime Minister who is the chief executive officer and other ministers
of government.
• The PM chooses Ministers of government they wish to have in the Cabinet,
but they are actually appointed by the GG in Guyana, the Executive
President is the Head of Cabinet.
 The Executive
• The Cabinet is responsible for:
• Making policies and programmes for the country
• Ensuring that policies and programmes are carried out
• Initiating proposals for legislation
• Initiating proposals for taxation

• The Cabinet is assisted by the civil service which is responsible for

implementing the government’s policies and programmes.
The hierarchical structure of the executive branch of government
How the Cabinet system works
The Executive
• The principle of collective responsibility
Ministers
The Executive
 Exam Tip:
You need to understand the functions and powers of the executive and the
relationship between this and other branches of government
The Structure of
Government 3:
the judiciary
 The judiciary

• The judiciary is the legal system through which:

• Sanctions can be handed out to individuals/organisations
that break laws
• Disputes between individuals/organisations can be
resolved

• Note: The Privy Council in London remains the final court of

appeal for most English-speaking Caribbean countries,
except Dominica, Barbados, Belize and Guyana.
 The judiciary

• How the court system works

• Courts hear both civil and criminal cases.
• In some countries, such as Jamaica, a justice of the peace will mediate
in certain cases to attempt to avoid people entering the court system
unnecessarily.
• Civil cases are brought by one individual, group or organisation against
another, if one party feels wronged by another in some way.
• Criminal cases are brought by the police against an individual or group
if it is believed that the law has been broken. These cases are
prosecuted by the State.
 The judiciary
• Role of the prison system
• A prison system exists to provide a form of punishment and
to act as a deterrent. It also provides victims, potential
victims and society protection from convicted criminals.
There should be confidence in the judicial system and a
sense that justice has been done. A good prison system also
provides the possibility of prisoner reform.
Functions of
Government
 Functions of the government
• Taxation
• Provide social services
• Provide infrastructure
• Managing finances
• Maintain law and order
• Create employment opportunities
• Maintain international relations
• Defence
 NEXT TOPICS
● Electoral processes
● How political parties prepare for
elections?
● What influences the outcome of
elections?
● What influences voter participation?