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Chapter by Chapter ResourcesChapter 4 Governments and Parliaments: A long way from equality
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Unlike their American counterpart, nearly all Europe's presidents are - like Europe's monarchs - largely (though not necessarily) ceremonial figures, even where they are directly elected by the people.
Governments in Europe are instead headed by a prime minister, who with his or her cabinet of ministerial colleagues, derive their authority from, and are collectively responsible to, parliament. Most owe their office to deals done between the parties that are elected to it. The distinction between the executive and the legislative branches of government is therefore blurred.
Most parliaments are bicameral. Governments in Europe have to be able to command a majority in the lower house of parliament, but only on crucial confidence votes. The incidence of minority government is much higher than is generally assumed.
The duration and stability of governments varies according to the size of their majority, but cabinets (and cabinet ministers) share similar challenges across Europe, even if some are more collective enterprises than others.
Few parliaments in Europe are anything like as powerful as, say the US congress, though some are less weak than others, particularly those with a strong committee system and/or an upper house with the ability to block legislation.
The European Parliament differs from other European legislatures because it does not produce governments, but is becoming more like them with regard to party politics. It is relatively weak compared to other EU institutions, although this is beginning to change.
At the domestic level governments get their way sooner or later, however, largely because of the continued cohesion and strength of political parties.
(For general web materials on European Politics see
Tim Bale's Internet Guide)
Accurate info - historical and contemporary - on heads of state and government is provided by
rulers.org
For current presidents, prime ministers and cabinets, check out the CIA
You can get to any parliament in Europe via the website of the Inter-Parliamentary Union
To see which parties are in parliament and in government, see electionworld.org
For a wealth of discussion and information on democracy and strengthening democratic institutions, try the
International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance
European Parliament
1. Europe's presidents, and especially its kings and queens, are often seen as simply symbolic figureheads. Do you agree?
2. Some of Europe's prime ministers seem to be more powerful in relation to their cabinet colleagues than others. Why do you think that is?
3. Why would you expect most European governments to be 'minimal winning coalitions'? But why and how do some administrations govern without controlling a majority in parliament?
4. Why do you think some European governments last longer than others?
5. How is it decided which ministers get which jobs? What do ministers actually do, and how (well) do they all pull together as a cabinet?
6. Do the 'upper houses' of Europe's parliaments have much influence?
7. Some parliaments are more powerful than others: which are they and how and why do they have more influence than their counterparts in other countries?
8. Has European integration undermined the power of national parliaments? And what about the EU's own parliament: what, in your opinion, most distinguishes it from its national counterparts?
9. Some of Europe's parliaments seem more representative of its citizens than others: do you think that they should all be striving to contain MPs who are more like those who elect them?
10. Most observers agree that, for all the variation between them, Europe's legislatures are not much of a check on its executives: why do you think that might be?
Germany's Grand Coalition, 2005-?
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