Session 10 - Power

If power is distributed evenly among the assembly and the executive and a system that ensures this divide remains is established, the executive would govern the policy-making process rather than actively engage in it and consequently be unable to encroach on the responsibilities of the assembly. This, I believe, should be done for the following reasons. 

Firstly, in a democracy, public consent is necessary to not only implement policies but also to make them in the first place. This means that decisions are made based on popular opinion. The job of the assembly entails gathering views of the public regarding various aspects that affect them and then incorporate those into the decision making process. For this reason, the assembly is commonly known as a representative of public needs and desires and the link between the government and the population. Executive decisions are however based on the interests its members believe the population has - which may or may not be the same as its actual interests - and in some cases on the members’ own interests.

Secondly, one person cannot acquire the experience and expertise required to rule a country while ensuring the needs of its people are met and public welfare is high. The combined expertise of a number of people can come close to the ruling level however, which is why decision-making bodies should be composed of a significant number of people who possess the knowledge required to rule a country. The division of power seen in some countries has resulted in most of it lying with a small number of executive politicians who make decisions for the whole country which, again, may or may not serve the population’s interests.

In conclusion, the asymmetrical distribution of power among the executive and legislative branches in most cases adversely affects public welfare for which reason a clear divide should be established among their areas of authority and the roles they have to play.