Political Science 101

Lab VII

Parliamentary and Presidential Government

"Executive Branch"

1. Look at the official web site of the British Monarchy

http://www.royal.gov.uk/

Visit No. 10 Downing Street

http://www.number-10.gov.uk/

• Go to the White House

http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/Welcome.html

Legislative Branch

1. Visit the Houses of Parliament:

http://www.parliament.uk/hophome.htm

House of Commons Home Page

http://www.parliament.uk/commons/hsecom.htm

House of Lords

http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld/ldhome.htm

• Visit the Congress of the United States

http://www.house.gov/

http://www.senate.gov/

Political Parties

1. Read about the Political Parties in the UK

http://www.bbc.co.uk/politics97/parties/ (Includes links to party web pages.)

http://www.labour.org.uk/

http://www.conservative-party.org.uk/

2. Look at Political Parties in the US

http://www.democrats.org/index.html

http://www.rnc.org/

Assignment:

Based on what you are able to learn at these sites, and the information in the assigned readings in your text, write an assessment of Parliamentary vs. Federal government. What do you see as the key advantages of each system? What are the principal disadvantages of each system? How do the functions of the three groups (Executive, Legislative, Party) listed above compare? What similarities and differences can be found examining these web-sites? Do you agree with President Woodrow Wilson that the parliamentary system is more responsive and democratic? Why or why not?