3 ms·
MPs are not "middle managers". In many countries [0] Parliament is sovereign: Collectively, MPs are the highest authority in the land. Theoretically, if they ch
by ForHackernews 6y ago
MPs are not "middle managers". In many countries [0] Parliament is sovereign: Collectively, MPs are the highest authority in the land. Theoretically, if they chose to do so, they could dissolve the judiciary, have anyone they didn't like executed, and declare war on their neighbours.
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliamentary_sovereignty https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliamentary_sovereignty
- toyg 6y agoWell, in most countries the sovereign is actually the people, and Parliaments act as intermediary interpreters of the popular will. Hence, middle-management.
- ForHackernews 6y agoNo, that that's not true. In countries with a history of royalty the monarch is sovereign but in modern times that power is vested in Parliament. The notion of popular sovereignty is largely a recent new-world fancy.
- toyg 6y agoI don’t know what your beef is, but what you say it’s not true for France, Germany, Italy, and likely tons more. All these constitutions state explicitly that sovereignty belongs to the people. Even in UK, where Parliament is now sovereign by way of forcing its primacy over the Crown, there are plenty of arguments about this (as recently rehashed), and the question is technically not settled.