Give three functions and three limitations of the legislature.

Answer Details

Functions of the legislature

1. Law-making. The legislature makes, amends and repeals the laws of the state.
2. Control of public finance. It approves the budget, authorises taxation and government spending and scrutinises public accounts.
3. Oversight of the executive. It checks and controls the executive through questions, debates, motions and investigations, and can pass a vote of no confidence in a parliamentary system.

Limitations of the legislature

1. Judicial review. The courts can declare its laws unconstitutional and therefore null and void.
2. Executive influence and delegated legislation. A dominant executive, party control and the delegation of law-making to ministers reduce the legislature's real power.
3. Constitutional and procedural limits. The constitution, entrenched clauses, human-rights provisions and required special majorities restrict what the legislature can do.