Concluding observations: legislative weakness, scrutinising strength?

An assessment of legislative bodies worldwide finds that legislatures vary significantly both in terms of function & effective power. Four types of legislatures can be identified. There are active legislatures, such as the US Congress, which can make its own policies. There are policy-influencing legislatures (reactive), such as the British Parliament, which can amend or reject executive measures. The legislature in the Peoples Republic of China would be an example of a legislature with only a minimal effect on policy. Finally, there exist rubber-stamp legislatures in states where one-party rule or military dictatorships prevail. 1 Table. M. Ruben