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[smjjames]

I thought the prime minister was elected though?

Sounds much closer to the majority whip thing in congress than an elected Prime Minister.

[Owlbread]

I thought the prime minister was elected though?

Sounds much closer to the majority whip thing in congress than an elected Prime Minister.

He is elected by parliament (basically his fellow MPs from winning party), not the people. The only people from the general public who directly elect him are his constituents. Cameron is an MP in the first place because 33,000 people in Oxfordshire voted for him.

It's theoretically possible (though extremely unlikely) for Cameron to get voted out by his constituents on election day, and the Tories to still win and form a government. It would just have to be without Cameron.

[misko27]

Plus, the US didn't even own Alaska until recently, it was Russian originally.

Events that occurred in 1867:

• Constitution of the North German Confederation comes into effect, creating a confederation of states under the leadership of Prussia and Otto von Bismarck.
• The first volume of Das Kapital is published by Karl Marx.
• The purchase of Alaska from Alexander II by Secretary of State William H. Seward in an event known as "Seward's Folly".

Not very recent.

I thought the prime minister was elected though?

Sounds much closer to the majority whip thing in congress than an elected Prime Minister.

I believe not. Same with Netanyahu I believe. And Canada.

Imagine if every government minister in the US was a Congressman

Also, this legit freaked me out for a moment. God, no, please, no.

[notquitethere]

The problem with that graphic notquitethere is it doesn't show the potential second general election this year (if confidence vote fails) and it doesn't show that, regardless of whether Labour are the largest party, that doesn't mean they get to form the government. The SNP (Nat on the graphic) have also ruled out any kind of coalition at all with the Tories - so it would have to be Tory/Lib Dem/DUP or something.

Sure and though some coalition combos have been formally ruled out (Labour + SNP for instance), there could still be confidence and supply agreements.

I thought the prime minister was elected though?

Sounds much closer to the majority whip thing in congress than an elected Prime Minister.

It developed out of a system where the King would choose ministers. It's possible (though unlikely) for the PM to lose their seat and be replaced during a General Election.

[Owlbread]

Sure and though some coalition combos have been formally ruled out (Labour + SNP for instance), there could still be confidence and supply agreements.

The important difference between those possible combos is that the SNP have sworn not to put a Tory gov into power in any way. That means no confidence and supply with the Tories. Some kind of confidence and supply arrangement has not been ruled out between Labour and the SNP.

[notquitethere]

My prediction: there'll be a Lab minority government propped up by an SNP confidence and supply arrangement, and David Cameron and Nick Clegg will lose their jobs and the tabloids will join forces to demonise the Scottish.

[Owlbread]

My prediction: there'll be a Lab minority government propped up by an SNP confidence and supply arrangement, and David Cameron and Nick Clegg will lose their jobs and the tabloids will join forces to demonise the Scottish.

I think this is very likely. I do worry about a potential second election, however - would a Miliband gov. survive the confidence vote?

[mainiac]

I thought the prime minister was elected though?

Sounds much closer to the majority whip thing in congress than an elected Prime Minister.

Prime Minister is a closer analogue to Speaker of the House.

[notquitethere]

however - would a Miliband gov. survive the confidence vote?

Possibly not, but I don't think there'd be much will for a second election. There'd be lower turnout and the Nationalist parties would probably do even better a second time around. That said... the Conservatives are the only party that could afford a second election, so maybe if they didn't form a government they'd try to press for another election.

[Larix]

I thought the prime minister was elected though?

Sounds much closer to the majority whip thing in congress than an elected Prime Minister.

Prime Minister is a closer analogue to Speaker of the House.

No. A prime minister is the actual head of government. In parliamentary systems, that office is separate from the head of state. In U.S. politics, that'd probably be about half the functions of the president, with vastly different rules. There just is no decent analogy.

The polish republic e.g. has the President of Poland (head of state, fixed term of office, popular election), the Prime Minster (head of government, elected by the parliamentary majority, depends on parliamentary confidence to stay in office) and the Sejm-marshal (head of parliament).

[Helgoland]

Did anyone mention yet that Russia will place nuclear-capable missiles in Königsberg? Waaaay to deescalate, Putin. Great step towards lasting peace. *Slow clap*

[Sergarr]

Did anyone mention yet that Russia will place nuclear-capable missiles in Königsberg? Waaaay to deescalate, Putin. Great step towards lasting peace. *Slow clap*

"Lasting peace" through good will has already been tanked by that "return Crimea back into Ukraine against its will or we'll continue to sanction you" statement, might as well try to scare the world into backing off.

[10ebbor10]

In other news, the ECB managed to upset the German left or something. Riots in Frankfurt, cars, public transport and firefighters were attacked.

[Zangi]

Did anyone mention yet that Russia will place nuclear-capable missiles in Königsberg? Waaaay to deescalate, Putin. Great step towards lasting peace. *Slow clap*

Well, in one way, it does deescalate things, mainly lowering the chance of a war over Crimea.  On the other hand, you got our good ol' MAD.

[mainiac]

No. A prime minister is the actual head of government.

So is the speaker of the house.  The high public profile of the president means that he uses his posture to "introduce" legislation but legislation generally originates in the house of representatives*.  The president has the bully pulpit of a prime minister but the speaker is the one with the actual powers that chooses what congress votes on and what the agenda of the majority party.

*although recently the senate has started taking a piece of legislation, striking out every single word in it then adding a completely new bill as an addendum and sending it back to the house.