# American system of government (for a Brit of little brain) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 27, 2026, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-system-of-government-for-a-brit-of-little-brain/1031230 "2026-06-27T15:01:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-system-of-government-for-a-brit-of-little-brain/1031230/41 "2026-06-28T01:10:36Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Yes, and how does your post here contradict what I said? You said: > [@DrDeth](#): > > The President had/has the right to _nominate_ a new Veep, the Congress has to confirm that. Without any qualifier to the “had” (i.e., in the past), it wasn’t clear to me that you understood that there was no mechanism to replace a vacancy in the Vice-Presidency prior to 1967. Apologies if you thought I was beating a dead horse. ---
**Author:** ![dcbwhaley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcbwhaley/32/21437_2.png) [@dcbwhaley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dcbwhaley)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-system-of-government-for-a-brit-of-little-brain/1031230/42 "2026-06-28T08:51:16Z")
Boris \Johnson shows how well our system works. Thrown out of office for lying to the House ---
**Author:** ![dcbwhaley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcbwhaley/32/21437_2.png) [@dcbwhaley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dcbwhaley)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-system-of-government-for-a-brit-of-little-brain/1031230/43 "2026-06-28T08:58:04Z")
The current mess in UK demonstrates that the parliamentary system is not an elective dictatorship. Starmer failed to get his welfare reforms confirmed despite having a large parliamentary majority. The threat of a back bench rebellion stopped him. Attempts to implement measures that were not in the manifesto generally fail ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-system-of-government-for-a-brit-of-little-brain/1031230/44 "2026-06-28T19:17:13Z")
> [@dcbwhaley](#): > > Boris \Johnson shows how well our system works. Thrown out of office for lying to the House Not before his lies led the UK to Brexit. > [@dcbwhaley](#): > > The current mess in UK demonstrates that the parliamentary system is not an elective dictatorship Margaret Thatcher. ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-system-of-government-for-a-brit-of-little-brain/1031230/45 "2026-06-28T20:40:04Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Not before his lies led the UK to Brexit. I’m curious, when exactly, in a functioning system, do you think Boris Johnson should have been kicked out of office; before the Brexit vote happened, before article 50 was triggered, in the early stages of negotiations with the EU or before the final negotiations? ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-system-of-government-for-a-brit-of-little-brain/1031230/46 "2026-06-28T22:40:40Z")
If we’re looking for a constitutional system that makes it _impossible_ for a scoundrel or a fool to gain power, or for an incumbent to do things that hurt people, we’re going to be looking a LONG time. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-system-of-government-for-a-brit-of-little-brain/1031230/47 "2026-06-28T23:07:20Z")
> [@Filbert](#): > > I’m curious, when exactly, in a functioning system, do you think Boris Johnson should have been kicked out of office; Never have been selected at all. > [@JRDelirious](#): > > If we’re looking for a constitutional system that makes it _impossible_ for a scoundrel or a fool to gain power, or for an incumbent to do things that hurt people, we’re going to be looking a LONG time. Good point. ---
**Author:** ![Steven\_G](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steven_g/32/5080_2.png) [@Steven\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steven_G)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-system-of-government-for-a-brit-of-little-brain/1031230/48 "2026-06-29T14:08:20Z")
The Boris Johnson comments here don’t make sense. The Brexit referendum and triggering article 50 both occurred before he took office. He then resigned after other activities which caused many members of his government to resign; he followed. Trump has trampled over the constitution, made several really odd executive appointments, blatantly profited from his office yet there is no viable/workable mechanism to remove him. Not at all like the UK! ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-system-of-government-for-a-brit-of-little-brain/1031230/49 "2026-06-29T18:38:15Z")
> [@Steven\_G](#): > > The Boris Johnson comments here don’t make sense. > > The Brexit referendum and triggering article 50 both occurred before he took office. > **[Boris Johnson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson)** > > Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (born 19 June 1964) is a British politician and writer who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 2019 to 2022. He was previously Foreign Secretary from 2016 to 2018 and Mayor of London from 2008 to 2016. He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Henley from 2001 to 2008 and for Uxbridge and South Ruislip from 2015 to 2023. > In his youth Johnson attended Eton College and Balliol College, Oxford, and he was elected pres... > In February 2016, Johnson endorsed [Vote Leave](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vote_Leave "Vote Leave") in the “Out” campaign for the [2016 European Union membership referendum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_European_Union_membership_referendum "2016 European Union membership referendum").[[274]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-277) Following this announcement, which was interpreted by financial markets as making Brexit more probable, the [pound sterling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pound_sterling "Pound sterling") slumped by nearly 2% against the US dollar, reaching its lowest level since March 2009.[[275]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-278) > > In April 2016, in response to a comment by President [Barack Obama](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama "Barack Obama") that Britain should remain in the European Union, Johnson wrote an “ancestral dislike” of Britain owing to his “part-Kenyan” background may have shaped Obama’s views.[[276]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-controversial-279) Several politicians condemned his comments as racist and unacceptable.[[277]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-ObamaSmear-280)[[278]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-ToIApril16-281) Conversely, former Conservative Party leader [Iain Duncan Smith](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iain_Duncan_Smith "Iain Duncan Smith") and [UK Independence Party](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_Independence_Party "UK Independence Party") (UKIP) leader [Nigel Farage](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_Farage "Nigel Farage") defended them.[[277]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-ObamaSmear-280)[[279]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-282) > > Johnson supported Vote Leave’s statement that the government was committed to [Turkish accession to the EU](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_accession_to_the_EU "Turkish accession to the EU"). Vote Leave was accused of implying that 80 million Turks would come to the UK if it stayed in the EU. When interviewed in January 2019, he said he had not mentioned Turkey during the campaign.[[280]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-283)[[281]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-284) In a televised debate on 22 June 2016, Johnson declared 23 June could be “Britain’s independence day”.[[282]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-285) According to [James Murdoch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Murdoch "James Murdoch"), Johnson did not believe the Brexit referendum would pass and when, during a meeting between him and other executives of [Fox News](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_News "Fox News"), he was asked its potential result he replied “We’ll see”.[[283]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#cite_note-286) [https://www.npr.org/2026/06/23/nx-s1-5867281/brexit-10-years-later](https://www.npr.org/2026/06/23/nx-s1-5867281/brexit-10-years-later) > Johnson succeeded May and promised to “get Brexit done,” and managed to secure a bare-bones trade deal after negotiations that left U.K.-EU relations in the deep freeze. > **[Boris Johnson’s Narrative of the 2016 Brexit Referendum: A Counter-discourse...](https://ojs.unito.it/index.php/deeuropa/article/view/13011)** > This paper seeks to argue that Boris Johnson, one of the most prominent leaders in the Leave campaign during the 2016 Brexit referendum succeeded in persuading British voters to be on his side and choose to leave the European Union (EU). One of the arguments advanced by Johnson during the referendum campaign was that leaving the EU would allow Britain to regain its sovereignty as well as its role in the world. This study is focused on Johnson’s two speeches, one on the Brexit referendum and one on the Brexit result, given their significance in manipulating British public opinion in relation to their stance on the EU. The analysis is based on Obeng’s (1997) indirectness strategies and Fairclough’s and Fairclough’s (2012) practical reasoning framework. The central argument is that Johnson’s verbal strategies have been influential in the results of the referendum, putting an end to a long partnership between the EU and the UK. Such a split ushered in a new era for both partners in the aftermath of Brexit, putting EU’s integrity at stake, raising concern about more frictions within such an institution. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-system-of-government-for-a-brit-of-little-brain/1031230/50 "2026-06-29T19:09:55Z")
> [@dcbwhaley](#): > > Yes but the system allows one man to co-opt government. Sure. Both the Legislative and Judicial branches have largely abrogated their responsibilities, leaving the Executive branch free to do a lot of damage. Any system devised by man will break down when enough people decide to ignore it. Though as permissive as the Legislative and Judicial branches have been, Trump is still finding out he can’t do whatever he wants as his recent losses demonstrate. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-system-of-government-for-a-brit-of-little-brain/1031230/51 "2026-06-29T19:46:07Z")
> [@dcbwhaley](#): > > Yes but the system allows one man to co-opt government. I disagree. There’s nothing wrong with the system, which has been functioning for over two hundred years. Our system has procedures built into it for removing a President who breaks the law or becomes mentally unfit. Our current problem is that the Republicans who control the government are placing their loyalty to Trump and the Republican party ahead of the loyalty to America and the Constitution. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-system-of-government-for-a-brit-of-little-brain/1031230/52 "2026-06-29T19:56:02Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > Both the Legislative and Judicial branches have largely abrogated their responsibilities, leaving the Executive branch free to do a lot of damage. Legislative, yes, Judicial no. > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I disagree. There’s nothing wrong with the system, which has been functioning for over two hundred years. > > Our system has procedures built into it for removing a President who breaks the law or becomes mentally unfit. Our current problem is that the Republicans who control the government are placing their loyalty to Trump and the Republican party ahead of the loyalty to America and the Constitution. Correct. ---
**Author:** ![Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swords_to_Plowshares)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-system-of-government-for-a-brit-of-little-brain/1031230/53 "2026-06-29T19:57:21Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I disagree. There’s nothing wrong with the system, which has been functioning for over two hundred years. I disagree with this. Our government is broken, it does not work for the people, it does not promote equality like it should. Slavery is still legal in prison settings, for example. Gerrymandering completely undermines democracy. The Senate should be abolished. The US’s greatest sin was not rewriting the Constitution during Reconstruction. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-system-of-government-for-a-brit-of-little-brain/1031230/54 "2026-06-29T20:00:38Z")
> [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](#): > > I disagree with this. Our government is broken, it does not work for the people, it does not promote equality like it should. Slavery is still legal in prison settings, for example. So, when a person commits a crime, they cant be put into prison, as that is slavery??? And boy, that is a lifeboat case. “If you cant do the time, dont do the crime” as Sammy Davis Jr sings. ---
**Author:** ![Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swords_to_Plowshares)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-system-of-government-for-a-brit-of-little-brain/1031230/55 "2026-06-29T20:04:40Z")
Your misunderstanding is hurting my head a bit. The 13th amendment states, bolding mine: Amendment XIII Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, **except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted** , shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. It is legal by the 13th amendment to enslave incarcerated people. It is legal to force them to work for little to no pay. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-system-of-government-for-a-brit-of-little-brain/1031230/56 "2026-06-29T20:10:10Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Legislative, yes, Judicial no. > > Little\_Nemo: Care to expand upon that? The Supreme Court has pulled the reins on Trump a time or two, but it also helped him get elected and assisted him in other ways. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-system-of-government-for-a-brit-of-little-brain/1031230/57 "2026-06-29T20:12:51Z")
> [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](#): > > I disagree with this. Our government is broken, it does not work for the people, it does not promote equality like it should. Slavery is still legal in prison settings, for example. Gerrymandering completely undermines democracy. The Senate should be abolished. Populations don’t tend to veer into extremism unless something is wrong, so I can’t help but agree with you that something is broken. A healthy polity does not select someone like Donald Trump as their leader. Twice. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-system-of-government-for-a-brit-of-little-brain/1031230/58 "2026-06-29T21:30:11Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > What’s happening right now is happening because the elected Senate and House are choosing not to exercise their checks and balances, and instead just giving the President all of the power that he wants. I’d like to ask the Federalist Paper authors, “What if the elected representatives collectively choose to abdicate their duty in order to empower a tyrant?” Their answer is likely to be, “We must earnestly counsel the shunning of opium, madame, for it doth confound the intellect most grievously,” i.e. “What are you smoking?” ---
**Author:** ![CoolHandCox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coolhandcox/32/16233_2.png) [@CoolHandCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoolHandCox)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-system-of-government-for-a-brit-of-little-brain/1031230/59 "2026-06-29T21:53:18Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > If we’re looking for a constitutional system that makes it _impossible_ for a scoundrel or a fool to gain power, or for an incumbent to do things that hurt people, we’re going to be looking a LONG time. Agreed. The American system limits any scoundrel or fool to only 4 years. The fact that Trump got 8 years has more to do with the voters than the system of Government. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-system-of-government-for-a-brit-of-little-brain/1031230/60 "2026-06-29T21:53:30Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > I’d like to ask the Federalist Paper authors, “What if the elected representatives collectively choose to abdicate their duty in order to empower a tyrant?” It’s funny. The Founding Fathers were so obsessed with Rome, and yet they never really considered how the Roman Republic fell. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-system-of-government-for-a-brit-of-little-brain/1031230.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-system-of-government-for-a-brit-of-little-brain/1031230.md?page=4)