MARTIN, Tenn. — Federal budget stalemates would be averted if the United States had a British-like parliamentary form of government, a University of Tennessee political science professor said Thursday.
Dr. Ted Mosch said Congress and the president, in a parliamentary system, could not blame each other as they are today because the president would be part of the Congress.
“In a parliamentary system, either they balance the budget or have new elections,” Mosch said.
Under Britain’s form of government, the prime minister — the equivalent to the U.S. president — is chosen by the majority party.
“If he’s got a program such as a balanced budget, it would automatically have to pass. Otherwise he would have to call for new elections. The parliament has the responsibility to pass the legislation or to get out,” Mosch said.
“It’s an embarrassment” that the Republican-controlled Congress and President Clinton, a Democrat, have failed to agree on a budget halfway into the fiscal year which ends Sept. 30, Mosch said.
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Contact: Ted Mosch (901-587-7626)