Professor David Farrell:

This is important and gets to the kernel of a lot of this issue. The system of separated powers in the United States is on one extreme, while the Westminster system, of which we are part, is on the other extreme and both have their problems. In the case of the system in the United States, the big problem, as the Deputy has identified, is the issue of logjams and gridlock and therefore, there is a lot of dysfunctionality in how the governmental system can operate. However, there is an in-between position and that is continental Europe. It is a consensus form of democracy where there is a much greater balance of power between Parliament and Government. However, it need not go to the American extent of gridlock to get to be a better form of democracy.