Wow! When I was in the eighth grade (at Yuba Feather Elementary School in Challenge, California) in 1978-79, we spent several weeks on how the US democracy works. I recall having to do a paper and project on it. Much of it must have stuck with me, as I developed an interest in how the systems work, which is why I'm pretty well versed in American parliamentary procedure.
(Attempting to head off neepery: "parliamentary procedure" in this case doesn't mean "the rules of the British Parliament," but rules for governance of deliberative assemblies in general. I should think this is obvious, but experience has shown me otherwise.)
But I also have a general understanding of how Westminster-style parliamentary democracies work, which is why I also am mystified by people claiming that the current PMs in the UK and Canada are illegitimate because "the people didn't vote for them." Since the people never vote for the Prime Minister (except for those in that person's home district), that shouldn't be an issue. Or maybe a lot of people have been contaminated by Americanism and think that all governments are run by elected heads of state?
no subject
(Attempting to head off neepery: "parliamentary procedure" in this case doesn't mean "the rules of the British Parliament," but rules for governance of deliberative assemblies in general. I should think this is obvious, but experience has shown me otherwise.)
But I also have a general understanding of how Westminster-style parliamentary democracies work, which is why I also am mystified by people claiming that the current PMs in the UK and Canada are illegitimate because "the people didn't vote for them." Since the people never vote for the Prime Minister (except for those in that person's home district), that shouldn't be an issue. Or maybe a lot of people have been contaminated by Americanism and think that all governments are run by elected heads of state?