{"id":446,"date":"2019-09-03T14:54:33","date_gmt":"2019-09-03T06:54:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/aldrictinker.com\/?p=446"},"modified":"2019-09-03T14:54:33","modified_gmt":"2019-09-03T06:54:33","slug":"should-the-office-of-the-prime-minister-be-subjected-to-term-limits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aldrictinker.com\/?p=446","title":{"rendered":"Should the Office of the Prime Minister be subjected to Term Limits?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Westminster Model<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n
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The Westminster Model, i.e. sistem kerajaan perwakilan beparlimen<\/em>, does not prescribe such mechanics. Instead a prime minister and his\/her government will continue as long as:<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
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  1. S\/he remains a member of the elected house, and <\/span><\/li>\n
  2. S\/he commands the confidence of a majority of the members of that elected House. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    Consider the cases of John Major, Gordon Brown, Kevin Rudd, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee among many. They left their office following a defeat in the general elections. Note that their defeat caused\u00a0their party failing to secure a majority seat in their elected house following an election. <\/span><\/div>\n
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    Or Kevin Rudd (1st Ministry) & Margaret Thatcher who resigned following an internal party struggle.<\/span><\/div>\n
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    In the UK, successful votes of no confidence forced Stanley Baldwin (1924), Ramsay MacDonald (1924), and James Callaghan (1979) to [advise the Crown to] dissolve the Commons. Unfortunately, they lost the elections and were not returned to power.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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    Federal Constitution of Malaysia<\/span><\/h1>\n
    In Malaysia this practice was codified into our Federal Constitution. A member of the Dewan Rakyat can be Prime Minister as long as 22 years or as short as 6 years. According to Art. 43(4):<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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    If the Prime Minister ceases to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the House of Representatives, then, unless at his request the Yang di-Pertuan Agong dissolves Parliament, the Prime Minister shall tender the resignation of the Cabinet.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n
    How do we know when the Dewan Rakyat is no longer confident in the Prime Minister?\u00a0Either one of this needs to happen:<\/span><\/div>\n
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    1. The Dewan Rakyat passed a Motion of No Confidence against the sitting prime minister; or<\/span><\/li>\n
    2. The Motion of Thanks for the Royal Address was\u00a0defeated in the Dewan Rakyat; or<\/span><\/li>\n
    3. The Supply Bill, a.k.a. Budget, was defeated in the Dewan Rakyat.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      How are these items defeated?<\/span><\/h2>\n
      \"Composition

      Composition of the Dewan Rakyat as at September 23, 2016.<\/p><\/div>\n

      The\u00a0Dewan Rakyat<\/em> has 222 members.\u00a0For simplicity’s sake, let’s say everyone is present. A Bill\u00a0has to go through 4 stages: First Reading, Second Reading (with a vote), Committee Stage (with a vote), and Third Reading (with a vote).\u00a0When up for a vote:<\/span><\/p>\n