UCL Uncovering Politics

Checks and Balances in Democracy

Episode Summary

What is the case for checks and balances, and what are the arguments against?

Episode Notes

The long-standing idea that democracy needs checks and balances is questioned in some quarters. So what is the case for checks and balances, and what are the arguments against? Should we look upon different kinds of checks and balances in different ways? And what are the contemporary tensions bringing these debates to the fore? We explore with three of our leading thinkers on constitutional politics.

Host: Dr Alan Renwick

Professor Meg Russell

Professor Richard Bellamy

Professor Jeff King