A Comparative Study of the Legislative Institutions in Nigeria and the United States of America

Abstract

This study was a comparative study of the legislative institutions in Nigeria and the United States of America. It analyzed the theoretical and practical functioning of the legislatures in both countries because Nigeria is a developing country and the United States of America is a developed country. The study used the descriptive analysis method and relied on a secondary source of data collection. It revealed that both countries are heterogeneous societies and practice a presidential system of government. However, their similarity is more in structure than function. The Nigerian presidential system is based on influential individuals and less established institutions, whereas the United States of America has powerful institutions. There is a separation of powers and commensurate checks and balances in the United States of America, unlike in Nigeria. The United States of America's electorate and Congress elect the presiding officers by themselves without external influence, which is not so in Nigeria. The primary factor that works against Nigeria’s legislative institutions is the nature of its democratic processes, with corrupted party primaries and electoral processes and a powerful president or governor who dictates who the presiding officers of the legislatures should be. According to the study, Nigeria should build robust, durable, democratic institutions that guarantee checks and balances. In addition, the level of poverty should be addressed in Nigeria through a fair distribution of national income that will give the electorate a stronger voice. The developed countries should also assist developing countries like Nigeria to grow their democratic institutions and economies with no strings attached. This assisted growth should be as homegrown modifications to suit their peculiarities, unlike the present wholesome adoptions. America should also learn from Nigeria by amending its constitution to allow the Senate to elect its presiding officers from its members to avoid a Trump-like attempt to truncate a presidential election in the future.