Comparative Politics: UK and Mexico

Flashcards covering political systems, institutions, and challenges in the UK and Mexico.

What type of political system does the UK have?

Parliamentary system, constitutional monarchy.

What is a key characteristic of the UK's parliamentary system?

Fusion of executive and legislative powers.

Who is the head of government in the UK?

Prime Minister (PM).

Who is the head of state in the UK?

Monarch.

What type of constitution does the UK have?

Unwritten constitution based on common law, statutes, and conventions.

What type of political system does Mexico have?

Presidential system, federal republic.

What is a key characteristic of Mexico's presidential system?

Separation of executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

Who is both the head of state and government in Mexico?

President.

What type of constitution does Mexico have?

Written constitution with strong presidential powers.

In the UK, who is the PM?

The leader of the majority party in the House of Commons.

What do the PM and Cabinet do in the UK?

Shape policy and manage the government.

What is a key aspect of Cabinet governance in the UK?

Collective responsibility among ministers.

How long does the President of Mexico serve?

A single six-year term (sexenio), with no re-election.

What are the powers of the President of Mexico?

Appoints Cabinet and controls domestic/foreign policy.

What type of legislative branch does the UK have?

bicameral parliament

What are the two houses of the UK Parliament?

House of Commons and House of Lords.

What is the function of the House of Commons?

Elected and holds legislative power.

What is the function of the House of Lords?

Appointed/hereditary and revises legislation.

What type of legislative branch does Mexico have?

bicaramel congress

What are the two chambers of the Mexican Congress?

Chamber of Deputies and Senate.

How are members of the Chamber of Deputies elected in Mexico?

Mixed electoral system (SMD & PR).

How are members of the Mexican Senate elected?

Partly through proportional representation.

What is the role of the Supreme Court in the UK?

Established in 2009, limited judicial review due to parliamentary sovereignty.

What type of legal system does the UK have?

Common law system based on precedent.

What power does the National Supreme Court of Justice in Mexico have?

Has judicial review.

What electoral system is used in the UK for the House of Commons?

First-past-the-post (FPTP).

Which parties dominate UK politics?

Conservative and Labour parties.

What type of electoral system does Mexico use?

Mixed electoral system (FPTP & proportional representation).

What are the major political parties in Mexico?

PRI (historically dominant), PAN (center-right), MORENA (leftist), PRD.

What is a characteristic of policy-making in the UK?

Efficient policy-making due to executive-legislative fusion.

What is a characteristic of policy-making in Mexico?

Slower policy-making due to separation of powers.

What helps maintain political stability in the UK?

Long-standing legal traditions.

What challenges political legitimacy in Mexico?

Corruption, crime, and cartel influence.