Key Concepts in Comparative Government: Legal Systems, Executive Structures, and Parliamentary vs. Presidential Systems

Common Law

A legal system in which previous written opinions serve as precedent for future cases.

Code Law

A legal system in which judges follow the law written by the legislature, and previous court decisions do not serve as precedent.

Judicial Independence

The ability of judges to decide cases according to the law, free of interference from politically powerful officials or other institutions.

Term Limit

A restriction on the number of terms the executive may serve.

Term of Office

A specific number of years that an executive can serve.

Impeachment

The process of removing a president from office before the end of his or her term.

Cabinet

The heads of major departments, or ministries, in the bureaucracy.

Legislative Oversight

The power of the legislature to hold cabinet officials and members of bureaucracy accountable for their actions and policies.

Institutions

The executive and bureaucracy, the legislature, and the judiciary.

Executive

The chief political power in a state, usually a president or prime minister.

Bureaucracy

A large set of unelected officials who implement the laws.

Legislature

A group of lawmakers that passes laws and represents citizens.

Judiciary

The system of courts that interprets the law and applies it to individual cases.

Parliamentary System

A system in which the executive and legislature are fused.

Prime Minister (PM)

The head of government in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. In a parliamentary system, the PM is a member of the legislature and is selected by the majority party.

Coalition Government

When two or more parties agree to work together to form a majority and select a prime minister.

Member of parliament (MP)

A representative in the legislature elected by citizens.

Vote of no confidence

In parliamentary systems, a vote by parliament to remove a government (the prime minister and cabinet) from power.

Presidential System

A system in which the executive and legislature are elected independently and have separate and independent powers.

Separation of Powers

A division of power among the major branches of government.

Divided Government

When one or both houses of the legislature is controlled by a political party other than the party of the president.

Semi Presidential System

A system that divides executive power between a directly elected president and a prime minister.