Unit 5: Democratic Regimes

Exame review

democracy

A political system in which political power is exercised either

directly or indirectly by the people

liberal democracy

A political system that promotes participation, competition, and

liberty and emphasizes individual freedom and civil rights

civil rights

Individual rights regarding equality that are created by the

constitution and the political regime

civil liberties

individual rights regarding freedom that are created by the

constitution and the political regime

republicanism

Indirect democracy that emphasizes the separation of powers within

a state and the representation of the public through elected officials

separation of powers

The clear division of power among different branches of

government and the provision that specific branches may check the

power of other branches

civil society

Organizations outside of the state that help people define and

advance their own interests

executive

The branch of government that carries out the laws and policies of a

state

head of state

The executive role that symbolizes and represents the people both

nationally and internationally

head of government

The executive role that deals with the everyday tasks of running the

state, such as formulating and executing policy

Legislature

the branch of government charged with making laws

bicameral system

A political system in which the legislature comprises two houses

unicameral system

A political system in which the legislature compromises one house

rule of law

A system in which all individuals and groups, including those in

government, are subject to the law, irrespective of their power or

authority

constitutional court

The highest judicial body in a political system that decides whether

laws and policies violate the constitution

judicial review

The mechanism by which courts can review the actions of

government and overturn those that violate the constitution

concrete review

Judicial review that allows the constitutional court to rule on the

basis of actual legal disputes brought before it

abstract review

Judicial review that allows the constitutional court to rule on

questions that do not arise from actual legal disputes

parliamentary system

A political system in which the roles of head of state and head of

government are assigned to separate executive offices

vote of no confidence

Vote taken by a legislature as to whether its members continue to

support the current prime minister; depending on the country, a vote

of no confidence can force the resignation of the prime minister

and/or lead to new parliamentary elections

presidential system

A political system in which the roles of head of state and head of

government are combined in one executive office

semi-presidential system

An executive system that divides power between two strong

executives, a president and a prime minister

electoral system

A set of rules that govern how votes are cast, counted, and

translated into seats in a legislature

constituency

A geographical area that an elected official represents

single-member-district (SMD)

An electoral district with one legislative seat

proportional representation (PR)

An electoral system in which political parties compete in

multimember districts; voters choose between parties, and the seats

in the district are awarded proportionally according to the results of

the vote

first past the post

An electoral system in which individual candidates compete in

single-member districts; voters choose between candidates, and the

candidate with the largest share of the vote wins the seat

multimember district (MMD)

An electoral district with more than one seat

mixed electoral system

An electoral system that uses a combination of single-member

districts and proportional representation

referendum

A national vote called by a government to address a specific

proposal, often a change to the constitution

initiative

A national vote called by members of the public to address a

specific proposal