Untitled Flashcards Set

Functions of the Executive and Cabinet/Ministries

The roles and responsibilities held by the executive branch and its appointed officials in governing a country.

Term Limits

Restrictions placed on the number of terms an elected official can serve in a specific office.

Arguments for Term Limits

Promotes political diversity, prevents career politicians, encourages new ideas.

Arguments against Term Limits

Limits voter choice, could lead to loss of experience and institutional knowledge.

Civil Society

The organization of groups and associations that function independently from the government to advocate for common interests.

Political Legitimacy

The right and acceptance of an authority, typically a governing law or regime.

First Past the Post (FPTP) Electoral System

An electoral system where the candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins; does not require a majority.

Federalism

A system of governance where power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that the authority of a government is created and sustained by the consent of its people.

Social and Political Cleavages

Divisions in society that affect political behavior, including factors like class, religion, ethnicity, and region.

Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI)

A political party that dominated Mexico's political landscape for most of the 20th century.

Command Economy

An economic system where the government makes all decisions regarding the production and distribution of goods.

Patron-Client Relationships

A system where political support is exchanged for specific economic benefits or services.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

The total monetary value of all finished goods and services produced within a country's borders in a specific time period.

Election Turnout

The percentage of eligible voters who participate in an election, which can vary greatly between different countries.

Unitary Government

A system of governance where all powers are held by a central government.

Parliamentary System

A democratic governance system where the executive derives its democratic legitimacy from, and is directly accountable to, the legislature.

Presidential System

A democratic governance system where a head of state is also the head of government, separate from the legislative authority.

Iranian Revolution of 1979

A series of events that resulted in the overthrow of the Shah of Iran and the establishment of the Islamic Republic.

British Political Parties

The major groups in the UK political system, primarily the Conservative Party and the Labour Party, which shape political discourse.

Political Party Systems

The structure and function of political parties within a political system, which may vary from robust multi-party systems to one-party systems.

Supranational Organizations

Entities formed by multiple countries that transcend national boundaries to achieve common goals, such as the EU.

Developing World Designations

Classifications of countries based on economic and developmental criteria, indicating their level of economic sustainability and development challenges.