Comparative Gov w1- part3

Constitution

A document that outlines the fundamental principles and structures of a political system.

Written Constitution

A formally documented constitution that outlines the rules and principles of governance.

Unwritten Constitution

A constitution that is not codified in a single document, often consisting of statutes, traditions, and legal precedents.

Separation of Powers

A doctrine that divides government responsibilities into distinct branches to limit any one branch from exercising the core functions of another.

Federal Government

A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units.

Unitary Government

A system of government that centralizes authority in a single national government.

Confederal Government

A union of sovereign states that delegate some powers to a central authority while retaining most of their own independence.

Ideology

A set of beliefs or ideas that form the basis of political theory and policy.

Aristotle's Classification of Regimes

A framework categorizing governments into 'good' and 'bad' based on the number of rulers and whose interest they serve.

Political Power

The ability of individuals or groups to influence or control the behavior of people and the course of events.

Constitutional Government

A government limited by a constitution that defines the powers of government and rights of individuals.

Checks and Balances

A system that ensures that no one branch of government becomes too powerful by providing each branch with powers to restrain the others.

Judicial Independence

The concept that the judiciary should remain independent from the other branches of government.

Legislature

A governing body that makes laws, often divided into two houses in a bicameral system.

Bicameral Legislature

A legislature with two separate chambers or houses.

Unicameral Legislature

A legislature with a single chamber.

Proportional Representation

An electoral system where parties gain seats in proportion to the number of votes received.

Single-Member District

An electoral district that elects one representative to a legislature.

Legislative Committees

Subgroups within a legislature that focus on specific areas of legislation.

Legislative Process

The series of steps through which a proposed law becomes a law.

Political Parties

Groups of individuals organized to influence government policy and gain political power.

Executive Orders

Directives issued by the president or executive authorities to manage operations within the federal government.

Impeachment

The process by which a legislative body formally charges a high official with misconduct.

Constitutional Amendment

A formal change or addition proposed to a constitution.

Preamble

A preliminary statement in a constitution that outlines the guiding principles and intentions.

Judicial Review

The power of courts to assess whether a law is in compliance with the constitution.

Socialism

An economic and political system where the means of production are owned or regulated by the community as a whole.

Communism

A political and economic ideology that aims for a classless system and collective ownership of the means of production.

Fascism

An authoritarian nationalist political ideology that emphasizes the state above the individual.

Anarchism

A political ideology that advocates for a society without government or authority.

Totalitarianism

A political system where the state seeks to control every aspect of public and private life.

Nationalism

A political ideology that emphasizes the interests of a particular nation over others.

Radicalism

A political ideology advocating for fundamental social and political change.

Conservatism

A political philosophy that promotes retaining traditional institutions and opposing rapid change.

Liberalism

A political ideology focused on individual rights, civil liberties, and social progress.

Legitimacy

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

Political Theory

The study of concepts and principles that govern political systems and behavior.

What is the purpose of a constitution?

The purpose of a constitution is to outline the fundamental principles and structures of a political system.

What distinguishes a written constitution from an unwritten constitution?

A written constitution is formally documented, while an unwritten constitution consists of statutes, traditions, and legal precedents not codified in a single document.

What is the concept of separation of powers?

Separation of powers is the doctrine that divides government responsibilities into distinct branches to prevent any one branch from exercising the core functions of another.

What is federalism?

Federalism is a system of government where power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units.

Define a unitary government.

A unitary government centralizes authority in a single national government.

What is the role of a legislature?

The role of a legislature is to make laws and typically consists of two houses in a bicameral system.

What is the difference between proportional representation and a single-member district?

Proportional representation allocates seats based on the number of votes received, while a single-member district elects one representative to a legislature.

How do checks and balances function in government?

Checks and balances ensure that no one branch of government becomes too powerful by giving each branch the ability to restrain the others.

What does judicial independence signify?

Judicial independence signifies that the judiciary remains separate and independent from the other branches of government.

What is an executive order?

An executive order is a directive issued by the president or executive authorities to manage operations within the federal government.