Studied by 3 people
Executive
The chief political power in a state, usually a president or a prime minister
Parliamentary system
A system of government in which the executive and legislative are fused
Characteristics of a parliamentary system
No separation of powers → The legislative branch holds a majority of the power
Legislature elected directly by the people
The majority party in the legislature gets to form the govt. and chooses the head of govt.
The majority party can select and/or remove cabinet members
The only elected officials are members of Parliament
Prime minister
The head of government in a parliamentary and semi-presidential system, as well as a member of the legislature and the majority party
Coalition government
When two or more parties work together to form a majority and select a prime minister
Vote of no confidence
When a parliament votes to remove a government or official from power
Presidential system
A system of government in which the executive and legislature are elected separately and have independent powers
Characteristics of a presidential system
Separation of powers → Each branch has specific functions
President and legislature are elected through direct elections
President is both Head of State and Head of Government
Legislature creates laws
Gridlock is a common problem
Divided government
When the legislature is controlled by a political party other than the party of the president
Semi-presidential system
A system of government that divides executive power between a directly elected president and a prime minister
Characteristics of a semi-presidential system
Separation of powers → Each branch has specific functions
Prime minister and cabinet control legislation
Prime minister is appointed by the President
President is the elected Head of State
Less gridlock than a presidential system
Term limit
A restriction on the number of years an 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 their 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 the bureaucracy accountable for the actions and policies
United Kingdom → Executive
Parliamentary system
Head of State: Monarch
Head of Government: Prime Minister
Members of Parliament are directly elected
Parliamentary sovereignty
Russia → Executive
Semi-presidential system
Head of State: President
President is directly elected
Head of Government: Prime Minister
Prime Minister is appointed by the President
Prime Minister oversees civil service
Iran → Executive
Head of State: Supreme Leader
Self-appointed political and religious authority
Head of Government: President
President is directly elected for a 4-year term
Guardian Council is unelected and oversees legislation
Nigeria → Executive
Presidential system
Head of State/Government: President
President is directly elected for a 2-term, 4 year limit and serves as chief executive, commander-in-chief, and head of civil service
Cabinet in the Senate is appointed by the President
China → Executive
Head of State: President
President is commander-in-chief and secretary of the CCP
Head of Government: Premier
Premier is nominated by the President
Top leaders of the CCP determine top governing officials without input from the people, including the president
Mexico → Executive
Presidential system
Head of State/Government: President
President is directly elected and serves as chief executive, commander in chief, and head of the civil service
President appoints cabinet members to the Senate, though some need approval
Bicameral legislature
A legislature with two chambers → an upper house and a lower house
Unicameral legislature
A legislature with one chamber
Mexico → Legislature
Congress of the Union (Congreso de la Unión) → Bicameral
Upper House: Senate
Confirms presidential appointments
Ratifies treaties
Approves federal intervention in states
Lower House: Chamber of Deputies
Debates/passes legislation
Levies taxes
Approves budget
Certifies elections
**Multiparty system
United Kingdom → Legislature
Parliament → Bicameral
Upper House: House of Lords
Hereditary/appointed
Reviews/amends bills
Can delay legislation for up to a year but cannot prevent bills from passing into law
Lower House: House of Commons
Debates/passes legislation
Approves budget
Holds committee hearings
Formally question the Prime Minister (Question Hour)
Russia → Legislature
Federal Assembly → Bicameral
Upper House: Federation Council
85 administrative units with 2 senators each (170 total)
Drafts laws/initiates legislation
Reviews monetary policies passed by the Duma
Negotiates foreign policy
Approves judicial nominations
Lower House: Duma
Debates/passes laws
Confirms prime minister nominee
Initiates impeachment
**Because Putin’s party is the majority and because of his control over Russian politics, the Federal Assembly has little autonomy
Nigeria → Legislature
National Assembly → Bicameral
Upper House: Senate
3 senators from each state
Lower House: House of Representatives
Both houses:
Debate/pass legislation
Approve the federal budget
Can check executive power
China → Legislature
National People’s Congress → Unicameral
Not directly elected = Chosen from municipal, regional, and provincal people’s congresses
Controlled by the CCP
Does not have much power = symbolic
Iran → Legislature
The Majles → Unicameral
Passes laws
Approves cabinet nominees
Ratifies international treaties
Confirms ½ of nominees to the Guardian Council
**Candidates for the Majles must be approved by the Guardian → they must be conservative and follow Islamic law
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 from interference from politically powerful officials or other institutions
Concrete review
Evaluates the constitutionality of laws or government actions based on actual cases brought before a court
Abstract review
Involves assessing legislation without an active legal dispute
Original jurisdiction
A court's authority to hear and decide a case for the first time before any appellate review occurs
Appellate jurisdiction
The court hears an appeal from a court of original jurisdiction
Mexico → Judiciary
Rule of law
Appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate for 15-year terms
Has judicial review
Plagued by corruption
Rule of law is weak
United Kingdom → Judiciary
Rule of law
Common law system
Appointed by the monarch based on referrals by the prime minister and recommendations by a judicial selection commission
No judicial review (no constitution)
Can overturn government actions that violate civil rights or liberties
Can rule on devolution
Cannot overturn laws from Parliament
Russia → Judiciary
Rule by law
Supreme Court → Final court of appeals through concrete review
Constitutional Court → Abstract review; judges appointed by president so judicial review is weak
Judicial system used to target political opponents
Nigeria → Judiciary
Rule of law
President nominates justices, Senate confirms them
1 chief justice and up to 21 associate justices
National Judiciary Council insulates judiciary from elected officials
China → Judiciary
Rule by law
Supreme People’s Court = Highest court
Can interpret laws but not overturn them
Uniform set of rules
Rule of law is weak
Due process is weak
Executions/harsh punishments are common
Iran → Judiciary
Rule by law
Supreme Leader appoints head of judiciary, who then appoints the judges underneath him
Can nominate half of the Guardian Council
No formal political role beyond this
Religious review based on the Quran
Judiciary used to repress political opponents
Note 
Flashcard (38)