poli sci 250 exam 2

How can democracy be defined?  What is the difference between direct and indirect democracy?  What is the difference between liberal and illiberal democracy?  What is a republican democracy?

Democracy can be defined as a political system in which political power is exercised either directly or indirectly by the people. Direct Democracies allow the public to participate directly in government decision making. Very few modern democracies are direct. Indirect Democracies features elected representatives of the public who are responsible for government deciision making. They are also called represenatitve democracies. Liberal democracies want participation, competition, and liberty by the consititional limits on government power. There are two types of rights being civil liberties and civil rights. Civil liberties are freedom that are created by the constitution and the political regime. Civil rights are regarding equality that are created by the consitution and the political regime. illiberal rights arent consitutionally guaranteed for all and can lead to uneqal treatment. Rebulican Democracies are indirect democracies that stress the rule of law and seperation of powers. Rule of law where all individuals and elected officals are subject to law. Serperation of powers are a division of power between brances of government.

What have been the "waves" of democratization?  What four factors are thought to be necessary for democratization?  What role does each factor play in democratization?

The first wave happened after WW1 in Europe, but ended with the rise of Hitler. The second wave happend in Africa after WW2. The Third wave started in 1974 in protugal and spread to Europe in 1990s after the end of communism. The 4 factors are Modernization, Middle class, Society and culture, Interational relations. Modernization weakens traditional insititutions that stress authroity and hierarchy like monarchy and religion. Middle class happens in a raise in urbanization and industrialization and wealth leads to a middle class. Society and culture is important civil society oraganizations outside the state help people define and advance their intrests like the media and unions. International relations affects democratization since it can both be helped and harmed by outside states such as occupying.

What five political institutions characterize democratic regimes?  What role does each institution play?  How can these institutions differ?

5 political insitutions that characterize democratic regimes would be Independent Judiciaries, Elected executives, Elected Legislatures, Political Parties, Electoral Systems. Independent Judiciaries have a consitutional court that is a judicial body in a political system that decides whether laws and policies violate the consitution. Elected Executives carry our laws and policies, and there are 2 types. Head of state which is a role that represents people nationally and internationally. Head of government which deals with everyday tasks of running the state such as having policies. Elected Legislatures make laws. Bucameral where the legislature has 2 houses and Unicameral where the legislature has one house. Political parties bring together diverse groups of people into a single ideological mandate. Having multiple allows for accountability and party competition. Electoral systems is how votes are casted and translated into seats of legislature.

What are developed democracies?  What political factors characterize developed democracies?  What economic factors characterize developed democracies?  How can developed democracies differ?  Which states are considered to be developed democracies today?

Developed Democracies are also called advanced democracies and are states with an insitutionalized democracy and a high level of economic development. Democracy factors such as political participation, party competition, and civil liberties. Economic factors such as the GPD, PPP, and HDI. They can differ by their electoral systems, legislative exectutive and economic regulations. Some are parliamentary while others are presidential and have different economic systems.. Parlimentary is where the Executive is drawn from legislature. Presidential is independent of legislature. Some states would include Japan, Portugal, Mexico, United States, and Germany.

How are developed democracies transforming politically?  How are they transforming socially?  How are they transforming economically?

They are transofrming politically in 2 different ways. The first way they are changing is from integration which states pool their sovereignty surrendering some individual powers to gain benefits in return. The second way is that they are in the process of a political devolution where power is sent down t lower levels. Some are transorming socially through postmodern values where it aims for quality of life like health and the environment. Another is the role of women and childbrith where women work at almost the same rate as men. Women are also having fewer children and a loss of population and hurt social security. There is also a growing diversity where there are rises of immigration and creating more ethnic and religious diversity. They are transforming Economically by deindustrialization where is went from manufacturing to post industrial based service ecnomies like technology. The reasons is from economic integration. ANother reason is due to automation leading to job loss.

In at least 10 sentences, describe the political regime of the United Kingdom.  Does the state have a written constitution and if so, when and under what conditions was it written?  How is the executive structured?  What is the title and power of the head of government?  Is the head of state a separate office?  Who is currently head of government and head of state?  How is the legislature structured?  If the legislature is bicameral, how do the two chambers differ?  How is the judiciary structured?

The United Kingdom is a parliamentary Democracy with a consitutional Monarchy and a majoritarian political system. The UK does not have a signle written consitution and its based on historical documents or traditions like the Magna Carta. The executive branch is led by the Prime Minister who serves as the head of the government. It leads the cabinet creating and carrying out policies. The head of the state holds symbolic powers and cerimonial.The head of the government is Keir Starmer and the head of state is King Charles III.The Legislature is a parliament and is Bicameral. The first is a lower chamber where it has 650 elected members. The second is the House of Lords and has 800 appointed peers who review legislation but have limited power to block it.

In at least 10 sentences, describe the political competition of the United Kingdom.  What type of electoral system does the state have?  How are members of the executive elected?  What are the term lengths?  How are members of the legislature elected?  What are the term lengths?  What type of party system does the state have?  What are the names and ideological orientations of the major parties?  When was the last election?  What were the results?  When is the next scheduled elections?

Its a comeptitve democratic political system dominated by elections and political parties. The UK has a SMD electoral system also known as the FPTP. They are elected by voters choosing one candidate in each district and the candidate with the most vote wins. The exective branch is led by the Prime Minister who is the leader of the political party that wins the majority of the seats. The Prime minister forms a cabinet and leads the government and a term is usually 5 years. It has 2 party systems being the Labour Party which is left and liberal and Conservative which is right and conservative. 2024 was the last election with the Labour party winning. 411 seats for the labour and 174 for the commons. The next election will be in 2029.

In at least 10 sentences, describe the political regime of the United States.  Does the state have a written constitution and if so, when and under what conditions was it written?  How is the executive structured?  What is the title and power of the head of government?  Is the head of state a separate office?  Who is currently head of government and head of state?  How is the legislature structured?  If the legislature is bicameral, how do the two chambers differ?  How is the judiciary structured?

The United States has a presidential democracy based on seperation of powers and checks and balances. It has a written consistutions that was created in 1787 in philadelphia after the articles of confederation were too weak. The U.S Consisitution holds the highest law of the country and and is the structure for the federal government. The executive branch is led by the president who serves as both the head of the government and the head of state. They are resonsbible for enforcing laws, commander and chief in the military and directing government policy. The president has a 4 year term and can have appointed cabinet advisors. The head of the government and state is Donald Trump. The legislative branch is called congress and is bicameral. The house of representatives and the senate. The representatives has 435 members who serve 2 years and Senate who has 100 members 2 from each state and serve 6 years. The judiciary branch resolves disputes and interprets laws and has 3 levels. Federal district courts, Circuit courts, and the Supreme court which is the highest in the country and has 9 life time justices.

In at least 10 sentences, describe the political competition of the United States.  What type of electoral system does the state have?  How are members of the executive elected?  What are the term lengths?  How are members of the legislature elected?  What are the term lengths?  What type of party system does the state have?  What are the names and ideological orientations of the major parties?  When was the last election?  What were the results?  When is the next scheduled elections?

It has a SMD or a single member district. The voters choose one candidate from each district and the candidate with the most votes wins the seat. Members of the house of representatives are elected by the voters in districts across the country. They serve 2 year terms and elections happen every 2 years. Members of the senate are also elected by voters but serve a 6 year term. The president and the vice president are elected through electoral college. Each state has electoral votes based on its representation in congress and a candidate must win 270 out of 538 electoral votes to become president. Presidents serve 4 year terms. The unted states has a 2 party dominant system being democratic and republicans. Democratic are liberal and supports greater social spending and government regulation. Republican supports lower taxes and less government regulation. The last election was in 2025 where the Republican party and Donald Trump won. The next is in 2028.

In at least 10 sentences, describe the political regime of the France.  Does the state have a written constitution and if so, when and under what conditions was it written?  How is the executive structured?  What is the title and power of the head of government?  Is the head of state a separate office?  Who is currently head of government and head of state?  How is the legislature structured?  If the legislature is bicameral, how do the two chambers differ?  How is the judiciary structured?

France has a semi presidential political system under the constitution of the 5th republic 1958. It was written during a political crisis after the instability of the 4th republic. The executive is divided between the president and prime minister. The president is the head of state and is elected by citizens for a 5 year term. The prime minister is the head of the government, but the president has more power. The President appoints the prime minister and goes over government policy. The president or head of state is Emmanuel Macron. The Prime minister or head of government is Sebastion Lecornu. France has a parliament and is bicameral meaning 2 chambers. The lower being the National assembly with 577 members with 5 year terms. The upper house is the senate with 348 members with 6 year terms. National assembly has more power than senate in law making.The judicial system follows a civil law tradition where its based on legal codes than court precedent.

In at least 10 sentences, describe the political competition of the France.  What type of electoral system does the state have?  How are members of the executive elected?  What are the term lengths?  How are members of the legislature elected?  What are the term lengths?  What type of party system does the state have?  What are the names and ideological orientations of the major parties?  When was the last election?  What were the results?  When is the next scheduled elections?

It has a multiparty political system and has a SMD meaning if a candidate has more than 50% of the votes in the first round, the candidates compete in a second round. The president is the most powerful political leader and is elected by the citizens in national elections with a 5 year term and max 2 terms. The prime minister is appointed by the president and must come from the political party that has a majority in the national assembly. The legislature is a parliament and is bicameral. The national assembly has 577 memebers who are elected by voters and have a 5 year term. The senate has 348 members and has 6 year terms. France has a multiparty system with the bigger ones being the centrist party, Modem and horizions. The left being La France Insoumise, socialist party and the green party. The most recent presidential election was in 2022 where Emmanuel was elected as president. The next election is in 2027.

In at least 10 sentences, describe the political regime of the Germany.  Does the state have a written constitution and if so, when and under what conditions was it written?  How is the executive structured?  What is the title and power of the head of government?  Is the head of state a separate office?  Who is currently head of government and head of state?  How is the legislature structured?  If the legislature is bicameral, how do the two chambers differ?  How is the judiciary structured?

Germany has a parliamentary that was created after WWII. Germany has a written constitution called the Basic Law which was written after the defeat of the Nazi Germany. It was written to protect dictatorship and protect democratic rights. The executive branch is divided between the federal president and Federal Chancellor. The Federal Chancellor is the head of the government and the most powerful political leader in Germany. They are elected by the majority party. Budndestag is the lower house of the parliament and refoms the government and appoints cabinet ministers. The Chancellor directs government policy and leads the executive branch. The current Chancellor is Friedrich Merz who took office in 2025. The head of state is the Federal President who is symbolic and ceremonial. They sign laws and can call new elections if a new government cant be formed. Frank Walter Steinmeir was re elected in 2022. Germanys legislature is Bicumeral. Bundestag is the lower house and elected by members of the public for 4 year terms. They pass laws and elect the chancellor. The byndesrat is the upper house and represents the government of Germanys 16 ststates. They are appointed by the states governments and must approve laws that affect the states. Germanys Judiciary is powerful and protects the consititution. The most important court is the Federal constitution court.

In at least 10 sentences, describe the political competition of the Germany.  What type of electoral system does the state have?  How are members of the executive elected?  What are the term lengths?  How are members of the legislature elected?  What are the term lengths?  What type of party system does the state have?  What are the names and ideological orientations of the major parties?  When was the last election?  What were the results?  When is the next scheduled elections?

It has a mixed member electoral system and a SMD elections. In Bundestag elections 315 seats are chosen while 299 seats are elected in SMD. Federal elections happen ever 4 years. Members of the executive branch are not elected by the public. After the parliamentary elections, the Bundestag elects the Federal Chancellor who becomes the head of the government and leads the executive branch. The chancellor has a 4 year term. Members of the lgeislature are elected through the mixed electoral system where voters cast one vote for a district candidate and a vote for the political party. Bundestag serve 4 year terms. Germany has a multiparty system. CDU and the CSU are center right pro business and conservative. The FDP is a libertarian party that supports social welfare programs. The green party such as the Die Linke and the AFD. The last election was in 2025 the CDU and CSU won and Friedrich Merz was elected Chancellor. The next election would be in 2029.

In at least 10 sentences, describe the political regime of the Japan.  Does the state have a written constitution and if so, when and under what conditions was it written?  How is the executive structured?  What is the title and power of the head of government?  Is the head of state a separate office?  Who is currently head of government and head of state?  How is the legislature structured?  If the legislature is bicameral, how do the two chambers differ?  How is the judiciary structured?

In at least 10 sentences, describe the political competition of the Japan.  What type of electoral system does the state have?  How are members of the executive elected?  What are the term lengths?  How are members of the legislature elected?  What are the term lengths?  What type of party system does the state have?  What are the names and ideological orientations of the major parties?  When was the last election?  What were the results?  When is the next scheduled elections?