Chapter 6: Democratic Regimes

• Democracy is a political system in which political power is exercised either directly or indirectly by the people

Define democracy and explain its components.

• Direct democracy means citizens vote on laws and policies themselves, without elected representatives. It gives people direct control over government decisions.

• Indirect democracy (also called representative democracy) means citizens elect representatives who make laws and decisions on their behalf.

What is the difference between direct and indirect democracy? 

• a form of government in which political power rests with the people and their elected representatives, rather than with a monarch.

What is a republic?

• The early Greek political system of direct democracy provided democracys foundation of political participation

• Democratic rule has risen and fallen over time.

• The modern era of democracy begins in thirteenth century England with the Magna Carta. 

How and where did democracy originate?

• Head of state (represents the people nationally and internationally)

• Head of government ( Running the state and implementing policies)

What is the role of the executive?

• Creates the law of the land

• Debates, writes, and passes legislation

What is the role of the legislative branch?

• Helps administer and enforce the role of law

What is the role of the judiciary?

• A system in which all individuals and groups, including those in government, are subject to the law, irrespective of their power or authority

 What is rule of law? 

• The highest judicial body in a political system that decides whether laws and policies violate the constitution

What is a constitutional court? 

Abstract Judicial Review

• Courts review a law in the abstract, without a specific case or controversy.
  
  

• Focuses on whether a law could violate the constitution in general.

Concrete Judicial Review

• Courts review a law in the context of a real case brought by individuals affected by it.
  
  

• Focuses on whether the law violates the constitution as applied in a specific situation.

What is abstract and concrete judicial review?

• Parliamentary System- A political system in which the roles of head of state and head of government are assigned to separate executive offices

• 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

Distinguish between parliamentary, presidential and semi-presidential systems.

• Found in majority of democracies around the wrld.

• Prime ministers and their cabinets are often members of the legislature

• The legislature elets and removes, the prime minister from office

What are the main characteristics of a parliamentary system? Examples.

• 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

What is a vote of no-confidence? 

• formed when no single political party wins a majority in the legislature, so two or more parties join together to govern.

What is a coalition government?

• Depends on the country but the PM is typically elected by a majority vote.

• Most PM dont have term cycles but often are tied to election cycles 4-5 years

How is a PM elected? What are their term limits?

• A political system in which the roles of head of state and head of government are combined in one executive office 

What is a presidential system?

• A parliamentary system has the roles of head of state and head of government assigned to separate offices. 

• Some benefits include the separation of powers

• Some drawbacks include fight of power, it takes longer for things to be done with so many conflicting opinions

How is it different from a presidential system and a parliamentary system? What are the benefits and drawbacks of each?

• A set of rules that govern how votes are cast, counted, and translated into seats in a legislature

What is an electoral system? 

• multimember district (MMD)- An electoral district with more than one seat

• Single Member District- An electoral district with one legislative seat

What is the difference between a Single Member District (SMD) and a Multi Member District (MMD)? 

• An electoral system that uses a combination of single-member districts and proportional representation

What is a mixed system?

A national vote called by a government to address a specific proposal, often a change to the constitution

What is a referendum?

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

 What is an initiative?

• 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

What are civil rights and civil liberties? What is the difference between the two?