Elections, legislative systems

What are the three regime types in executive-legislative relations?

Presidential, Parliamentary, Semi-presidential.

What is a key characteristic of a presidential system of government?

A popularly elected president who is both the head of government and the head of state.

In a presidential system, what role does the legislature play?

The legislature is popularly elected and cannot dismiss the government.

What is the fixed term for a president in the US presidential system?

Four years.

How can a president be removed in a presidential system?

Through impeachment for misconduct in office.

What defines a parliamentary system of government?

The government is drawn from and responsible to the legislature.

What is a vote of no confidence in a parliamentary system?

A mechanism by which the legislature can remove the government from office.

Who is the head of government in the UK parliamentary system?

The Prime Minister.

How is the Prime Minister chosen in the UK?

The Prime Minister is usually the leader of the largest party in the House of Commons.

What separates the head of state from the head of government in parliamentary systems?

The head of state is typically a monarch or ceremonial figure, while the head of government is the Prime Minister.

What is the relationship between the government and parliament in a parliamentary system?

The government must have the support or toleration of a parliamentary majority.

What is the significance of the electoral college in the US presidential system?

It is the body that formally elects the president.

What is the role of question times in parliamentary accountability?

They provide a forum for the government to answer questions from the legislature.

What does Arend Lijphart define as a parliamentary system?

A form of constitutional democracy where executive authority emerges from and is responsible to legislative authority.

What happens if a government loses a vote of no confidence?

It can be removed from office.

What is the composition of the US legislature?

It is formed of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Can the president dissolve the legislature in the US system?

No, the president cannot dissolve the legislature.

What are the two key variables in classifying countries' regime types?

Government responsibility to parliament and existence of an elected head of state with a fixed term.

What is the main focus of the course POLS0002?

Comparing executive-legislative institutions and their consequences.

What is the significance of the G7 Reunion 2024 mentioned in the notes?

It is likely a reference to a future event related to political discussions, though specific details are not provided.

What is the purpose of comparing different political regimes?

To understand the consequences of variations in executive-legislative relations.

What is the main role of a monarch or president in a parliamentary system?

To embody and separate the 'authority of the state' from the incumbent government, performing a ceremonial role without policy-making powers.

What is a semi-presidential system of government?

A system where a popularly elected, fixed-term president exists alongside a prime minister and cabinet responsible to parliament.

Which country is an example of a semi-presidential system since the 1958 Constitution?

France.

How often is the president of France elected?

Every five years.

What happens in France when the president and prime minister are from opposing parties?

Power is shared, leading to more conflict, a situation known as 'cohabitation'.

What are the key elements of a semi-presidential system?

A directly elected president, a prime minister who commands a parliamentary majority, and shared executive tasks between them.

What are some examples of countries with presidential systems?

Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, United States.

What are some examples of countries with parliamentary systems?

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Germany, India, United Kingdom.

What are some examples of countries with semi-presidential systems?

France, Croatia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Russia, South Korea.

What are the consequences of variations in political regimes?

They are linked to democratic survival and stability, government stability, effectiveness of government, power of the executive, and accountability.

What are the three waves of studies on parliamentary and presidential systems?

1. The effect of political regime on democratic stability. 2. The impact of institutional features on stability and effectiveness. 3. Conceptualizing relationships between institutions beyond regime type.

What does Juan Linz argue about presidential systems?

He argues that presidential systems are less likely to sustain stable democracy compared to parliamentary systems.

What is 'cohabitation' in the context of a semi-presidential system?

It refers to a situation where the president and prime minister come from opposing political parties, leading to shared power.

What is the significance of the electoral relationship in democratic systems?

It defines how the electorate interacts with the government and influences policy-making.

What is the role of the cabinet in a parliamentary system?

The cabinet is responsible to parliament and assists the prime minister in governance.

What is the relationship between executive and legislative branches in a presidential system?

The president is elected independently of the legislature, creating a separation of powers.

What is the importance of accountability in different political regimes?

Accountability ensures that government officials are answerable to the electorate and can be held responsible for their actions.

What is meant by 'the perils of presidentialism'?

It refers to the challenges and instability often associated with presidential systems compared to parliamentary systems.

What does 'the virtues of parliamentarism' imply?

It suggests that parliamentary systems may offer more stability and effectiveness in governance.

What is the significance of the phrase 'authority of the state'?

It refers to the separation of state power from the government, ensuring that the state remains neutral and stable.

How does the political regime affect government effectiveness?

Different regimes can influence how effectively a government can implement policies and respond to crises.

What is the role of the electorate in democratic systems?

The electorate participates in elections, influencing the selection of representatives and shaping policy decisions.

What are the key characteristics of presidential systems?

A presidential system features a directly elected president and legislature.

How is the executive chosen in parliamentary systems?

In parliamentary systems, the executive is drawn from the legislature, allowing the majority to decide policy.

What is a consequence of fixed terms in parliamentary systems?

Fixed terms are rigid and can lead to a winner-takes-all logic, concentrating too much power in one individual.

What is the relationship between the head of government and head of state in parliamentary systems?

There is a useful separation between the head of government (Prime Minister) and head of state (president or monarch).

What variations exist within presidential systems?

Presidents have a wide range of formal powers in different countries, influenced by various party and electoral systems.

What is the significance of informal rules in political systems?

Informal rules and practices, such as constitutional conventions, can significantly impact the functioning of political systems.

What are 'Westminster systems'?

Westminster systems refer to parliamentary systems with majoritarian electoral systems and party systems, like those in the UK, Canada, and Australia.

How might presidential systems with fewer legislative powers affect stability?

Presidential systems where the president has fewer legislative powers may be more stable.

What is the impact of disciplined political parties in parliamentary systems?

Disciplined political parties in parliamentary systems may enhance the effectiveness of government.

What are the two key points regarding institutions and democratic stability?

1. Other variables, like formal and informal powers, electoral systems, and party systems, affect democratic stability. 2. Institutions function differently under varying historical, cultural, and economic circumstances.

What are veto players in political systems?

Veto players are individual or collective actors whose agreement is necessary for a change of the status quo, including institutional and partisan veto players.

What does the delegation and accountability model describe?

It describes a chain of delegation from principals (voters) to agents (parliament and government), where agents are accountable to principals.

How can democracies be categorized according to Lijphart?

Democracies can be divided into majoritarian and consensual democracies along the dimensions of executive-parties and federal-unitary.

What is meant by the 'presidentialization' of politics?

It refers to the trend where democratic politics focus more on leaders and individual politicians rather than political parties.

What is the role of voters in the delegation and accountability model?

Voters delegate authority to Parliament and Government, and also to the President, holding them accountable.

What is the main argument of Linz regarding presidentialism?

Linz discusses the perils of presidentialism, highlighting potential risks associated with concentrating power in a single individual.

What does Tsebelis' concept of veto players emphasize?

It emphasizes the necessity of agreement among key political actors for any change to occur in the political status quo.

What is the focus of Strom's research on parliamentary democracies?

Strom examines the dynamics of delegation and accountability within parliamentary democracies.

What does Lijphart's Patterns of Democracy analyze?

It analyzes government forms and performance across thirty-six countries, comparing majoritarian and consensual democracies.

What are the implications of informal practices in the UK political system?

Informal practices, such as constitutional conventions, can shape the behavior and effectiveness of political institutions.

What does the term 'majoritarian democracy' refer to?

It refers to a political regime where majority rule is emphasized, often leading to winner-takes-all outcomes.

What is a key distinction between majoritarian and consensus democracies?

Majoritarian democracies focus on majority rule, while consensus democracies aim for broad agreement across diverse groups.

What is the date and time of the POLS0002 exam?

12 May, 10 am.

What is the purpose of elections in a democratic system?

Elections are the organized choice, by vote, of a person for a position, allowing citizens to elect officials to make decisions and hold them accountable.

How do elections differ from referendums?

Elections are about filling positions, while referendums are on specific policy questions.

What types of elections are commonly found in democratic systems?

Parliamentary, presidential, local authorities, and European Parliament elections.

What are electoral regulations?

Electoral regulations include eligibility to vote and to stand as a candidate, legal thresholds, and financing of elections.

What is ballot structure in the context of electoral systems?

Ballot structure refers to how voters express their choice, such as voting for one candidate or ranking candidates.

What does district magnitude refer to in electoral systems?

District magnitude is the number of seats from each district (constituency).

What is the electoral formula?

The electoral formula is how votes are translated into seats.

What are the three main components of electoral systems?

Ballot structure, district magnitude, and electoral formula.

What is gerrymandering?

Gerrymandering is the manipulation of district boundaries to generate electoral advantage for a particular party.

What are the two main families of electoral systems?

Majoritarian and proportional.

What is an example of a majoritarian electoral system?

First-Past-the-Post.

What is an example of a proportional electoral system?

List systems.

What is the single-transferable vote?

A voting system that allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference.

What is the alternative vote?

A voting system where voters rank candidates, and votes are redistributed until a candidate achieves a majority.

What is a mixed-member proportional system?

A system that combines first-past-the-post and proportional representation.

What is the significance of electoral systems in democracy?

Electoral systems determine how votes are translated into seats, impacting representation and political power.

What is the role of elections in authoritarian regimes?

Elections can also occur in authoritarian settings, but their functions and fairness may differ significantly from democratic elections.

What is the importance of the revision session for the exam?

The revision session provides an opportunity for students to clarify concepts and prepare for the exam.

What is the expected outcome of elections in a representative democracy?

To achieve representation of citizens' political interests.

What is the significance of the mock exam?

The mock exam serves as practice to help students prepare for the actual exam.

What is the meeting ID and passcode for the online revision session?

Meeting ID: 949 3896 5782, Passcode: 048632.

What is a Mixed-Member electoral system?

A system that combines elements of majoritarianism and proportionality.

What is the basic principle of majoritarian electoral systems?

The candidate or party receiving the most votes wins.

What is the goal of majoritarian electoral systems?

To find the most popular candidate in each constituency.

What are the main types of majoritarian electoral systems?

Plurality, Absolute Majority, Two-round system, and Alternative Vote system (AV).

What is the Plurality system in majoritarian elections?

Candidates with the most votes win.

What does an Absolute Majority require for a candidate to win?

More than 50% of the votes.

What is the Two-round system in majoritarian elections?

A system where if no candidate receives an absolute majority, a second round of voting occurs.

What is the Alternative Vote (AV) system?

A system where voters rank candidates in order of preference.

What is a negative consequence of majoritarian electoral systems?

Disproportional representation harms small parties and can lead to tactical voting.

What is a positive consequence of majoritarian electoral systems?

Simplicity of process, making it accessible for voters to understand.

How does majoritarian voting typically affect party competition?

It usually reduces the number of parties to two main parties.

What is the basic principle of proportional electoral systems?

Parties' seat share should be proportional to their vote share.

What is List PR in proportional electoral systems?

A system where citizens cast votes for various kinds of party lists.