Power-Sharing Flashcards

Flashcards about power-sharing from a Democracy lecture, including vocabulary and key concepts.

Ethnic Group

A social division based on shared culture, common descent, similarities of physical type, or a combination of these factors.

Majoritarianism

A belief that the majority community should be able to rule a country in whichever way it wants, disregarding the wishes and needs of the minority.

Civil War

A violent conflict between opposing groups within a country that becomes so intense that it appears like a war.

Prudential Reasons (for power sharing)

Reasons based on prudence, or on careful calculation of gains and losses, emphasizing that power sharing will bring out better outcomes.

Moral Reasons (for power sharing)

Reasons that emphasize the very act of power sharing as valuable, reflecting the spirit of democracy.

Horizontal Distribution of Power

Power is shared among different organs of government, such as the legislature, executive, and judiciary, ensuring no single organ has unlimited power.

Checks and Balances

A system where each organ of government checks the others, resulting in a balance of power among various institutions.

Federal Government

A general government for the entire country, with power shared among governments at different levels (provincial or regional).

Vertical Division of Power

Division of powers involving higher and lower levels of government, such as state or provincial governments, municipalities, and panchayats.

Community Government

A government elected by people belonging to one language community (e.g., Dutch, French, German-speaking), having power regarding cultural, educational, and language-related issues.

Power Sharing

The distribution of authority and decision-making responsibilities among different groups or levels of government, promoting inclusivity and preventing dominance by a single entity.