Poli 130 Unit 3 IDs

Presidentialism

Definition: A system of government where the head of state and government is combined in a single role of the president, characterized by separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches, cabinets appointed by the president, fixed terms, and term limits for presidents

Example: America, the Trump Administration

Theoretical Significance: Presidentialism enhances executive stability and accountability, allowing for decisive leadership while maintaining a check on the legislature's power more effectively than in parliamentary systems.

Parlamentarism

Definition: A system of governance where the head of state and government are different. Characterized by no seperation of powers between the executive and the legislature. The prime minister/ government emerges from the legislature, and there are no fixed terms for the prime minister.

Example: Britain/ UK

Theoretical Significance: This system allows for greater collaboration between the executive and legislative branches.

Vote of no confidence

Definition: The legislature votes down the sitting government, leading to its resignation or dissolution, forcing the government to rebuild.

Example: In 2022, a vote of no confidence was motioned for Boris Johnson

Theoretical Significance: Important to understand how a parliamentary system can quickly replace governments that aren’t working, unlike a two-party system, which has to wait for elections.

Lame Duck Effect

Definition: When the president is nearing the end of the term and isn’t returning for the next term, so he has no incentive and a weaker ability to work with others and make things easier for the next president.

Example: When President Trump was elected in 2024, President Biden became a lame duck.

Theoretical Significance: Reveals an important weakness of the Presidential system

Dual Legitimacy

Definition: Political concept in presidential systems where both the president and legislature derive legitimacy from the people through separate elections.

Example: Associated author- Juan Linz, In the US both the president and congress are elected by the people.

Theoretical Significance: This concept can lead to conflicts between the executive and legislative branches, as each may claim a mandate from the electorate.

Electoral System

Definition: The set of rules and mechanisms used to determine the results of a (legislative) election. “How votes are translated into seats.”

Example: Types of electoral systems: majoritarian/plurality, proportional, mixed

Theoretical Significance: Understanding electoral systems is significant because they shape political representation and the nature of government activity by influencing party dynamics and voter behavior.

Plurality/Majoritarian versus Proportional representation Systems

Definition: Plurality/majoritarian systems have representatives elected by the most votes, while proportional representation systems have seats alloted by number of votes recieved.

Example: Plurality/Majoritarian- US, Proportional- Germany

Theoretical Significance: Important to understand because differences in the system affect how the government works, the strength of it, and whether ethnic conflict is more likely.

District Magnitude

Definition: The number of representatives to be elected to a legislative body in an electoral district.

Example: District magnitude in North Carolina District 2 is 1.

Theoretical Significance: Important to understand how a state operates and effects such as ethnic conflict.

Duverger’s Law

Definition: Single member district plurality systems create 2 party systems

Example: An example of this can be the United States.

Theoretical Significance: Duvergers Law demonstrates the nature of 2-party systems and it’s influence on elections and voter choice.

Mechanical Effect

Definition: Parties know they need a majority of votes (/50%+1) so they will trend towards the middle to attract voters.

Example: In the US, the Democrat and Republican parties win elections, and they are relatively more moderate compared to most third parties.

Theoretical Significance: Reveals party strategies and electoral outcomes, ensuring that parties aim for broad appeal to secure majorities in a competitive voting environment.

Strategic Effect

Definition: Voters choosing to vote for a more moderate candidate if they know their preferred candidate is unlikely to win, but they don’t want the candidate furthest away from them to win the election.

Example: Many people vote for the Democratic party in America instead of the green party.

Theoretical Significance: Informs us of what policy preferences will be represented in government because of who voters feel they have to vote for. Offers an explanation for voter behavior and reveals flaws in the 2 party system.

Alternative Vote

Definition: A voting system where voters rank candidates in order of preference, allowing for more than two viable candidates. Also called Ranked Choice Voting.

Example: This system is used in New York City.

Theoretical Significance: Promotes greater representation and increased participation by allowing voters to express preferences for multiple candidates, potentially leading to more diverse electoral outcomes.

Political Party

Definition: A group of people that fields candidates for popularly elected assemblies under a common banner.

Example: Democratic Party

Theoretical Significance: Political parties can influence conflict in a state, policies, and create gridlock.

Descriptive Representation

Definition: A person represents another through ascriptive characteristics

Example: A female politician represents her female constituents because she is also female

Theoretical Significance: Typically, the more descriptively representative one is, the more substantively representative one is, so people are more like to have policy preferences represented if people look like them in office more.

Substantive Representation

Definition: A person represents another through policy preferences

Example: Deborah Ross represents the policy preferences of many North Carolinians in NC District 2.

Theoretical Significance: People vote to have substantive representation so that what they want to happen in the government will.

Populist party

Definition: A political party that seeks to represent the interests and concerns of ordinary people, often against the established elite.

Example: The American Populist Party, which started in the late 19th century.

Theoretical Significance: Populist parties can reshape political discourse by emphasizing grassroots issues and mobilizing support from disenfranchised groups.

Civil Society

Definition: Sphere of organized non-government, non-violent associations that exist outside of the state, market, and family

Example: Sports teams- Bowling league

Theoretical Significance: Civil society is important in the health of a democracy and fosters civic engagement, enhances social capital, and influences political processes.

Civic Community vs “amoral familism”

Definition: A community populated with dense civic associations characterized by high levels of cooperation and civic engagement VS. people solely relying on family for their benefits instead of forming ties outside of the family

Example: The cases of North Italy and South Italy

Theoretical Significance: Can offer an explanation for why stronger governments and less conflict exists in an area because they have more civic community and less amoral familism.

Social Capital

Definition: Networks of mutual trust and reciprocity developed through interpersonal relations

Example: Northern Italy has high social capital

Theoretical Significance: Important for strengthening democracies and avoiding conflict.

Uncivil Society

Definition: A set of associations in civil society that challenge liberal democracies by promoting exclusive ideology or predatory practices.

Example: The Nazi Party created the Hitler Youth Organization

Theoretical Significance: Shows that not all civil societies are inherently beneficial; some groups can break down democracies and undermine civic engagement. It shows the importance of strong, positive civil societies.

Weimar Republic

Definition: A socialist democratic republic in Germany in the 1920-30s.

Example: Associated author- Sheri Berman

Theoretical Significance: Shows how a lack of intercommunal ties can be used to turn civil society into a tool to undermine and break down democracies.

Nazi Party (National Socialist German Workers Party)

Definition: Socialist party in the Weimare Republic

Example: Can be used as an example of how civil society can be used to create an uncivil society.

Theoretical Significance: Shows how a lack of intercommunal ties can be used to turn civil society into a tool to undermine and break down democracies.

Michels’ Iron law of Oligarchy

Definition: Large organizations naturally tend towards centralized elite control, undermining rank and file engagement in the organization

Example: German Social Democratic Party

Theoretical Significance: Important to understand how even groups in civil society can become part of an uncivil society and not be helpful to democracy anymore.

Bridging vs Bonding social capital

Definition: Links across diverse groups VS. links within a group

Example: Bowling league with diverse demographic makeup VS. bowling league between all dads in a middle-class suburban neighborhood

Theoretical Significance: The type of social capital present in a society can lessen ethnic conflict.