PSC chapter 6: democratic regimes

Democracy

political system in which political power is exercised either directly, or indirectly by the people

Traits of Democracy

participation, competition, liberty

Forms of Democracy

Direct and Indirect

Direct Democracy

public participates directly in governance and policy making

Indirect Democracy

public participates indirectly through elected officials

Republicanism

Promoted by Roman Empire, indirect democracy, emphasizes the separation of powers within a state, as well as the representation of the public through elected officials

Separation of Powers

clear division of power among different branches of government, as well as the provision that specific branches are allowed to check other branches

Magna Carta

curbed rights of the monarchy and laid groundwork for legislatures and republicanism

Modernization and Democracy

modernization theory

Elites and Democracy

what leads those in power to cling to, or give up said power

Society and Democracy

importance of public organization and civil society

Civil society

organizations outside of state that help people define and advance their own interests- promotes democracy

Culture and Democracy

democracy can rise out of historical, religious, and philosophical institutions

Three Branches of Government

Executive, Legislative, and Constitutional Court (Judiciary)

Executives

branch of government that carries out laws and policies of a state - broken into two roles: Head of State and Head of Government

Head of State

executive role that embodies and symbolizes a regime firstly, and the people secondarily, both nationally and internationally

Head of Government

executive role dealing with the everyday tasks of running a state - forming and enacting domestic policy

Legislature

the body in which national politics is considered, debated, and worked at through the creation of laws - broken up into two systems: Bicameral and Unicameral

Bicameral System

political system in which legislature is comprised of two houses

Unicameral System

political system in which legislature is comprised of one house

Constitutional Court

highest judicial body in a political system, decides whether laws/policies violate the constitution

Rule of Law

system where all individuals and groups are subject to the law, regardless of their power or authority

Judicial Review

the process of courts reviewing the actions of government and overturning any that violate the constitution.

Two forms of Judicial Review

Concrete Review and Abstract Review

Concrete Review

allows the constitutional court to rule on the basis of actual legal disputes presented before the body

Abstract Review

allows constitutional court to rule on questions that do not arise from actual legal disputes

Parliamentary system

political system where the roles of head of state and head of government are assigned to separate executive offices

Head of government in a parliament

Prime minister, has more power

Head of state in a parliament

Monarchy

Vote of No Confidence

vote taken by a legislature gauging whether its member continue to support the current prime minister

Presidential system

political system in which roles of head of state and head of government are combined into one executive office, which is the presidency

Semi-presidential system

an executive system that divides power evenly between head of state and head of government

Constituency

a geographical area that an elected official represents

Single member district (SMD)

an electoral district with one legislative seat

Proportional representation (PR)

the electoral system in which voters in a district choose between parties, and seats in said district are awarded proportionally according to the results of said vote

"First past the post" system

voters in a specific district choose between two candidates, and the candidate with the largest share of the vote wins the seat

Multimember district (MMD)

electoral district with more than one seat

Mixed electoral system

electoral system that uses a combination of SMD's and PR

Referendum

national vote called by a government to address a specific proposal, often in order to change a situation

Initiative

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

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