CPO2001 Chapter 6: Democratic Regimes

Democracy

Political power exercised either directly or indirectly by the people through participation, competition, and liberty.

Liberal Democracy

Republicanism

Separation of Powers

Direct Democracy

Public participates directly in governance and policy making; historically found in small communities

Indirect democracy

Public participates indirectly through its elected representatives; the prevalent form of democracy in the modern age.

Civil Society

Executive

Head of state

an executive role that symbolizes and represents the people, both nationally and internationally, embodying and articulating the goals of the regime.

Head of government

Legislature

Bicameral systems

Unicameral systems

Rule of law

Constitutional court

Judicial review

Concrete review

Abstract review

Parliamentary systems

Vote of no confidence

Presidential systems

Semi-presidential systems

Electoral systems

Constituencies

Single-member districts (SMD)

Proportional representation (PR)

First past the post

Multimember districts (MMD)

Referendum