Unit 2: Political Institutions

executive systems of the AP6

1. China: President and Premier, General-Secretary of CCP (5 yr terms, no limits)
2. Iran: Supreme Leader (no term limits) and President (two 4 year terms)
3. Mexico: President (one 6 year term)
4. Nigeria: President (two 4 year terms)
5. Russia: President (two 6 year terms) and Prime Minister (6 year terms)
6. UK: Monarch (no term limits) and Prime Minister (5 year terms, no limits)

removal of executive for the AP6

• Parliamentary system: removal of executive through vote of no confidence done by lower house (ex. UK)

• Presidential system: impeachment done by Congress

• Iran: President can be removed by Supreme Leader, Assembly of Experts can remove Supreme Leader

• Russia: PM can be removed by President

legislative system of CHINA

• party-controlled system is unicameral

• consists of an elected National People's Congress that the constitution recognizes as the government's most powerful institution that elects the president, approves the premier, and legitimizes policies of the executive

legislative system of IRAN

• theocracy is unicameral

• Majles is elected and holds the power to approve legislation, oversee budget, and confirm presidential nominees to the Cabinet

  • acts under the supervision of the Guardian Council to ensure compatibility with Islam and Sharia law

legislative system of MEXICO

• congressional-presidential system is bicameral

• consists of an elected lower house-the Chamber of Deputies that approves legislation, levies taxes, and verifies outcomes o elections

• elected upper house, the Senate, holds the unique power to confirm presidential appointments to the Supreme Court, approve treaties, and approve federal intervention in state matters

legislative system of NIGERIA

• congressional-presidential system is bicameral, consisting of an elected upper and lower chamber (Senate and House of Representatives)

• Both chambers hold the power to approve legislation, and the Senate possesses unique impeachment and confirmation powers.

legislative system of RUSSIA

• parliamentary-hybrid system is bicameral, and consists of an elected state Duma, which passes legislation and confirms the prime minister

• An appointed Federation Council approves budget legislation, treaties, judicial nominees, and troop deployment.

legislative system of UK

• parliamentary system is bicameral

• consisting of an elected House of Commons-which approves legislation and the prime minister appointed by the monarch

• whereas an appointed House of Lord reviews and amends bills from the Commons, effectively delaying implementation as a power check.

constraints on CHINA’s legislature

• China's Politburo Standing Committee

  • the ACTUAL center of power in the Chinese state

• China's Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC)

  • assumes legislative duties most of the year when the NPC is no in session, sets NPC legislative agenda, supervises NPC member elections, and interprets the Constitution and laws

constraints on IRAN’s legislature

• Iran's Expediency Council, which is selected by the Supreme Leader as an advisory committee to resolve disputes between the Majles and the Guardian Council candidates

• oversees Majles to make sure laws comply with Islamic law

CHINA’s judicial system

• code law

• rule by law (instead of rule of law) means the judicial system is subservient to the decisions of the Chinese Communist Party which controls most judicial appointments

IRAN’s judicial system

• sharia law

• major function is to ensure that the legal system is based on religious law, so judges must be trained in Islamic Sharia law

• head of the judiciary is appointed by the Supreme Leader and can nominate half of the Guardian Council with approval by the Majles.

MEXICO’s judicial system

• code law

• in transition-the Supreme Court has the power of judicial review and subsequent constitutional amendments have been implemented with the intent to make the system more independent and effective.

• President nominates & Senate confirms Supreme Court justices who serve 15-year terms

NIGERIA’s judicial system

• common law (except Northern Nigeria which is sharia)

• power of judicial review, and an effort has been made to reestablish its legitimacy and independence by reducing corruption

• under the system of federalism, Islamic Sharia Courts have been established in the north

• Supreme Court judges are recommended by a judicial council and are appointed by the president with confirmation by the Senate.

• Mandatory retirement at 70

RUSSIA’s judicial system

• code law

• judicial system to target opposition, and although court technically has pwr of judicial review, this pwr hasn’t been used to limit authority of governing branches

UK’s judicial system

• common law to enforce rule of law

• major functions of Supreme Court is serving as final court of appeals, protecting human/civil rights & liberties, & ruling on devolution disputes

which country’s courts have judicial review?

• Russia, Mexico, Nigeria

• UK limited over devolved parliament… so no not really