Intro to Comparative Politics

A document or a set of documents that outlines the powers, institutions, and structure of government, as well as expressing the rights of citizens and the limits on government authority. It serves as the foundational legal framework for a state.

Constitution

 The principle that societies are best governed using clear, stable, and just laws to which all residents are equally subject regardless of their status or background

Rule of Law

One that is set out in a single, self-contained document

Codified Constitution

One that is spread among several documents

Uncodified Constitution

A collective term for the judges within the system of courts that interpret and apply the law in keeping with the constitution

Judiciary

The power of courts to nullify any laws or actions proposed or taken by government officials that contravene the constitution. Otherwise known as constitutional review

Judicial Review

The question of the legal procedures for amending a constitution

Entrenchment

One that can be amended more easily, often in the same way that ordinary legislation is passed

Flexible Constitution

One that is entrenched, requiring more demanding amendment procedures

Rigid Constitution

Judgements made on the constitutional validity of the law in the context of a specific case. Sometimes known as the American model

Concrete Review

Advice (not usually binding) given by a court on the constitutionality of a law or public policy. Sometimes known as the European model.

Abstract Review

The power of a court to review cases that originate with the court itself

Original Jurisdiction

The power of a court to review decisions reached by lower courts

Apelliate

The view that judges should apply the letter of the law, leaving politics to elected bodies

Judicial Restraint

The willingness of judges to venture beyond narrow legal reasoning to influence public policy

Judicial Activism

Judicial rulings on matters not explicitly treated in legislation based on precedents created by decisions in specific cases

Common Law

Laws enacted by a legislature

Statute Law

Judicial rulings founded on written legal codes which seek to provide a single overarching framework for the conduct of public affairs

Civil Law

The system of Islamic law - based on the teachings and actions of Muhammad - which functions alongside Western law in most Islamic States

Sharia Law

The political institution responsible for overseeing the execution of laws and policies, and most often associated with the idea of national leadership

Executive

The figurehead; leader of a state, who may be elected or appointed, or - in the case of monarchs - may inherit the position

Head of State

The elected leader of a government, who comes to office because of the support of voters who identify with their party and platform

Head of Government

A state headed by a monarch, but where the monarch's political powers are severely limited by constitutional rules. Stands in contrast with an absolute monarch

Constitutional Monarchy

An arrangement in which the executive and the legislature are separately and directly elected

Presidential Executive

A presidential executive whose powers are limited by the constitution and by political realities

Limited Presidential Executive

An arrangement in which the executive, legislature, and judiciary are given distinct but complementary sets of powers, such that neither can govern alone, and that all should, ideally, govern together

Separation of Powers

An arrangement in which the executive emerges from the legislature and remains accountable to it, and must maintain a working legislative majority to remain in office

Parliamentary Executive

A body consisting of the heads of the major government departments. Sometimes known as a council of ministers. More important in parliamentary than presidential systems

Cabinet

An arrangement in which the government is formed through an agreement involving two or more parties which divide government posts between them

Coalition Government

An arrangement in which an elected president coexists with an appointed prime minister and a separately elected legislature

Semi-Presidential Executive

An arrangement found in a semi-presidential system when the presidency is held by a member of one party and the legislature is controlled by another party

Cohabitation

A presidential executive whose powers face few constitutional or political limits

Unlimited Presidential Executive

A political system in which a leader or ruling elite uses a combination of repression and loyalty to remain in power

Dictatorship