Legislative and Executive Systems Quiz

Parliamentary System

Parliamentary system = The chief executive is selected by the majority party in the legislature (legislature is selected by the people). The majority party has the right to a vote of no confidence as a way to force the chief executive from office.  

Fusion of executive and legislature power

Faster policymaking

Prime minister not directly accountable to the voters, directly accountable to the members of parliament (MPs) 

Cabinet members selected based on expertise and seniority  

Less stable, elections do not happen regularly, can be lots of government overturn within a period of time

Presidential System

Presidential system = The chief executive is elected directly by the people in a separate election from the legislature for a specific term in office (both legislature and president selected by the people). The legislature can impeach the chief executive. 

President serves as both head of state and head of government in a presidential system. 

President accountable to the voters through direct election, run for reelection 

Cabinet selected based on party loyalty 

Policymaking is less efficient, executive and legislative branches are separate

More stable, elections happen regularly after a set amount of years, less government overturn within a period of time 

Semi-Presidential System

Has both a president and prime minister.  

Ex. Russia

China Head of State

Xi Jinping 

President 

Select premier and other high ranking ministers to be approved by National People's Congress, implements laws, confers medals, pardons, declare war, receives ambassadors, make treaties 

Before Xi Jinping, 5 year term, 2 terms, but term limits were abolished by the National People's Congress  

President can be impeached by the NPC

China Head of Government

Li Quang

Premier

Largely a puppet position, directs work of the State Council, runs bureaucracy, oversees policy implementation

Undefined term limits

Premier can be removed by the NPC

Iran Head of State

Ayatollah Khamenei  

Supreme leader, supreme power 

Determine overall policies after consultation with Expediency Council

Supervise implementation of general policies and relationships between three branches of government

Commander of the armed forces, declare war

Sign appointment of president after election by the people and vetting by the Guardian Council 

For life, no term limits

The (directly elected) Assembly of Experts can appoint or DISMISS the Supreme Leader 

Iran Head of Government

President Pezeshkian 

Selects cabinet members who must be approved by Majlis, signs bills approved by the Majlis (but cannot veto a bill, only the Guardian Council can), appoints ambassadors, signs treaties, carries out laws 

4 year terms, 2 terms allowed

President can be removed by the Supreme Leader or Majlis

Russia Head of State

Putin 

President (elected by the people) 

• Appoint PM, appoint judges to the Constitutional Court and Supreme Court

• Appoint members of the Security Council

• Issue decrees that have the force of laws if they are not in violation with any existing laws

• Propose bills to the State Duma and implement laws

• Veto bills passed by the State Duma

• Commander in chief

• Appoint super-governors and regional governors.  

6-year term, can serve no more than 2 consecutive terms , though term limits are not clearly defined anymore with Putin

President can be impeached if there is a 2/3 vote in both the Federation Council and State Duma and agreement from the Constitutional Court

Russia Head of Government

Mikail Mishustin  

Prime minister (appointed by the president) 

Propose budget and oversee economic policy, appoint other cabinet members, act as president if the president dies, resigns, or is removed from office 

6-year term, can serve 2 terms

State Duma can call for a Vote of No Confidence against the prime minister. President can ignore the first vote, but after a second vote of no confidence, they have to recall the prime minister or call for new elections for the Duma

UK Head of State

King Charles III

Monarch, ceremonial position 

Signing papers, dedicating public works, performing diplomatic functions 

Monarch for life, no term limit

Monarch cannot be removed by the legislature

UK Head of Government

Keir Starmer 

Prime Minister 

Leader of majority party in legislature 

Lead party, Prime Minister Question time, sign legislature, declare wars, sign treaties 

5 year terms (must call an election every 5 years), no term limits

Can be removed by Parliament through a vote of no confidence  

Nigeria Head of State and Head of Government

President Tinubu 

Commander in chief, sign/veto laws, make treaties, appoint ambassadors and judges, pardon, call for national referendums 

4 year terms, 2 terms allowed 

President can be impeached, Senate hold impeachment trial and House impeaches  

Mexico Head of State and Head of government

President Sheinbaum

Propose legislation/budget, commander in chief, pardon, sign/veto bills, make treaties, appoint cabinet and ambassadors

One 6-year term, no reelection

President can be impeached by the legislature if there is a 2/3 majority in both the upper and lower houses 

Upper House and Lower House

UPPER HOUSE = REPRESENTS GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS, LIKE STATES, HAS EQUAL REPRESENTATION 

LOWER HOUSE = REPRESENATION BASED ON POPULATION SIZE

Iran Legislature

Unicamercal

Majlis 

• Has a limited amount of power, but is responsible for passing legislation, overseeing the budget, and approving the president's appointments to the cabinet.  

The Guardian Council oversees the Majlis by reviewing all legislation passed by the Majlis for its compatibility with Sharia law and the constitution, and then can veto the legislation and return it to the Majlis 

The Expediency Council also oversees the Majlis because if the Majlis refuse to make changes to the legislation, the Expediency Council reviews the legislation and makes the final decision 

Checks:

• The president appoints cabinet members, but the Majlis must approve them 

• The Majlis can remove the president, but not the Supreme Leader (only the Assembly of Experts can remove the Supreme Leader) 

Russia Legislature

Bicameral (asymmetrical bicameral body, State Duma has more power than Federation Council)

Federal Assembly  

• Federation Council (upper house) 

  • Responsible for proving local representation, largely powerless

• State Duma (lower house) 

  • Theoretically responsible for drafting legislation, but under Putin it has become much weaker and is like a rubber stamp for the executive branch 

The president oversees the Federal Assembly, which acts like a rubber stamp for the executive and doesn't oppose much of the president's laws, just passes them 

The president can be impeached by the legislature if there is a 2/3 majority in both the Federation Council and State Duma and an agreement from the Constitutional Court

The Duma can override the president's veto with a 2/3 majority 

The Duma can have a vote of no confidence against the prime minister. The president can ignore the first vote of no confidence, but if the Duma passes 3 votes of no confidence within 3 months, the president must either recall the prime minister or call for new Duma elections 

China Legislature

Unicameral

National People's Congress (NPC) 

• Represent the people (elected by the people)

• Meet roughly two weeks out of the year

• Has the constitutional authority to pass laws and amend the constitution, but has never served an independent role in policymaking, and rather just ratifies policies already made by central leaders 

The Politburo Standing Committee oversees the NPC

NPC Standing Committee (follows the agenda of the president) initiates legislation and sets NPC’S agenda

The National People's Congress can impeach the president and remove the premier 

UK Legislature

Bicameral

Parliament 

• House of Lords (upper house) = Appointed, largely powerless and symbolic (add legitimacy), but can delay legislation for up to a year (and can delay money bills for only a month), is symbolic and provides legitimacy 

• House of Commons (lower house) = Elected by the people, have the real legislative power, members of Parliament represent specific districts, the prime minister chooses what district you represent 

  • House of Commons is responsible for making policy and being answerable to the people 

No body overseeing this legislative institution

House of Commons can remove the prime minister through a vote of no confidence 

Nigeria Legislature

Bicameral

Nigerian Federal Assembly: 

• Only Senate (upper house): 

  • Impeachment trial 

  • Confirm president's appointments of cabinet members and ambassadors 

  • Ratify treaties  

• Only House of Representatives (lower house): 

  • Introduce revenue bills 

  • Impeach 

 The executive branch often oversees the legislature. Even in periods of democratic rule, the Federal Assembly has often served as a rubber stamp for the executive branch, though in recent years the legislature has been a bit less compliant with the executive.  

President can appoint cabinet members and ambassadors, but the Senate must confirm them 

Legislature can override the president's veto with a 2/3 majority in both houses 

The president can make treaties, but the Senate must ratify them 

Legislature can impeach the president If they get a 2/3 majority in both houses.  

Mexico Legislature

Bicameral 

National Congress of Mexico

• Chamber of Deputies (lower house): 

  • Introduce revenue bills 

  • Impeach 

  • Verify outcomes of elections 

• Senate (upper house): 

  • Impeachment trial 

  • Confirm president's appointments of cabinet members and ambassadors 

  • Ratify treaties  

No body overseeing this legislative institution (except during PRI authoritarianism)

President can appoint cabinet members and ambassadors but the Senate must confirm them 

Legislature can override the president's veto with a 2/3 majority in both houses 

The president can make treaties, but the Senate must ratify them 

Legislature can impeach the president If they get a 2/3 majority in both houses.