AP Comp Gov Unit 2

legislative branch

part of the gov responsible for writing laws and significant policies

executive branch

part of the gov responsible for implementing laws through the gov’s bureaucracy

judicial branch

part of the gov accountable for hearing cases and applying and interpreting laws

head of state

an executive leader who represents a nation in ceremonial functions; in some govs, can also have formal powers to shape foreign policy

head of government

executive leader, sometimes known as a chief executive, who formulates, implements, and enforces policies through the cabinet and different agencies

parliamentary system

combine the lawmaking and executive functions, which allows the national legislature to select and remove the head of government and cabinet

presidential system

when separate election processes are used in the selection of the president and the national legislature: the president serves as head of state and head of gov and oversees the bureaucratic implementation of executive regulations and laws written by the legislature

semi-presidential system

when separate election processes are used in the selection of the president and the national legislature: the president serves as head of state and selects the head of gov, with the legislature’s approval, to shape policies and to implement the legislature’s laws.

fixed-term election system

in which elections for public officials take place on a regularly announced and established schedule date.

executive bureaucracy

is the system of gov agencies that implement executive regulations and laws written by the legislature

executive cabinet

top governmental officials in charge of formulating, implementing, and enforcing policy through different methods and bureaucratic agencies.

commander in chief

the top governmental official in charge of decisions about the military

prime minister

when the leader of the national legislature is also the head of gov, who oversees formulating, implementing, and enforcing policy through different methods and bureaucratic agencies.

civil service

permanent members of bureaucratic agencies who implement laws and governmental regulations