AP Comp Gov: Unit 2 Political Systems Terms

Terms and vocab for Unit 2 of AP Comp Gov (taken from chapter 4 of Waples textbook)

Institutions

The executive and bureaucracy, the legistlature, and the judiciary

Executive

The chief political power in a state, usually a president or prime minister

Bureaucracy

A large set of unelected officials who implement laws

Legislature

A group of lawmakers that passes laws and represents citizens

Judiciary

The system of courts that interprets laws and applies it to individual cases

Parliamentary System

A system in which the executive and legislature are fused (ex: UK)

Prime Minister (PM)

The head of government in a parliamentary or semi presidential system. In a parliamentary system, PM is a member of the legislature selected by the majority party

Coalition Government

When 2+ parties agree to work together to form a majority and pick a PM

Member of Parliament (MP)

A representative in the legislature elected by citizens

Vote of No Confidence

In parliamentary systems, a vote by parliament to remove a government (PM and their cabinet) from power

Presidential System

System where executive and legislature are independently elected and have separate and independent powers (ex: Mexico)

Separation of Powers

Division of power amongst major branches of government

Divided Government

When one or both legislative houses are controlled by a political party the president is not a member of

Semi-Presidential System

A system where executive power is split between an elected president and a prime minister. President is directly elected and is head of state, while PM is the head of government (ex: Russia)

Term Limit

A restriction on the number of times the executive may serve

Term of Office

The specified number of years an executive can serve

Impeachment

The process of removing a president from office before the end of their term

Cabinet

The heads of major departments or ministries in the bureaucracy

Legislative Oversight

The power of the legislature to hold cabinet officials and members of the bureaucracy accountable for their policies or actions

Unicameral Legislature

A legislature with only one chamber

Bicameral Legislature

A legislature with two chambers, often referred to as “upper” and lower” houses

Common Law

Legal system where previous written opinions serve as precedent for future cases

Code Law

Legal system where judges follow law written by the legislature, and previous court cases do not serve as precedent

Judicial Independence

Judges’ ability to decide cases according to the law, free of interference from politically powerful officials or other institutions