POLI107 week 6 lecture notes - forms of governments and legislatures

Flashcards covering definitions and arguments related to governmental and legislative systems.

Executive

Runs the country – enforces law, devises policy, manages the bureaucracy etc. Does not normally legislate.

Legislature

Legislates – debates and approves laws. Also approves government spending, scrutinizes the executive branch etc.

Presidential System

Both legislature and chief of executive are popularly elected. Terms of office are fixed.

Parliamentary System

Only legislature is popularly elected, and elected the chief of executive. Terms of office are more flexible.

Juan Linz's critique of Presidential Systems

Dual democratic legitimacy incentivizes conflict with legislature. Fixed terms restrict ability to replace unpopular leaders. Winner-takes-all politics.

Mainwaring and Shugart's argument

The problem isn't presidentialism but strong presidential powers which can be limited.

Cheibub's finding

Presidential regimes are more common in countries with a history of military dictatorships.

Robert's Argument

Non-democracies often call elections to increase legitimacy and when they do so, they can adopt a presidential or parliamentary system

Elgie's Definition of Semi-Presidentialism

System where a popularly elected, fixed term president exists alongside a PM and cabinet who are responsible to parliament

Premier-Presidentialism

PM and cabinet are only accountable to the legislature (not to the president).

Presidential-Parliamentarism

PM and cabinet are dually accountable to the president and the legislature.

Elgie and McMenamin's Data Findings

Data suggests greater presidential powers associated with worse democratic performance; cohabitation and minority government are not associated with democratic performance

Cheibub, Elkins, and Ginsberg's argument

Argues that there is too much heterogeneity within presidential, semi-presidential and parliamentary systems, so classification not useful.