AP COGO - Unit 2 Political Institutions Quiz

The assessment will solely be MCQ, and it will test you on vocabulary as well as minor applications of countries, including their political system, state characteristics, and term limits.

executive

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

Bureaucracy

An organization with a hierarchical structure and specific responsibilities intended to enhance efficiency and effectiveness

legislature

A group of lawmakers that passes laws and represents citizens

judiciary

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

parliamentary system

combine the lawmaking and executive functions, which allows the national legislature to select and remove the head of government and cabinet; A system in which the executive and legislature are fused

key word: UNIFIED

• HOG: prime minister

• HOS: front-facing person speaking internationally; engaging in foreign affairs and military

  • if it’s a democracy and there’s a monarch the monarch is ceremonial, a “rubber stamp” (passing along what the legislation has created)

• minority party had a PM waiting in the wings and cabinet positions ready for the moment that the majority party is no longer the majority party

prime minister

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

coalition government

A temporary governmental system formed by opposing parties to work together, usually in a time of crisis, such as a war

member of parliament

A representative in the legislature elected by citizens

• all members of parliament (MPs) are up for election at the same time - dissolve the parliament

vote of no confidence

In parliamentary systems, a vote by parliament to remove a government from power

presidential system

A system in which the president is constitutionally separated from the legislature

separation of powers

The defining characteristic of a presidential system; a division of power among the major branches of government

divided government

One or both houses of the legislature are controlled by a political party different from the party of the president

semi-presidential system

a country has a president, prime minister, and cabinet; feature separate popular elections for the president and for the national legislature, allowing the president to nominate a prime minister (who must be approved by the legislature); members of the cabinet are held accountable by both the president and legislature.

term limit

Number of times an individual can run for or be appointed to an office

term of office

A specific amount of time in which an individual serves in a position of authority, mostly in the government

impeachment

The process of removing a president from office before the end of his or her term

cabinet

The heads of major departments, or ministries, in the bureaucracy

legislative oversight

Also known as Congressional oversight, legislative oversight is a fundamental component of checks and balances. The legislative branch reviews and monitors the executive branch

unicameral legislature

Consists of one house. An advantage is that it can pass policies quickly because bills don't have to go through the houses to become a law

common law

A legal system in which previous written opinions serve as precedent for future cases

code law

Judges follow the law that legislators make, instead of following previous cases (precedent); synonymous with common law

judicial independence

When judges make determinations only on the basis of law, not on the basis of what anyone else wants. In other words, judicial independence is part of the practical realization of “rule of law” instead of “rule by law.”

Independent judiciaries can strengthen democracy by maintaining checks and balances, protecting rights and liberties, establishing the rule of law, and maintaining separation of powers.

depends on the amount of authority the courts have to overrule executive and legislative actions, the process by which judicial officials acquire their jobs, the length of judicial terms, the professional and academic backgrounds that judicial officials are expected to have, and the processes used to remove judges from their posts.

system of governance, term limit, executive, in China

weird presidential system

• President

  • can serve unlimited terms if approved by the NPC

  • 5 years per term

• Premier

  • can serve unlimited terms if approved by the NPC

  • 5 years per term

• General Secretary of CCP

system of governance, term limit, executive in Iran

theocratic presidential system

• Supreme Leader - none

• President: 2 4 year terms

system of governance, term limit, executive in Mexico

presidential system

• President

  • 1 6 year term

system of governance, term limit, executive in UK

parliamentary system

• Monarch

  • unlimited

• Prime Minister

  • 5 years per term but no term limits

system of governance, term limit, executive in Nigeria

presidential system

• President

  • 2 4 year terms

system of governance, term limit, executive in Russia

semi-presidential system

• President

  • 2 6 year terms

• Prime Minister

  • 6 year terms

advantages of term limits

• they check executive power by

• inhibit the emergence of dictators and personality rule

• help to focus the officeholder on governing rather than winning elections

• provide opportunities for new leaders with new ideas, policies, or goals.

disadvantages of term limits

• they force good executives to leave office

• allow insufficient time for an officeholder to achieve goals;

• impede policy continuity;

• weaken accountability;

• create a lame-duck period for the officeholder;

• prevent the officeholder from building

• experience as chief executive;

• can cause poorly designed policy.

process of impeachment in Iran

President can be removed by Supreme Leader, Assembly of Experts can remove Supreme Leader

What countries use common law

UK and Nigeria

What countries use Sharia law

Iran and Nigeria

What countries use code law

Russia, Mexico, China