Course Countries at a Glance: Comparative Government Systems

Comparative Regime Types and Sources of Legitimacy

The organizational structures of those six nations range from strictly authoritarian to liberal democratic. China and Iran are classified as authoritarian regimes. Russia is categorized as an illiberal democracy, a hybrid regime, or a competitive authoritarian system. Mexico and Nigeria are recognized as liberal democracies, following the model of the United Kingdom.

Sources of legitimacy vary significantly across these states. China relies on its history of revolution, tradition, and sustained economic performance. Iran derives legitimacy from revolution and religious authority, alongside elections and its constitution. Mexico and Nigeria both ground their legitimacy in elections and their respective constitutions. Russia utilizes a combination of elections, the constitution, tradition, and the rule of law. The United Kingdom rests its legitimacy on long-standing tradition and charismatic leadership.

State Power and Executive Structures

The distribution of power between central and regional governments is either unitary or federal. China and Iran operate under a unitary system. The United Kingdom is also unitary, though it utilizes devolution to regional assemblies and has a Mayor of London. Mexico, Nigeria, and Russia all utilize a federal system.

Executive leadership is categorized as either single or dual. China, Iran, and Russia utilize a dual executive system. In China, the executive consists of a President (Head of State) and a Premier (Head of Government). In Iran, the Supreme Leader serves as the Head of State, while the President is the Head of Government. In Russia, the President is the Head of State, and the Prime Minister is the Head of Government. Mexico and Nigeria use a single executive system where the President serves as both Head of State and Head of Government. The United Kingdom features a dual executive with a Monarch as the Head of State and a Prime Minister as the Head of Government.

Executive Election Systems and Terms

Executive selection processes and term limits are distinct for each country:

• China: Candidates are selected indirectly by the National People’s Congress. Terms are set at $5$ years with unlimited terms permitted.
• Iran: The Supreme Leader is appointed for life by the Assembly of Experts. The President is directly elected via a two-round system for a $4$-year term, with a limit of $2$ consecutive terms.
• Mexico: The President is elected via a direct plurality election for a single six-year term, known as the sexenio.
• Nigeria: To win, a candidate must earn at least $25\%$ of the vote in $\frac{2}{3}$ of the states within a two-round system. Presidents serve a $4$-year term with a $2$-term limit.
• Russia: The President is directly elected in a two-round system for a $6$-year term with a $2$-term limit (notably extended for Putin). The Prime Minister is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Duma.
• United Kingdom: The Monarch is a hereditary position. The Prime Minister is selected from the majority party or a majority party coalition in the legislature. Elections must be called every $5$ years, and there are no term limits.

Legislative Structures and Election Systems

Legislatures are either unicameral (one chamber) or bicameral (two chambers). China and Iran are unicameral, with the National People’s Congress in China and the Majles in Iran. Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, and the United Kingdom are bicameral. Mexico operates with the Chamber of Deputies (lower) and the Senate (upper). Nigeria has the House of Representatives (lower) and the Senate (upper). Russia utilizes the Duma (lower) and the Federation Council (upper). The United Kingdom comprises the House of Commons (lower) and the House of Lords (upper).

Legislative election systems include several models:

• China: Utilizes an indirect election system.
• Iran: Uses Single Member Districts (SMD) and Multi-Member Districts (MMD), with reserved seats for Jews, Christians, and Zoroastrians.
• Mexico: Employs a mixed system of SMD and Proportional Representation (PR) with a $2\%$ threshold. Legal requirements mandate that parties run $50\%$ female candidates.
• Nigeria: Utilizes a Single Member District (SMD) system.
• Russia: Employs a mixed system of SMD and PR with a $5\%$ threshold for the Duma. The Federation Council members are appointed or indirectly elected.
• United Kingdom: Uses a Single Member District (SMD) system. The House of Lords consists of hereditary and appointed members.

Judicial Systems and Specialized National Bodies

The power of judicial review is exercised with varying degrees of authority. Mexico, Nigeria, and Russia (though rarely used) have powers of judicial review. China lacks judicial review. Iran relies on religious review. The United Kingdom utilizes administrative review.

Several countries maintain unique constitutional or administrative bodies:

• China: Governance is handled by the General Secretary, the Politburo Standing Committee, and the Central Committee.
• Iran: Key bodies include the Guardian Council, the National Expediency Council, and the Assembly of Experts.
• Mexico: Features the Electoral Institute.
• Nigeria: Utilizes the Independent National Election Commission and operates under the Federal Character Principle.

Party Systems and Social Cleavages

The party systems range from one-party dominance to multiparty competition:

• China: A one-party system led by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), with eight other authorized parties existing under its leadership.
• Iran: Described as fluid and unstable.
• Mexico: A multiparty system featuring MORENA (National Regeneration Movement), the PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party), the PAN (National Action Party), and the PRD (Party of the Democratic Revolution).
• Nigeria: A multiparty system dominated by the APC (All Progressives Congress) and the PDP (People's Democratic Party).
• Russia: Characterized as a single-party dominant system led by United Russia, alongside the CPFR (Communist Party of the Russian Federation).
• United Kingdom: A two-party system dominated by the Conservative and Labour parties, alongside the Liberal Democrats, Scottish National Party, and other regional parties.

Major political and social cleavages within these nations include:

• China: Uyghurs, Tibetans, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
• Iran: Sunnis and non-Persian ethnic minorities.
• Mexico: The Zapatistas.
• Nigeria: Ethnic divisions between the Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba, and Igbo, among $250$ other ethnic groups.
• Russia: Chechens.
• United Kingdom: Scottish independence movements.

Significant Historical Milestones and Referenda

The use of referenda and constitutional shifts varies by state history:

• China: No referenda history mentioned.
• Iran: The constitution was ratified in $1979$.
• Mexico: No referenda history mentioned.
• Nigeria: The constitution was amended in $1989$.
• Russia: Constitution ratified in $1993$. In $2020$, a vote extended Putin's term limits.
• United Kingdom: Key milestones include joining the European Community in $1975$, devolution in $1997$, the alternate voting referendum in $2010$, the Scottish independence referendum in $2014$, and the Brexit referendum in $2016$.