Detailed Notes on Political Systems and Legislative Frameworks

Political Systems Overview

  • Presidential vs. Parliamentary Systems

    • UK: Parliamentary

    • Mexico: Presidential

    • Russia: Semi-Presidential

    • Iran: Theocracy and Presidential

    • Nigeria: Presidential

    • China: Semi-Presidential

  • Political Structures

    • UK: Democracy

    • Mexico: Emerging Democracy

    • Russia: Authoritarian

    • Iran: Authoritarian

    • Nigeria: Emerging Democracy

    • China: Authoritarian

  • Government Structures

    • UK: Unitary

    • Mexico: Federal

    • Russia: Federal

    • Iran: Unitary

    • Nigeria: Federal

    • China: Unitary

  • Power Dynamics

    • UK: Power shifting towards PM and Parliament from the monarchy

    • Mexico: President holds power

    • Russia: President holds overwhelming power (Putin)

    • Iran: Supreme Leader holds power (Khomeini)

    • Nigeria: President holds power

    • China: Power held by CCP and President

Legislative Systems

United Kingdom's Legislative System

  • Bicameral Structure

    • House of Commons:

    • 650 members

    • Lower house, elected through SMD (Single Member District)

    • Responsible for passing laws and scrutinizing government

    • House of Lords:

    • 800 members

    • Upper house, not elected but appointed by the Crown

    • Reviews and can delay legislation, cannot veto

Russia's Legislative System

  • Bicameral Structure

    • State Duma:

    • Lower house, 450 members elected for 5 years

    • Responsible for passing laws and budget approval

    • Federation Council:

    • Upper house, 170 members, represents regions

    • Approves legislation passed by the Duma

  • Legislation Process:

    • Bill introduced in the Duma, then reviewed and voted on

    • Approved bills sent to the Federation Council for approval

    • President may sign or veto the bill

Iran's Legislative System

  • Unicameral Structure with two bodies:

    • Majilis:

    • 290 members elected every 4 years

    • Responsible for lawmaking and supervising the government

    • Guardian Council:

    • 12 members, overseeing laws for compliance with Islamic principles

    • May reject or adjust proposals from Majilis

Mexico's Legislative System

  • Bicameral Structure

    • Senate:

    • 128 senators elected for 6 years

    • Approves presidential appointments and international treaties

    • Chamber of Deputies:

    • 500 deputies elected for 3 years

    • Initiates and approves tax-related legislation

China's Legislative System

  • National Peoples Congress (NPC):

    • Highest authority, enacts laws, and supervises government

    • Elected by people, meets annually

  • Standing Committee of NPC:

    • Executes NPC decisions, interprets laws

Nigeria's Legislative System

  • Bicameral Structure

    • Senate:

    • 190 members, each state represented by 3 senators

    • House of Representatives:

    • 360 members, reflects population representation

Executive Systems

United Kingdom

  • Head of State: Monarch (Ceremonial)

  • Head of Government: Prime Minister

    • Leads legislature, has policy implementation duties

Russia

  • President: Head of State, Commander-in-Chief

  • Prime Minister: Oversees civil service

China

  • President: Head of State, Commander-in-Chief

  • Premier: Head of Government

Iran

  • Supreme Leader: Head of State, holds significant power

  • President: Oversees civil service and foreign policy

Nigeria

  • President: Head of State and Government, civil service head

Mexico

  • President: Manages government and legislative processes

Executive Term Limits

  • Russia:

    • Maximum of two consecutive terms (6 years each), term reset in 2020 for Putin

  • UK:

    • No formal term limit, PM re-elected every 5 years

  • China:

    • Term limits removed in 2018, can serve indefinitely

  • Iran:

    • President: two consecutive 4-year terms, Supreme Leader: life

  • Mexico:

    • Single 6-year term without re-election

  • Nigeria:

    • Maximum of two 4-year terms

Judicial Systems

  • UK: Independent judiciary, appointed by a commission; common law system

  • Russia: Non-independent judiciary, influenced by government; civil law system

  • China: Non-independent judiciary, influenced by CCP; civil law system

  • Iran: Non-independent, influenced by Supreme Leader; based on Islamic law

  • Mexico: Independent judiciary; civil law system

  • Nigeria: Independent judiciary; based on common law

Removal of an Executive

  • UK (PM): Vote of No Confidence, party leadership challenge

  • Russia (President): Impeachment requires 2/3 vote from both chambers

  • China (President): Impeachment via NPC, highly unlikely

  • Iran (Supreme Leader): Can be dismissed by Assembly of Experts

  • Nigeria (President): Impeachment by National Assembly

  • Mexico (President): Impeachment also by legislative chambers

Civil Society, Electoral, and Political Parties

United Kingdom

  • Civil Society: Strong and active; high civic engagement, free media, interest groups, and NGOs.

  • Electoral Process: Free and fair elections; SMD (FPTP) for MPs; party-centered campaigns.

  • Political Parties: Two-party dominant (Conservative and Labour); third parties like Liberal Democrats and Scottish National Party are present.

Mexico

  • Civil Society: Growing since democratization; more active NGOs, though sometimes limited by violence or corruption.

  • Electoral Process: Competitive and credible; mixed electoral system (PR and SMD); INE (National Electoral Institute) regulates elections.

  • Political Parties: Multiparty; Morena dominant recently, PAN and PRI still relevant.

Russia

  • Civil Society: Weak; heavily restricted by the government, NGOs labeled “foreign agents.”

  • Electoral Process: Flawed; elections manipulated, opposition suppressed, voter intimidation and fraud common.

  • Political Parties: Dominated by United Russia; weak opposition (Communist Party, A Just Russia, LDPR).

Iran

  • Civil Society: Limited; protests occur but often repressed; religious restrictions on association and speech.

  • Electoral Process: Managed by Guardian Council, which vets candidates; elections exist but are not fully free.

  • Political Parties: Factions more important than formal parties (Reformists vs. Conservatives); parties are loosely organized.

Nigeria

  • Civil Society: Vibrant but challenged by ethnic/religious divisions and state violence; active media and NGOs.

  • Electoral Process: Generally free but marred by electoral fraud, vote-buying, and violence; uses plurality/SMD system.

  • Political Parties: Multiparty; currently All Progressives Congress and Peoples Democratic Party are dominant, often regionally/ethnically based.

China

  • Civil Society: Heavily controlled; NGOs allowed only if non-political and state-aligned; limited activism.

  • Electoral Process: No competitive national elections; local village elections occur but under CCP oversight.

  • Political Parties: One-party state (Chinese Communist Party); 8 minor parties exist but are subordinate to CCP.