7: Systems of Government Flashcards
Differentiate a type of government and a system of government. How do they relate to power?
Type: regime; how power is concentrated (republic, monarchy, etc.).
System: levels of government; how power is divided.
What is the difference between an absolute monarchy and a constitutional monarchy?
Absolute: monarch has final say.
Constitutional: some powers transferred to parliament (i.e., the people).
In Canada, the Crown’s role is primarily what? Why?
Constitutional.
To protect Canadian democracy.
How is power concentrated within authoritarian regimes?
Concentrated on leader(s), typically unelected. Exercise exclusive, unaccountable, arbitrary power.
One difference between authoritarian regimes and totalitarian regimes rests in institutions. Explain.
In authoritarian regimes, some social and economic institutions exist outside government control.
Define a totalitarian regime and when they typically occur.
State recognizes no limits to authority, regulates every aspect of public and private life.
When authoritarianism and ideology mix pervasively.
List five reasons for the possible appeal of totalitarianism.
Easy to control the populace.
Sense of unity.
Sense of bettering the state.
Security due to predictability.
More expeditious in wartime.
Describe how power is concentrated in representative governments.
Officials selected/elected and held accountable in periodic elections; powers are separated to avoid perils of concentration.
Britain, Israel, France, and Ireland have UNITARY constitutions. Describe what these are, and why nations may find them suitable.
Power concentrated within central government.
Suited for smaller countries with limited cultural, ethnic, linguistic diversity.
Describe the difference between unitary, confederal, and federal states.
Unitary: central government —> state.
Confederal: central government state.
What are five positive connotations of federalism?
Retaining individuality in collectivity.
Values of community.
Shared and self-government.
Joining together for a purpose.
Suggests unity in diversity.
In Canada, what makes up the executive, legislative, and judicial branches?
Executive: Queen, Prime Minister, Cabinet.
Legislative: House of Commons and Senate (bicameral).
Judicial: at federal level, Supreme Court.
Describe horizontal relations of government as they apply to Canada. What does the “fusion of powers” in Canada refer to?
Legislative: law-making branch.
Executive: law-implementing branch.
Judicial: law interpretation (and adjudication) branch.
Prime Minister and Cabinet need majority support of House.
What is the difference between presidential systems and Westminster parliamentary systems?
Presidential: executive branch and power separate from the legislature.
Westminster: executive branch separate, but powers are fused.
What does legislative power refer to?
Power to make laws and frame public policies.
What does judicial power refer to?
Power to interpret laws, determine meaning, settle jurisdictional or constitutional interpretation disputes.
How do monarchies and republics differ in terms of flexibility?
Monarchies allow flexible government response; republics prevent government interference.
In Canada, who is the formal executive, the political executive, and the permanent executive?
Formal: Crown (constitutional custodian).
Political: The Cabinet (Prime Minister and Cabinet ministers).
Permanent: The Bureaucracy.
List three purposes of the legislative branch in Canada.
Represents the people, accountable to them through periodic elections.
Debate public issues and provide forum for competition between political parties.
Make laws, approve government spending.
The House of Commons is symbolically and practically important, as it is the _____ between _____ and the government.
Contact point; citizens.
With regard to how power is earned, what is the difference between the House and the Senate?
House is democratically elected.
Senate is appointed by Crown, on the advice of Prime Minister.
Why is the Senate appointed and not elected?
Prevents ‘tyranny of the majority’ for the sake of national unity.
Largely, the _____ initiates legislation; the Prime Minister and Cabinet set _____.
Government.
Priorities.
Any legislation in Canada must be approved by whom?
Both chambers (House and Senate) and the Crown.
List four purposes of the Senate.
“Check.”
Revising chamber: trusted to act as non-ideological chamber that will isolate flaws in legislation.
Regional representation: vehicle for regional rep. at federal level.
Investigative chamber: studies issues facing country (e.g., health care, national defence).
Within the Senate, who does the appointing?
Governor General.
In Canada, how is external bias checked in the judicial branch?
Judicial independence: protected by ‘tenure’ and ‘restrictions on criticisms.’
In the U.S., the Supreme Court is appointed by the President and the Senate. What is a problem with this? Likewise, what is a critique of elected judges?
Party affiliation, ideological disposition.
Partisanship and neutrality risks; popularity vs. knowledge.
