Chapter 5 Flashcards
What does “demos” mean in greek?
The common people
What does “kratia” mean in greek?
Power
Political power, direct or indirect, through participation, competition, and liberty refers to what?
Democracy
What favors individual freedom over collective equality?
Democracy
What places greater emphasis on equality while still protecting individual rights?
Social Democracies
Can Mercantilism can also maintain the values of social democracy in spite of a large state role?
Yes
List 4 examples of Democracies
- India
- Japan
- Taiwan
- South Korea
Democracy tends to have what kind of connotation?
A positive one
True or false: Soviet Union saw itself as democratic
True
Direct participation, people functioned as the state and government refers to what?
Athenian Democracy
Indirect participation, exercised on behalf of people, separation of powers refers to what?
Republicanism
In a democracy, which group has control over the levers of political power?
The larger group (Popular Sovereignty)
What country is seen as the birthplace of modern democratic institutions?
England
What were the rights of King John that were curbed by lower aristocracy referred to?
1215 Magna Carta
What are the laws that apply to all irrespective of political position?
Notion of the rule of law
True or False: Sets in motion notion of legal supremacy over people and political leaders
True
When there is less of a need for repression of people (to collect taxes, wage war) is the state stronger or weaker?
Weaker
In democracies, can power be checked by lower groups classesdecentralized?
Yes
What does the modernization theory state?
That as societies become more modern they inevitably become more democratic
Modernization is associated with what 4 things?
- More education
- Weakening of older, traditional institutions
- Greater gender equality
- Rise of the middle class
Whether democratization follows modernization is linked to what?
Who is in power - elites
What states have had a rise in material wealth, education, modernization without democratization?
Oil states of the Middle East
What is an obstacle to democratization?
Poverty
How resources are distributed affects what?
Likelihood for change
Organized life outside the state refers to what?
Civil society
What are some examples of civil societies?
- Clubs
- Associations
- Societies
What are inherently apolitical, but allow people to participate in expressing issues that are important - aid in democratization?
Civil socities
Modernization can be a result of what?
- Foreign investment
- Trade
- Globalization
Can outside influences push democratization?
Yes
Civil societies are strengthened by what?
- Education
- Media
- Nongovernmental Organizations outside the country
True or false: The extent of international influence isn’t variable in democratization
False, the Extent of international influence is highly variable
Political culture is the culture of what?
Culture of democracy
What breeds democracy?
Democratic traditions and individualistic society
Does modernization necessarily breed democracy?
No
Modernization can be a result of what 3 things?
- Foreign investment
- Trade
- Globalization
True or false: Outside influences can push democratization
True
Civil society strengthened by what 3 things?
- Education
- Media
- Nongovernmental organizations outside the country
Democratic traditions and individualistic society breeds what?
Democracy
Heads of state and government are what?
Excecutives
Who carries out the laws and policies of a state?
Executives
What are the two roles of executives?
- Head of state
- Head of government
These individuals are in charge of the everyday tasks of running the state, especially in making policy
Heads of Government
Head of government can be removed by a vote of no confidence by who?
The legislature
Unicameralism means what?
Single Chamber
The following refer to what?
Goes back to Britain, notion of different chambers for different classes
Commonly used under federalism: one house to represent local communities
Bicameralism
True or False: Constitutional Courts have grown in importance over time
True
What are the different forms of constitutional court power?
Judicial review
- Concrete Review
- Abstract Review
Ability to rule on constitutional issues rising from cases brought before court refers to what?
Concrete Review
Ability to rule on constitutional issues without the need of a court case refers to what?
Abstract review
In a parliamentary system who dominates as the head of government?
The Prime minister
Can the head be removed by national elections or vote of no confidence in legislature?
Yes
In a presidential system how is the president elected?
Directly
In which system does the president serve as both head of state and government–no prime minister?
A presidential system
In a presidential system, what are the only two ways in which a president can be removed?
Impeachment or election
In which system is the prime minister charged with domestic policy?
Semipresidential system
In which system does the directly elected president set broader agenda and foreign relations, national security?
Semipresidential system
Give 3 examples of states with a semipresidential system
- Russia
- South Korea
- Taiwan
What are two MAIN reasons for having political parties?
- Bring together diverse groups of people and ideas
- Way to hold politicians accountable
Give two reasons for why bringing diverse groups of people and ideas is good for political parties
- Helps establish majority rule, prevents fragmentation
- But also heterogeneous—prevents tyranny of the majority
Give two reasons for why bringing diverse groups of people and ideas is good for political parties
- Helps establish majority rule, prevents fragmentation
- But also heterogeneous—prevents tyranny of the majority
List one way in which political parties can hold politicians accountable
Articulated ideology that can be evaluated
What is central to liberal democracy?
Elections and voter participation
What are the two electoral systems?
- Single Member District (SMD)
- Proportional Representation (PR)
What kind of system is used in minority of democratic countries?
The electoral system
List three countries that use the electoral system
- U.S.
- Canada
- Great Britain
What constitutes a single-member district?
Only one seat being contested per district
In which system do voters cast ballots for only one individual, and the candidate with a plurality (largest share) wins the seat?
Single member district–Electoral system
What are known as “wasted” votes?
The votes that are not cast for the winner
True or False: In a single member district large number of votes maybe not be wasted
False, they can and are referred to as “wasted votes”
Does the share of seats always reflect the share of votes won?
Not always
What is the result of people unwilling to vote for small parties?
a two party system
What is an alternative step that can be taken to ensure a majority in single member districts?
Have two rounds or other mechanisms
What is the system that is used by the majority of liberal democracies?
Proportional Representation: Multimember Districts
What system attempts to make proportion of votes reflect number of seats won in the legislature?
Proportional Representation: Multimember Districts
In which system do Voters cast vote for a party (not a candidate) that competes in multimember districts?
Proportional Representation: Multimember Districts
In which system are Votes are tallied and seats divided by the percentage gained by each party?
Proportional Representation: Multimember Districts
What is one of the effects of proportional representation when it comes to small parties?
They can actually win seats
True or False: Many votes are wasted in a proportional representation
False, fewer votes are actually wasted
What are 2 effects of proportional representation?
- Parties control who will fill seats for their party, increasing party discipline
- Many more parties in legislature—may lead to coalition government (no one party has majority of seats)
List three examples of countries which use both Single Member District and Proportional Representation
- Germany
- Japan
- Mexico
In which system do voters get a dual ballot and how does it work?
In a mixed electoral system voters cast a vote for a single member district AND for a party
What are a referendum and initiative?
National ballot on an issue
How does a referendum work?
Top-down, binding on government
How does an initiative work?
Bottom-up, binding ob government
Which two countries have no constitutional provisions on referendums and initiatives?
The U.S. and Canada
In which country are referendums and initiatives VERY common?
Switzerland
When it comes to civil rights and civil liberties, what is the substance of democracy itself?
The rule of law
What do civil rights promote?
Civil rights promote equality!
What do civil liberties promote?
Civil liberties promote freedom!
List at least four variations within the range of civil rights and liberties
- Free speech
- Movement
- Privacy
- Religion
