Chapter 5 - Democracy

Question 1

Define: Democracy

Answer 1

Political power exercised directly or indirectly through participation, competition, and liberty.

Question 2

Liberal Democracy

Answer 2

A political system that promotes participation, competition, and liberty.

Question 3

Electoral Democracy

Answer 3

A political system where elections are held, but competition is limited, majority party tends to win all the time, and liberty is restricted. Transparency, accountability, and liberty are highly restricted.

Question 4

Republicanism

Answer 4

Roman origins. Emphasis on separation of powers within a state. Representation of the plebeians through elected officials.

Question 5

Direct Democracy

Answer 5

Full participation from the people. Low accountability, difficulty to organize meetings, open to negative influence, tyranny of the majority with no checks and balances.

Question 6

Representative Democracy

Answer 6

Elections of representatives. Accountability on the politicians.

Question 7

Magna Carta

Answer 7

Document king of England forced to sign in 13th century restricting his powers.

Question 8

Civil Society

Answer 8

Organized life outside of the state. A fabric of organizations not necessarily political. Church groups, volunteer organizations, sports teams, companies. Believed to precede democracy, as it is powerful incentive to want to be represented.

Question 9

Executive

Answer 9

Head of State and Head of Government. Branch that carries out the laws and policies of the state.

Question 10

Head of State

Answer 10

Representation of the people, nationally and internationally. Embodies the articulating goals of the regime. Conducts foreign policy and wages war (though doesn’t always declare it).

Question 11

Head of Government

Answer 11

Deals with everyday tasks of running the state. Formulates and executes domestic policy alongside a cabinet of people.

Question 12

Legislature

Answer 12

The body where politics is debated. Charged with forming and passing legislation.

Question 13

Bicameral Legislature

Answer 13

Two bodies of legislatures. Generally higher and lower houses. The higher house a check on the lower house. Fear that the lower house would have emotions too close to the voters.

Question 14

Unicameral Legislature

Answer 14

One body of legislatures.

Question 15

Parliamentary System

Answer 15

Two elements: PM (and his cabinet) and legislature. PM and his ministers come from the legislature. PM is head of government with head of state (monarch) being largely ceremonial.

Question 16

Vote of no confidence

Answer 16

At any point the legislature can remove the Prime Minister from government at any time with a vote of confidence. Can lead to new parliamentary elections.

Question 17

Plurality of seats

Answer 17

When party has more seats than any other party but still less than 50% of the seats. Generally cause for COALITION

Question 18

Presidential System

Answer 18

President is head of state and government. Directly elected by voters.

Question 19

Semipresidential System

Answer 19

PM and President with roles split between them. (PM head of gov’t, President head of state)

Question 20

Pros Parliamentary

Answer 20

PM has confidence legislation can be passed. PM can be removed easily in case it needs to be done. PM can stay in power as long as he’s doing a good job.

Question 21

Cons Parliamentary

Answer 21

Corruption easy. Less checks and balances. Public does not directly choose executive.

Question 22

Pros Presidential

Answer 22

President directly elected and can draw on national mandate to create and enact legislation.

Question 23

Cons Presidential

Answer 23

President can legislature can be different parties, causing divided gov’t. Office does not allow for power sharing and president may not be easily removed from office except through elections.

Question 24

Pros Semipresidential

Answer 24

Cool

Question 25

Cons Semipresidential

Answer 25

Possible conflict between PM and president.

Question 26

Political Party

Answer 26

Group of people with similar interests that seek to control government.

Question 27

Roles of Party

Answer 27

Coordination of ideas, organization of people, compromise. Representation of our ideas. Selection and recruitment of leaders.

Question 28

Constituency

Answer 28

A geographic area that an elected official represents.

Question 29

Single Member District

Answer 29

aka “first past the post”. One representative from each constituency. Can lead to two party systems.

Question 30

Proportional Representation

Answer 30

Multimember Districts. More than one seat in gov’t for each district. Reduces disparity between votes cast and seats held.

Question 31

Closed PR

Answer 31

Voters vote for party.

Question 32

Open PR

Answer 32

Voters vote for either party or candidate.

Question 33

Free PR

Answer 33

Voters vote for candidate.

Question 34

Mixed electoral system

Answer 34

Voters given two votes. One for party one for candidate.

Question 35

Civil Rights

Answer 35

Promotion of equality.

Question 36

Civil Liberties

Answer 36

Promotion of freedom.

Question 37

Referendum

Answer 37

Option for voter to vote directly on legislation.

Question 38

Initiative

Answer 38

Citizen collects signatures to put a question to a national vote.