Chapter 5 Review Flashcards
A political system in which political power is exercised either directly or indirectly by the people
democracy
A political system that promotes participation, competition, and liberty and emphasizes individual freedom and civil rights
liberal democracy
Indirect democracy that emphasizes the separation of powers within a state and the representation of the public through elected officials
republicanism
The clear division of power between different branches of government and the provision that specific branches may check the power of other branches
separation of powers
Democracy that allows the public to participate directly in government decision making
direct democracy
Democracy in which representatives of the public are responsible for government decision making
indirect democracy
Organizations outside of the state that help people define and advance their own interests
civil society
The branch of government that carries out the laws and policies of a state
executive
The executive role that symbolizes and represents the people both nationally and internationally
head of state
The executive role that deals with the everyday tasks of running the state, such as formulating and executing policy
head of government
The branch of government charged with making laws
legislature
A political system in which the legislature comprises two houses
bicameral system
A political system in which the legislature comprises one house
unicameral system
A system in which all individuals and groups, including those in government, are subject to the law, irrespective of their power or authority
rule of law
The highest judicial body in a political system that decides whether laws and policies violate the constitution
constitutional court
The mechanism by which courts can review the actions of government and overturn those that violate the constitution
judicial review
Judicial review that allows the constitutional court to rule on the basis of actual legal disputes brought before it
concrete review
Judicial review that allows the constitutional court to rule on questions that do not arise from actual legal disputes
abstract review
A political system in which the roles of head of state and head of government are assigned to separate executive offices
parliamentary system
Vote taken by a legislature as to whether its members continue to support the current prime minister; Depending on the country, this can force the resignation of the prime minister and/or lead to new parlimentary elections
vote of no confidence
A political system in which the roles of head of state and head of government are combined in one executive offices
presidential system
An executive system that divides power between two strong executives, a president and a prime minister
semipresidential system
A set of rules that decide how votes are cast, counted, and translated into seats in a legislature
electoral system
A geographical area that an elected official represents
constituency
An electoral district with one seat
single-member-district (SMD)
An electoral system in which political parties compete in multimember districts, voters choose between parties, and the seats in the district are awarded proportionally according to the results of the vote
proportional representation (PR)
An electoral system in which individual candidates compete in singlemember districts; voters choose between candidates, and the candidate with the largest share of the vote wins the seat
first past the post
An electoral district with more than one seat
multi-member district (MMD)
An electoral system that uses a combination of single-member districts and proportional representation
mixed system
A national vote called by a government to address a specific proposal, often a change to the constitution
referendum
A national vote called by members of the public to address a specific proposal
initiative
Individual rights regarding equality that are created by the constitution and the political regime
civil rights
Individual rights regarding freedom that are created by the constitution and the political regime
civil liberties
