chapter 9

Question 1

legislatures

Answer 1

a political assembly that has the power to make laws in the country

Question 2

functions of legislatures

Answer 2

representational, governmental, procedural; help keep executive power in check, and lend a hand to judicial courts if executive power tries to undermine the judicial’s power

Question 3

representational

Answer 3

they are supposed to represent the people

Question 4

4 types of representation

Answer 4

representation as mirror, substance gender rep, voice of constituency, trusted opinion leader

Question 5

representation as mirror

Answer 5

the legislature should mirror the demographics of the population if 50% of population is women 50% of the legislative body should be women

Question 6

substantive gender representation

Answer 6

doesn’t matter how many women there are, as long as women’s values and experiences are being represented

Question 7

voice of the constituency

Answer 7

you are speaking for the people, voice their concerns

Question 8

trusted opinion leader

Answer 8

the representative figures things out on behalf of the people

Question 9

bicameral representation

Answer 9

2 chambers

Question 10

unicameral rep

Answer 10

1 chamber

Question 11

gerrymandering

Answer 11

which ever political party is dominant they will draw the lines of the electoral districts to favour their own party

Question 12

governmental function of legislatures

Answer 12

legislatures are concerned with forming governments, formulating policy and implementing it.

Question 13

two forms of government

Answer 13

separation of powers and fusion of powers

Question 14

legislatures and formation of government

Answer 14

in fusion of powers- legislative chooses who is the executive
separation of powers- legislative has no say who is the executive

Question 15

legislation and creating laws

Answer 15

laws must stand up for judicial review and respect international law

Question 16

legislative and the executive

Answer 16

legislative keeps the executive in check

Question 17

legislative and public opinion

Answer 17

they influence public opinion because they set the agenda for public debate, legislative take the lead in forming public opinion

Question 18

two procedural functions of legislatures

Answer 18

ritualizing conflict and ensuring transparency

Question 19

legislatures ritualizing conflict

Answer 19

it contains and regulates conflict by providing a safe space where people can voice their issues

Question 20

legislatures ensuring transparency

Answer 20

parliaments are committed to openness about policies and issues

Question 21

types of legislatures

Answer 21

active legislatures- has the power to reject executive action
reactive- sets parameters in which government can act and can impose sanctions if government infringes upon them
vulnerable- less strict on keeping executive in check because legislators are more occupied with pursuing their own interests
marginal- executive can do away with legislators because of support of social elites
minimal- serves only as a symbol of national unity but does not check the executive

Question 22

example of active legislator

Answer 22

US

Question 23

example of reactive leg.

Answer 23

France UK

Question 24

example of vulnerable leg.

Answer 24

Italy Philippines

Question 25

example of marginal leg.

Answer 25

Pakistan, Peru, Nigeria, Russia

Question 26

example of minimal leg.

Answer 26

China

Question 27

committees

Answer 27

legislators tend to work in committees rather than the whole gov’t
most bills are considered in temporary committees

Question 28

America- separation of powers

Answer 28

first to try separation of powers- it was also known as the great American experiment

Question 29

Baron of Montesquieu

Answer 29

came up with separation of powers; americans put Montesquieu’s view on steroids

Question 30

fusion of powers

Answer 30

legislative and executive are fused together

Question 31

confidence items

Answer 31

budgets, throne speech, anything government declares to be a confidence item, bills that spend money, a motion of the house of commons.

Question 32

what happens on a vote of non-confidence

Answer 32

governor general decides who the leading party will be
coalition between old gov’t and another party
vote in a new Prime Minister and House of commons.

Question 33

how confidence works

Answer 33

the executive must maintain the confidence of the people’s representatives in order to stay in power and be able to advise the queen.