Comparative Government and Politics - Executives Flashcards
what is the executive
the political institutions responsible for overseeing the execution of laws and policies, and most often associated with the idea of national leadership
what is a head of state
the figurehead leader of a state who may be elected or appointed, or - in the case of monarchs - may inherit the position
what is a head of government
the elected leader of a government, who comes to office because of the support of voters who identify with their party and platform
what is a constitutional monarchy
a state headed by a monarch, but where the monarch’s political powers are severely limited by constitutional rules. Stands in contrast with an absolute monarch
what is a presidential executive
an arrangement in which the executive and the legislature and separately and directly elected, and have separate powers and responsibilities
what is a limited presidential executive
a presidential executive whose powers are limited by the constitution and by political realities
what is the benefit of a president’s fixed term
it allows continuity in the executive, avoiding the collapse of governing coalitions to which parliamentary governments are prone
what does winning a presidential election require
candidates to develop widespread support across a country
what does a president provide
a natural symbol of national unity, offering a familiar face for domestic and international audiences alike
what is separation of powers
an arrangement in which executive, legislature, and judiciary are given distinct but complementary sets of powers, such that neither can govern alone and that all should ideally govern together
what is parliamentary executive
an arrangement in which the executive emerges from the legislature (most often in the form of a coalition) and remains accountable to it, and must maintain a working legislative majority in order to remain in office
what is cabinet
a body consisting of the heads of the government departments. Sometimes known as a council of ministers. more important in parliamentary than in presidential systems
who is usually the head of the governing party of coalition
the prime minister
what is coalition government
an arrangement in which the government is forced through an agreement involving two or more parties which divide government posts between them
what is a semi-presidential executive
an arrangement in which an elected president coexists with an appointed prime minister and separately elected legislatures
