Comparative Politics - Week 4 (Legislatures and Executives) Flashcards

1
Q

what is a legislature?

A

a group of people coming together to legitimise decisions on behalf of others

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2
Q

who wrote the ‘decline of legislatures’

A

Lord Bryce

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3
Q

when did lord bryce write ‘the decline of legislatures’

A

1921

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4
Q

what did Lord Bryce say were the two main factors for the decline of legislatures?

A

increasing power of parties
expansion of the executive

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5
Q

what roles do legislatures serve besides law making?

A

legitimation
scrutiny
errand running
conflict-resolution
policy-influencing

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6
Q

what is parliamentarism

A

the increased importance of parliament since the 1970s

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7
Q

what is the main role of legislatures today

A

representation
scrutiny

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8
Q

What are the three reasons for an upper chamber

A

historical
large chamber
federal structure

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9
Q

what is congruent bicameralism

A

the two legislative chambers possess a similar political composition

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10
Q

what is incongruent bicameralism

A

the two legislative chambers differ in their political composition

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11
Q

what is symmetric bicameralism

A

the two legislative chambers differ in their political composition.

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12
Q

what is asymmetric bicameralism

A

the two legislative chambers possess unequal constitutional power

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13
Q

who came up with the ideas of arena and transformative legislatures

A

Nelson Polsby

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14
Q

what are arena legislatures

A

where there is a focus on plenary work and debate function, little impact on policy-making (UK)

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15
Q

what are transformative legislatures

A

focus on committee work and amending function, little public debate (Germany)

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16
Q

who came up with the idea of policymaking and policy influencing legislatures

A

Phillip Norton

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17
Q

what are policy-making legislatures

A

where they have the ability to initiate legislation and to amend and reject government legislation (Italy)

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18
Q

what is a policy influencing legislature

A

where they have the ability to introduce amendments to government legislation

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19
Q

what are little-or-no-policy effect legislatures

A

where they have no ability to amend legislation

20
Q

what is descriptive representation

A

where the legislature exactly reflects the demographic make up of the country

21
Q

what is substantive representation

A

where the legislature reflects the diversity of perspectives/ideas in a country

22
Q

what is trustee representation

A

where representatives follow their own judgement about the proper course of action

23
Q

what is delegate representation

A

where representatives follow their preferences of a group (party and/or constituencies)

24
Q

what is local representation

A

where representatives act in the interest of their local constituencies

25
what is national representation
where legislators should act in the interests of the country as a whole
26
what does it mean to execute
to develop and implement the policies that govern a nation
27
what are the four types of executive
presidential parliamentary semi-presidential directorial
28
how are the branches of government connected in a presidential system
separations of powers
29
who is the head of state in a presidential system
the head of the executive
30
how is the head of state elected in a presidential system
they are directly elected by the people
31
what is the relationship between the president and the legislature
the president is not politically accountable to the legislature
32
how are the branches of government connected in a parliamentary system
fusion of powers (sometimes limited separation of powers)
33
who is the head of state in a parliamentary system
they are separate to the head of the executive
34
how is the head of state elected in a parliamentary system
they are not directly elected by the people
35
how does the appointment of the PM work
- needs implicit of explicit approval by parliament - often formally appointed by the head of state
36
how does removal of office work in a parliamentary system
- vote of no confidence
37
what is the relationship between branches in semi-presidential systems
there is limited separation of powers
38
who is the head of state in a semi-presidential system
the head of state is different to the head of the executive
39
how is the head of state elected in a semi-presidential system
they are directly elected by the people
40
what powers does a president have in a semi-presidential system
- veto power - dissolve parliament - nominate government - dictate/shape composition of constitutional court
41
which countries have a semi-presidential system
France, Portugal, Austria, Finland and Ireland
42
who has premier-presidentialism
Ukraine
43
how does premier-presidentialism work
- PM and Cabinet are exclusively accountable to the assembly majority - the legislature choose the PM and Cabinet - The legislature can remove the PM and Cabinet from office with a vote of no confidence
44
who has president-parliamentarism
Russia
45
how does president-parliamentarism work
- PM and Cabinet are accountable to both the president and the assembly - President choose the PM and the cabinet with the confirmation of the assembly - the president can dismiss government and dissolve the legislature
46
who has directorial government
Switzerland