Country Applications Flashcards
Mexico Political System
Federal Democracy, Presidential
President is head of gov+state
Bicameral Legislature (Chamber of Deputies+Senate)
Supreme Court
Plurality System for President
Mixed System for Legislature
Multi-Party (PRI, MORENA, PAN)
Mexico Society
Mexico is transitioning away from corporatism toward a pluralist system of interest group activity
The Zapatista Movement was a successful social movement that called attention to the plight of indigenous people
There is social cleavage in Mexico between the north and south, and the north is better education and more prosperous
There is a social cleavage in Mexico between mestizos and indigenous peoples, who are poorer and face discrimination
UK Political System
Devolved Unitary Democracy, Parliamentary
Head of state: monarch (Ceremonial)
Head of government: PM (first an MP in House of Commons)
To remove a PM: Vote of no confidence
Bicameral Legislature (House of Commons, Lords)
Question Time
Supreme Court (2009)
The UK’s SMD electoral system benefits the Labour and Conservative parties
UK Society
Interest groups in the UK use various methods to impact the policymaking process
The United Kingdom uses referendums to allow citizens to decide questions about policy issues
A wide range of civil rights and civil liberties is protected in the UK; nevertheless, ethnic and religious groups still face discrimination
Social and political divisions, including social class and separatist movements, continue to influence the political system in the UK
Ethnic/regional cleavages between nations (Scottish independence movement)
The United Kingdom’s SMD electoral system benefits the Labour and Conservative parties
The United Kingdom has a two-party system, with smaller national and regional parties
Russia Political System
Semi-presidential system
Prime minister appointed by the president and can be easily removed by president
President appoints all cabinet members without approval from the Duma
Rule by decree
Bicameral
The Duma: Directly elected, represents the people,Can reject PM (only thrice)
The Federation Council: Represents regions
Judiciary: Justices are appointed for life, Constitutional Court, Should have the power of judicial review but it is not exercised, Lacks judicial independence, Weak rule of law
The Russian president is elected in a two-round system, for a six-year term, with a limit of two consecutive terms
The Duma is directly elected through a mixed system, with a 5 percent threshold for PR seats
Russia has a single-party dominant system
Russia Society
Although civil society is restricted in Russia, social movements have protested against election fraud and in favor of LGBTQ rights
Political Culture and Participation
The Russian state has used referendums to demonstrate public support for the regime, to increase legitimacy
The Russian state has developed government-sponsored organizations to encourage support for the regime
Russia places significant restrictions on civil rights and liberties
The conflict in Chechnya is an example of an ethnic-religious division
Ethic Russians take up majority
The Russian president is elected in a two round system, for a six-year term, with a limit of two consecutive terms
The Duma is directly elected through a mixed system, with a 5 percent threshold for PR seats
Russia has a single party dominant system
Nigeria Political System
President serves as head of govt and state
Four year term (two term limit)
Bicameral
National Assembly
House of Reps: people
Senate: states
Judiciary: Supreme court, Judicial review, Appointed by president, Lacks full independence
The president in Nigeria is directly elected through a plurality of the vote and must receive 25 percent of the votes in two-thirds of the states, and if no candidate meets this requirement, then a second-round election is held between the top two-vote getters
The House of Representatives is elected using an SMD system, and three senators are elected from each state with one senator representing the Federal Capital Territory
Although many parties are registered with the INEC, Nigeria has two major parties–the People’s Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress
Nigeria Society
Civil Society is growing in Nigeria, but it is hindered by a lack of trust and confidence in government and among citizens
The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) is an NGO representing the indigenous Ogoni people of Rivers State, Nigeria
Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) is a militant group that occupies the Niger Delta
Political Culture and Participation
Although the Nigerian Constitution protects civil rights and civil liberties, women are under-represented in government, and the Nigerian government has engaged in serious human rights abuses
Nigeria is a diverse society, including the Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba, and Igbo, along with 250 smaller ethnic groups
Boko Haram is an Islamic terrorist and separatist group operating in northern Nigeria and surrounding countries
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is a separatist group in Nigeria that aims to restore the defunct Republic of Biafra, a country that seceded from Nigeria before the Nigerian Civil War.
China Political System
National Party Congress: a body within the CCP that acts as a legislature, passing policies put forth by the party elite
Politburo: a powerful body of elite policymakers within the CCP
Politburo Standing Committee: a subgroup of the Politburo, consisting of the most powerful people in the CCP
General Secretary: the head of the CCP and the most powerful individual in China
Also president
State council: the cabinet that leads the formal bureaucracy in China
Premier oversees the state council
President can appoint or remove Premier
Unicameral
National Peoples Congress
Not directly elected
The criminal justice system in China lacks rule of law, but the civil court system has been institutionalized
China’s judiciary is not independent and does not serve as an effective check on the actions of the CCP
Although China has eight state-sanctioned parties other than the CCP, China is a one-party state that has been ruled by the CCP since 1949
Elections for high-ranking party and government officials are indirect through the National Party Congress and National People’s Congress, whose members are chosen by party members and citizens through local congresses
China Society
Civil Society is limited in China because it is difficult to create and register NGOs, and their continued operation is restricted by government monitoring
White Paper Movement 2022: easing COVID restrictions
New Citizens Movement 2012-2020: more transparency, less corruption
Political Culture and Participation
Although China is an authoritarian state that restricts civil liberties, some protests are allowed, especially to point out corruption and inefficiency at the local level
The Great Firewall of China is a system that allows government officials to monitor people’s online presence and censors content critical of the regime
Ethic: Hans v. Uyghurs v. Tibetans
5 recognized religions
China claims the Tibet Autonomous Region under its sovereignty, and some Tibetans, including the Dalai Lama, advocate Tibetan autonomy and independence
China has restricted the civil liberties of the Uyghurs living in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and the government has been accused of human rights violations for placing Uyghurs in “reeducation” camps
Although China has eight state-sanctioned parties other than the CCP, China is a one-party state that has been ruled by the CCP since 1949
Elections for high-ranking party and government officials are indirect through the National Party Congress and National People’s Congress, whose members are chosen by party members and citizens through local congresses
Iran Political System
The Supreme Leader: The executive who is a cleric and the most powerful person in Iran, Sets the political agenda
Guardian Council: Has the power to approve and reject legislation and to vet candidates for office
Expediency Council: Has the power to reject or rewrite legislation and to create new legislation without approval of the legislature
Iranian President: Directly elected, Has the power to administer the government and conduct foreign policy
The Majles: Directly elected unicameral legislature, Power to pass laws, approve the budget, and conduct oversight hearings into the actions of the bureaucracy
The Assembly of Experts: Directly elected members who appoint, monitor, and have the power to remove the supreme leader
Iran holds direct elections for the president, Majles, and Assembly of Experts
Iranian elections are not free and fair, because the Guardian Council vets candidates for office, preventing many reformists and moderates from running
The Majles is elected through a mixed SMD/MMD system
Iran’s president is elected in a two-round system, in an effort to provide the winner with a mandate
Iranian political parties are weak, and fractions are divided about the government’s role in managing the economy and sources of the regime’s political legitimacy
Iran Society
The Green Movement protests arose because of claims of fraud in the 2009 presidential election, and the government responded by repressing protests and arresting demonstrators
The Iranian government repressed speech critical of the regime by harassing, arresting, and jailing journalists and shutting down newspapers and Web sites critical of the regime
Women’s rights in Iran have varied over time, and although they make up half of all college students, women in Iran lack political, economic, and social equality
Iran lacks due process and rule of law, and critics of the regime face arbitrary detention, torture, and execution
Jews’ Chaldean and Assyrian Christians, Zoroastrians, and Sunni Muslims received some legal protections under Iran’s constitution, but these groups face discrimination
The Bahai religious group is repressed by the Iranian government
Sunni v. Shia Muslims
Iran sets aside 5 seats of the 290 in legislative branch for minorities
