Democratic Institutions

Question 1

Parliamentary system

Answer 1

• fuseion exec-leg, no sep. of power
• executive is prime minister
• head of gov is NOT head of state
• gov is as strong as the parliament
• one party or coalition government
• no fixed electoral terms
• concentrated, centralized power
• generally more effective decision making

Question 2

presidentialism

Answer 2

• separation of powers (exec & leg separately elected; fixed terms)
• popularly and directly elected president (higher legitimacy)
• head of government and symbolic head of state
• checks & balances diffuses power
• president is mix of weak and strong
• system has obstacles to decision making

Question 3

semi-presidentialism

Answer 3

• popularly elected, fixed term president
• PM, cabinet responsible to parliament
• dual executive can lead to question of who is really in charge
• France, C/E Europe, Russia

Question 4

single-member district

Answer 4

• one member per district
• winner takes entire seat
• manufactures a majority, even a false one
• two party system, one party government
• concentration of power

Question 5

proportional representation

Answer 5

• multiple-member districts
• vote for a party list, seats awarded proportional to vote
• lack of majorities usually forces coalitions
• multiparty system
• extreme/niche parties can gain rep if threshold is low
• may lead to gridlock
• backroom dealings, party elites dominate