Democratic Regimes

Question 1

the concept that citizens have a right to independently form organized groups to express a particular interest

Answer 1

Associational Autonomy

Question 2

non-governmental groups, such as clubs, religious organizations, charitable groups, and interest groups, formed by citizens to express a particular interest

Answer 2

Civil Society

Question 3

in parliamentary systems, a situation where multiple parties partner to construct a majority and form a government

Answer 3

Coalition Government

Question 4

a geographic area represented by member in the legislature

Answer 4

Constituency

Question 5

a body of fundamental laws, principles, and established preferences that a state acknowledges it is governed under

Answer 5

Constitution

Question 6

commitment to the rule of law through the principles expressed in a constitution

Answer 6

Constitutionalism

Question 7

a system of government by the whole population

Answer 7

Democracy

Question 8

Vladimir Lenin’s model of making political decisions centrally within the inner party elite, though ostensibly for the benefit of the majority of people

Answer 8

Democratic Centralism

Question 9

a form of democracy in which people may vote directly on matters of policy rather than only to elect representatives

Answer 9

Direct Democracy

Question 10

a condition in a presidential system wherein the executive branch is controlled by one party and the legislative branch is controlled by an opposing party

Answer 10

Divided Democracy

Question 11

an election system in which the candidate with the most votes wins representation of a geographic district in the legislature; losing candidates or parties do not receive any representation

Answer 11

Fire-past-the-post (FTTP)

Question 12

the individual in the executive branch responsible for the day-to-day operation of the government

Answer 12

Head of Government

Question 13

the individual in the executive branch who acts as the ceremonial symbol of the country at public events

Answer 13

Head of State

Question 14

a regime in which, despite the fact that elections determine who holds political office and wields power, protection of civil rights and liberties is missing and the fairness and competitiveness of elections are questionsable

Answer 14

Illiberal Democracy

Question 15

activity in which political demands of groups are combined into policy programs

Answer 15

Interest Aggregation

Question 16

a way for members of a society to express their needs to a system of government

Answer 16

Interest Articulation

Question 17

a system of government by the whole population with an emphasis on principles of classical liberalism, including protection of rights and freedom of expression

Answer 17

Liberal Democracy

Question 17

an organization of people who aupport a common interest and work together rather to protect and promote that interest by influencing the government

Answer 17

Interest Group

Question 18

an official elected to represent constituents in the legislature in a parliamentary system

Answer 18

Member of Parliament (MP)

Question 19

an agreement made between England’s king and nobility in 1215 that established limitations on the power of the king; an early example of constitutionalism

Answer 19

Magna Carta

Question 20

a party system in which many large and small political parties compete for political power and win representation in the government

Answer 20

Multiparty System

Question 21

a system of government that fuses executive and legislative powers; the chief executive (usually called the prime minister) is a member of the legislature and is chosen by the legislature

Answer 21

Parliamentary System

Question 22

a direct vote by members of the public on a policy matter; unlike a referendum, the result of this is not binding on the government

Answer 22

Plebiscite

Question 23

a system in which autonomous, independently formed groups freely attempt to influence the policymaking process of the government in competition with one another

Answer 23

Pluralism

Question 24

a condition of receiving the most votes, though not necessarily a majority, or elective office

Answer 24

Plurality

Question 25

organizations of individuals seeking to win control of government and wield political power by running candidates for office and winning elections or otherwise, depending on the rules of the political system

Answer 25

Political Parties

Question 26

a system of government in which the chief executive is directly elected by voters in a separate election from the legislature, resulting in a separation of powers between branches of government, along with the possibility of a divided government

Answer 26

Presidential System

Question 27

an election system for a legislature that gives each political party a percentage of seats in the legislature approximately equal to the percentage of the vote the party received in the election

Answer 27

Proportional Representation

Question 28

a direct vote by members of the public on a policy matter whose result is expected to be binding in law

Answer 28

Referendum

Question 29

restricting the arbitrary exercise of power by subjecting the government to well-defined established limitations in law

Answer 29

Rule of Law

Question 30

dividing the legislative, executive, and judicial powers and functions of government into distinct institutions

Answer 30

Separation of Powers

Question 31

an election system in which one representative is chosen to represent each geograpic constituency in a legislature

Answer 31

Sinlge-member-districts

Question 32

a system to influence policymaking: the state establishes or selects groups to represent various interests rather than allow independently formed groups to participate

Answer 32

State Corporatism

Question 33

a regime transitioning from authoritarianism to liberal democracy but where democracy has not yet been consolidated

Answer 33

Transitional Democracy

Question 34

a system in which two large, broad-based ideological parties are the only meaningful competitors for control of the government, though minor parties may still run and win small amounts of representation

Answer 34

Two-Party system

Question 35

a vote by the legislature in a parliamentary system to force the resignation of the prime minister and cabinet and call for new elections

Answer 35

Vote of no confidence