Exam #2 Flashcards
Executive leadership
When urgent or coherent leadership is necessary
Policy creation
Processing the bully pulpit
Hereditary monarchs
Many with ceremonial powers (UK and Sweden), some with almost absolute power (Saudi Arabia and Swaziland)
Selection by birth order- politics as the only family business
Directly-elected executives
Chosen by the people of their country, more power than an individual legislator
Usually serve a full term
Political power is to slow or veto the implementation of policies
Executives in parliamentary systems
Power is based on their party’s strength in parliament
The most common type is an executive
More ability to pass legislative, serves until a vote of no confidence
Non democratically elected executives
Usually dictators seize power when the legislature and judiciary are weak
Some are authoritarian oligarchies where institutions are designed to carry on after a dictators death
Bureaucracy of government
Limits leaders flexibility
Courts, legislatures, administrative agencies
Term limits
Frequently dictate to leaders how long they can stay in office
US presidents limited to two 4 year terms
French presidents limited to two 5 year terms
Mass media
Leaders can manipulate the media and use them to advance their initiatives
Media can also manipulate executives- forcing them to take press attention into account and reconfigure their agenda to the press’s concerns
Charisma
Many leaders have an energy that engages and excites people - translates into votes and support
Coercion
People who lack charisma frequently use the power of the police and military to assert control
AKA napoleonic complex
Checks and balances
A system whereby each branch of government can limit power of the others
Head of government
The political role of a country’s leader/president as the leader of a political party and chief arbiter of who gets what resources
Head of state
The apolitical, unifying role of a country’s president/leader as a symbolic representative of the whole country
Monarchy
An authoritarian government with power vested in the king
Executive
The entire branch of gov that performs actions on behalf of the state or to the office/position one might hold
Patriarchy
A form of social organization in which the father is recognized as head of family and descent/kinship are traced through the fathers side
Matriarchy
A form of socialization in which the mother is recognized as head of family and descent/kinship are traced through her side
Hereditary monarchies
All rulers come from the same family
Electoral system
A division of electoral votes that are divvied among the states only partially in relation to population
Presidential system
A system in which there is a separation between legislative and executive branches
Parliamentary system
A system in which there is a fusion of legislative and executive institutions