Government institutions Flashcards
Constitution
Legal document containing the fundamental laws and principles by which a state is to be governed
Referendum
an amendment to the constitution to reflect new circumstances in society
state
an organised political community living under one system of government
branches of the state
◍ legislature
◍ executive
◍ judiciary
Legislature
◍ law making governmental branch
◍ national parliament is the legislature
executive
◍ enforces the law
judiciary
◍ responsible for interpreting and upholding the law
Separation of powers
Key thinker and purpose
◍ Baron de Montesquieu
◍ ensures no branch will become too powerful or gain complete control over another
Checks and balances
system that avoids the abuse of power by any one branch or individual.
Oireachtas
◍Legislative branch comprised of 3 parts
◍ Dáil Éireann,Seanad and president
Dáil Éireann
◍ main house of parliament
◍ proposes new laws,debates laws and makes amendments
Seanad
◍ Second house of legislature
◍ Reviews laws from dáil
the committee system
the dáil and the seanad can each have specific committees with their members
Seanad Positives
◍ The seanad selection process allows for diversity of views ,provides minority voices
◍ best system for selecting senators w. technical skills on policy making
Seanad Negatives
◍ selection system is elitist and undemocratic as it excludes majority of voters
◍ TD’S that loose seats in general elction often are rewarded w. seanad seats if their party leader becomes Taoiseach.
President
◍head of state
◍ all legislation must be signed by pr
◍ chief ambassador for the country
General election
◍ allows citizens to vote for ppl who will represent them in Dáil
◍ Held: 5 years
◍ Voters: Irish/british citizens,18+ registered
◍ Candidates: irish citizen over 21
Local elections
◍ ppl elect councillors to represent them in their local authorities
◍Held:5 years
◍ Voters:18+,live in local electoral area
◍Candidates: over 18
President elections
◍ppl vote for head of state
◍held:7 years
◍vote:irish citizen18+
◍ Candidates:Irish citizen 35+ who was nominated for the role
European elections
◍ EU citizens choose who will represent thier interests in european parliament
◍Vote:18+ EU Citizen
◍ Candidates:over 21,residentialEU citizen
Seanad elections
◍voters choose senators for the upper house of the oireachtas
◍ Vote: Taoiseach,Trinity,NUI Students
“Proportional Representation - Single Transferable Vote.(PR-STV)
◍ voting system whereby votes rank candidates in order of preference
PR-STV Advantages
◍ society is comprised of diverse ideas w. STV theres increased levels of miority voices and opinions
◍STV ensures high value of party proportionality and allows small and independent candidates to win seats
PR-STV Disadvantages
◍ system is associated w. creating weak coalition governments that promote political instability
◍ system promotes constituency loyalty rather than national policy positions
First past the past
◍ votes cast their votw for a single candidate and the candidate with the most votes wins the election
FPTF Advantages
◍ easy for voters to understand and carry out
◍ atrong constituency MP relationship as one representative is elected for each constituency
FPTP Disadvantages
◍ system encourages ppl not to vote as they believe their vote has little impact
◍ parties don’t always get fair representation
◍ ppl are more likely to vote for the popular parties
