Lecture 6 Flashcards
Executive
The political institution responsible for overseeing the execution of laws and policies, and most often associated with the idea of national leadership.
Leadership
The capacity to lead by motivating or inspiring others to achieve common goals, ideally voluntarily and willingly but otherwise by threats and force.
Head of state
the figurehead or ceremonial leader of a state, who may be elected or appointed, or may inherit the position (monarch)
Head of government
The elected leader of a government, who comes to office because of the support of the voters who identify with their party and platform
Republic
A political system in which all members of the government are either elected or are appointed by elected officials. In other words, there is no monarchs
Presidential executive
An arrangement in which the executive and the legislature are separately and directly elected and have separate powers and responsibilities
Separation of power
An arrangement in which executive, legislature and judiciary are given distinct but complementary sets of power, such that none can govern alone ad that all should, ideally govern together.
parliamentary executive
An arrangement in which the executive emerges from the legislature, remains a member of it, remains accountable to it and must maintain a working legislative majority in order to remain in office.
Coalition government
An arrangement in which the government is formed through an agreement involving two or more political parties which divide government posts between them
Cabinet
A body consisting of the heads of the major government departments. Sometimes known as a council of ministers. More important in parliamentary than in presidential systems.
Semi-presidential executive
An arrangement in which an elected president co-exist with an appointed prime minister and separately elected legislature.
Cohabitation
An arrangement found in a semi-presidential systems when the presidency is held by a member of one party and the legislature is controlled by another party
Authoritarian executive
A presidential executive or monarch whose powers fece few constitutional or political limits
Legislature
A multi-member representative body which considers public issues, shapes laws, represents voters and augments the work of executives
Descriptive representation
The idea that legislators should look like the larger group of people that they represent in terms of gender, class or ethnicity for example
Collective representation
The idea that legislators should represent the interests of all voters, not just those in the district that elected them
Vote of confidence
A vote in a legislature on the question of its confidence in the government to lead. If lost, it normally requires the resignation of the government
Censure motion
A vote in a legislature designed to indicate disapproval of a government or a specific member of the government for a stated reason
Recall
A popular vote on whether an elected official should be removed from office during normal tenure
Impeachement
The removal from office of a sitting president (or other officials such as government ministers or judges) through a vote in the legislature
Unicameral or bicameral
Terms referring to the number of chambers in a legislature
Weak bicameralism
This arises when the lower chamber dominates the upper, providing the primary focus for government accountability
Strong bicameralism
This occurs when the two chambers are more balanced, as in federations with presidential executives
Model of representation
A mean for understanding the way in which elected officials represent the interests of their voters and districts
Elite theory
The theory that power in society is wielded by a minority, whose members have advantages that may be based on wealth, age, race, gender, education or some combination of these
Gendered institution
A body that operates with formal rules and informal conventions which, intentionally or unintentionally, advantage men over women
Co-option
The process by which leaders encourage political movements or opponents to become part of the governing system, thereby neutralizing opposition
Consultative authoritarianism
The idea that legislatures in authoritarian regimes are used by leaders to give a sense that the regime is prepared to listen to its critics and opponents
Presidential executive- strengths and weaknesses
Strengths:
The fixed term provides continuity, avoiding instability of coalitions
Winning an election requires candidates to develop widespread support
Presidents provide a symbol of unity
Involves a separation of powers, thus encouraging a limited government.
Weaknesses:
-Only one party can win
Features of parliamentary government
Majority government - one party wins clear majority and the leader normally becomes prime minister. (Britain).
Coalition government - no one party wins a clear majority, obliging two or more parties to govern together. (Denmark, Germany)
Minority government - no party wins majority and agreement among them is hard to reach, leaving one party to govern as a minority (if more then minority coalition).
Cabinet - rarely as strong as in presidential executives. Main point of contact between the executive and the bureaucracy.
Subtypes of semi-presidentialism
Premier-presidential: president is elected in a vote and selects a prime minister who heads a cabinet, legislature has sole power to dismiss the prime minister and the cabinet. Finland, France, Poland.
Presidential-parliamentary: president is elected in a vote, but the prime minister and cabinet answer to the president and legislature.
