Mid Term Chaps 5-8 Flashcards
Structural functional definition of state
The key organizational structures that operate the government and the key functions that the state performs
Sovereignty
The premise that each state has complete authority and is the ultimate source of law within its own boundaries
Territorial integrity
A state has the right to resist and reject any aggression, invasion, or intervention within its territorial boundaries
Gabriel almonds structural functional approach
- political socialization
- political recruitment
- political communication
- interest articulation
- interest aggregation
- policy making
- policy implementation
- policy adjudication
Legal definition of state
A territorially bound sovereign entity
Roles of executives
- Leadership roles
- Symbolic and ceremonial roles
- supervision of the administration
- supervision of the military and foreign affairs
Executive definition
To carry out the political systems, policies, laws, and directives.
Duel executive
One actor, the head of state, performs the more ceremonial aspects of top leadership, while the other actor, the head of government, is responsible for the more political aspects of governance.
Fused executive
A single actor fulfills both the ceremonial roles associated with the head of state and the political functions associates with the head of the government
What is an example of a dual executive system
Monarchies
Legislatures definition
Structures in which representatives of the people discuss, assess, and enact public policies.
Three broad roles modern legislatures have
- Enacting legislation
- Representing the citizenry
- Overseeing the executive and administration
How are most legislatures elected
By a set of voters
What is obudsman
An independent agency that investigates complaints regarding the actions of the executive branch and its administrative units.
Pros of unicameral legislatures
Political responsibility is located in one legislative body and risks of duplication and stalemate between parallel bodies are eliminated.
What kind of legislature does the United States have?
A bicameral Legislature
Pros of a bicameral legislature
Two legislative houses provide more careful deliberation on issues and laws. Also two houses make it easier to accommodate different desirable models of representation.
What is the number of members in a legislature
The number of members varies enormously. Some houses have fewer that 10 members and others having thousands of members.
Administration definition
The general term used to describe the machinery and the process through which the states rules and policies are applied and implemented.
Five broad functions of administration
- Provision of public goods and services
- Regulation and enforcement of public policies
- Provision of knowledge
- Information management
- Extraction of resources
Bureaucracy definition
An organization that is hierarchical and specialized by means of elaborate division of labor
Max Webber’s definition of bureaucracy
A particular structure and set of processes through which the administration can operate
Judiciary definition
The system of courts and personnel that determines that weather the rules of the society have been transgressed and, if so, weather sanctions ought to be imposed on the transgressor
Adjudication definition
Attempts to interpret and apply the reverent rules or laws to a given situation
What is an independent judiciary?
The judicial actors are not under the direct control of any political structure
Judicial review definition
Judicial structures establish the final interpretation of what the constitution and the laws mean
Constitution definition
A set of statements describing the fundamental rules of the political system
What is the Constitutional purpose
It declares the existence of the state and expresses three crucial sets of rules: 1)allocates governmental activities 2)establishes formal power relationships 3)limits the power of the rulers and guarantees the rights of the ruled
Constitutional regime definition
Operates in terms of the rule of law and ensures effective restraints on the power holders
What is the defining feature of a constitutional regime
State attempts to fulfill the provisions of its constitution
Non constitutional regime definition
The structural arrangements of the constitution are not generally upheld and there are few restraints on those with political power
Direct democracy definition
All citizens are active, direct participants in making public policy decisions
Representative democracy definition
Citizens periodically elect people who represent them in the political process and make policy decisions on their behalf
Electoral democracy
A political system in which virtually all citizens periodically vote in order to select political leaders for among alternative conditions
Limited mandate
Additional condition that means that the electorate grants the authority to govern for a fixed period of time
Liberal democracy
Citizens enjoy not only electoral democracy but also more extensive political rights regarding participation, personal freedoms & opposition.
Democracy
Governance by leaders whose authority is based on a limited mandate from a universal electorate that selects amount genuine alternatives and had some rights to political participation and opposition
Autocracy
A single ruler exercises absolute power and authority without any legal constraints or citizen mandate
Dictatorship
Absence of a limited mandate. A ruler with absolute power and authority
Authoritarian regime
No limited mandate but distinguished also in that political actions and decisions of the ruler are not constrained
Totalitarian regime
The political systems decisions and its control penetrate into virtually every aspect of its people’s lives
Unitary state
A central government holds all legitimate power
Federation
Constitutional division of power and functions between a central government and a set of regional governments. They C.G. And R.G.share power
Confederation
States delegate some power to a supernatural central go government but retain primary power
Presidential government
Separation of executive and legislative structures
Parliamentary government
Fusion of executive and legislative structures
Hybrid systems
Have a prime minister and an elected legislature
Council systems
A small group shares collective leadership and is responsible for both executive and legislative functions
Assembly systems
Collective leadership exercised by a large group usually constituted as a legislature
What are the four political party systems
1) two party systems
2) multiparty systems
3) dominant party systems
4) no-party systems
