Module 11 International Comparison Flashcards
Liberal democracy is a political system in which…
Democratically based institutions of gov are constrained by liberal-inspired constitutional arrangements, political practices and popular expectations that limit the scope and capacity of the government sector
Principles of liberal democracy
Democratic themes
Limitations to government power
Checks and balances
Elements of Australia’s government
Constitutional monarchy Federal system (powder divided btw federal/state/local) Parliamentary system (no clear separation of legislative and executive)
Elements of UK’s system of government
Constitutional monarchy (not codified - no actual ‘constitution)
Parliamentary system
Not a federal system (UNITARY - no states)
Liberal democracy
Elements of US’s system of government
Presidential system Constitution includes a Bill of Rights Democratic republic (no monarchy) Federal system (similar to Australia) Liberal democracy (more liberal than democratic - rights of the individual less gov oversight)
Germany’s system of government
President and chancellor (elected by Bundestag - house of reps)
Federal system
Parliamentary system
Constitution (and rights)
Multi-party system (diff from our majoritarian system)
Less adversarial than Westminster model of parliament
Swedish system of government
Constitutional monarchy
Parliamentary system
PM and cabinet ministers cannot vote in Riksdag
Proportional voting - must have at least 4%
Strong social democratic tradition
Non-liberal/non-democratic systems
Absolute monarchies e.g. Brunei Military-backed gov (junta) e.g. Central African Republic Theocracy e.g. Vatican City, Iran Communist state (China) Totalitarian states (Korea)
What type of government system, consider…
Who holds power? How do they hold power? Are there checks and balances on the limits of power? Who benefits from the exercise of power? Who suffers from the exercise of power?
