POLI Second half

Question 1

Bureaucracy

Answer 1

a subsidiary of the executive, tasked with implementing and executing the laws of the state

Question 2

Cabinet

Answer 2

the set of appointed officials (often referred to as secretaries or ministers) in a government who oversee specific policies such as healthcare, defence, and the like

Question 3

Coalition

Answer 3

a partnership between parties who agree to govern together because neither party has a majority on its own

Question 4

Competitive Authoritarianism

Answer 4

political regimes where democratic institutions are put in place but authoritarian political leaders consistently undermine these institutions to stay in power

Question 5

Executive

Answer 5

the branch of governments tasked with implementing and executing the laws and policies in a state

Question 6

Head of government

Answer 6

oversees the day-to-day functions of the government

Question 7

Head of State

Answer 7

the country’s symbolic representative

Question 8

One-Party Rule

Answer 8

one party possesses overwhelming control over the political process;
in general, other parties do exist, but they have limited power and are kept in check by the dominant party

Question 9

Parliamentary System

Answer 9

a government system where the head of government is chosen from the legislature by the ruling party and also serves as the head of state

Question 10

President

Answer 10

the chief executive in a presidential democracy; serves as both the head
of state and the head of government

Question 11

Presidential System

Answer 11

a government system where the legislative and executive
branch have a separation of powers; unlike in parliamentary systems, the legislature is unable to remove the government

Question 12

Prime Minister

Answer 12

the chief executive in a parliamentary democracy; serves as head of
state and typically is also head of the largest party in parliament

Question 13

Semi-Presidential System

Answer 13

a mix between pure parliamentary and pure presidential systems. The legislature elects the head of government and has the ability to remove the government from office, but there is also a popularly elected head of
state.

Question 14

Separation of Powers

Answer 14

a system in which different branches of the government possess separate and independent powers, so no specific political institution has too much power; this is also known as checks and balances and is typically divided into three branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judiciary

Question 15

Vote of (No) Confidence

Answer 15

constitutionally mandated authority to remove the government through a vote of the legislature

Question 16

Bicameral Legislature

Answer 16

legislative branches with two chambers as opposed to a uni- cameral legislature, where there is only one chamber

Question 17

Constituency Service

Answer 17

services a legislator provides to constituents who are seeking assistance, such as helping them navigate bureaucratic processes; also known as casework

Question 18

Gatekeeping Authority

Answer 18

the authority to block legislation from advancing to the chamber floor

Question 19

Legislative Agenda

Answer 19

what bills will be heard on the chamber floor, when they will be discussed, and if they will come before the chamber for a vote

Question 20

Legislators

Answer 20

the individuals elected to hold office in the legislature

Question 21

Legislature

Answer 21

“a body created to approve measures that will form the law of the land”

Question 22

Malapportionment

Answer 22

apportionment is the ratio between the number of residents in
the district and the number of representatives from that district in the legislature; malapportionment happens when the votes of voters in some territorial sectors count more than others – that is, when the ratio between the residents and representatives is significantly different from district to district (as is the case in the US Senate)

Question 23

Negative Agenda Control

Answer 23

the ability to prevent bills from being heard on the chamber floor, typically because they are blocked in the committee process

Question 24

Seniority

Answer 24

legislators who have served the most terms in office are said to have legislative seniority

Question 25

unicameral legislature

Answer 25

legislative branches with only one chamber as opposed to a bicameral legislature, where there are two chambers