Presidentialism 3 Flashcards
What type of government occurs when an election is called or when an incumbent government either resigns or is defeated in a vote of no confidence?
A CARETAKER government
What is the name for the type of politician who wants to secure a ministerial portfolio in order to be able to influence public policy?
A policy-seeking politician
What does Gamson’s law state?
GAMSON’S LAW:
Cabinet portfolios will be distributed among the government parties in strict proportion to the number of seats that each party contributes to the government’s legislative majority
What name is given to a coalition government where there are just enough parties to control a legislative majority?
A MINIMAL WINNING COALITION (MWC)
What is the name given to a coalition where all the members are located next to each other in the policy space?
A CONNECTED COALITION
What is a minority government?
Where the governmental parties do not together command a majority of the legislative seats
What controls whether a minority government can exist?
Whether the opposition decides to bring it down
What is the name given to a cabinet which includes more parties than is strictly necessary to control a majority of the seats?
A SURPLUS MAJORITY GOVERNMENT
Theoretically thought of as rare, but actually about 1/5 of the time in W EUR
What is the name of a coalition that forms before an election?
A PREELECTORAL COALITION
They do not compete independently at election time
What is the name of a coalition that forms after an election?
A GOVERNMENT coalition
On average, how long does it take to form a government in W EUR?
a Month
What is a presidential decree?
A presidential order which has the force of law
What are presidential decrees known as in the USA?
An executive order
- Only allow the president to regulate and interpret statutes already enacted
- President cannot enact new laws
What are the two function of president for Walter Bagehot?
- “Ceremonial” functions - Head of State
- “Effective” functions - chief executive
What does Linz think of the fixed terms in presidential systems?
- Disapproves
- Breaks the political process into discontinuous, rigidly demarcated periods leaving no room for the continuous readjustments that events may demand
