The Parliament

Question 1

Characteristics
1. Legistlation

Answer 1

It proposes, makes and reviews laws
· In Presidential Systems: the President isn’t allowed to make legislation
· In Parliamentary Systems: the president is part of the legislature

Question 2

Characteristics
2. Representation

Answer 2

Descriptive: the parliament represents the country’s people (demographics)
Substantive: the parliament representing citizens’ needs
Symbolic: how the leader is perceived by voters
Formalistic: representing arrangements & rules

Question 3

Characteristics
3. Controlling the Government

Answer 3

Vote of No Confidence: when other members of parliament don’t trust the president
(in Presidential Systems there is no vote)

Question 4

Types of Parliament
Unicameral

Answer 4

There is only one chamber in Parliament (Sweden)

Question 5

Types of Parliament
Bicameral

Answer 5

There are 2 chambers
Lower: representing the country & dominating the UC
Upper: representing the leader’s party
(UK)

Question 6

Weak Bicameralism

Answer 6

The Lower chamber can get rid of the Upper chamber

Question 7

Strong Bicameralism

Answer 7

Both chambers are equally important, have control mechanisms and are more common in Presidential Systems

Question 8

How is the UC elected? (3ways)

Answer 8

1. Direct election: citizens vote (34%) US
2. Indirect election: regional parliaments (34%) NL
3. Appointment through regional government (28%) Canada

Question 9

Types of states
Federal

Answer 9

a type of system in which states/regions within the same country have sovereignty/independent powers

Question 10

Federal State
Tasks

Answer 10

Tasks at National Level: defence, foreign affairs, immigration

Tasks at State Level: education, housing, transport

Question 11

Types of Federal States
Dual

Answer 11

Dual states are the ones that states have independent power and don’t need to act at a national level basis
US
(In the US the Parliament cannot get git of federal governments)

Question 12

Types of Federal States
Cooperative

Answer 12

Cooperative states are the ones that act intermingling with the entire country and the region/state on its own
Germany

Question 13

Types of states
Unitary

Answer 13

The state’s regions don’t act independently; there is only 1 sovereignty.
But regions have independent rights based on decentralisation

Question 14

Unitary States
Deconcentration

Answer 14

National tasks are spread around the country

Question 15

Unitary States
Delegation

Answer 15

Each region is responsible for a national task

Question 16

Unitary States
Devolution

Answer 16

Regions can form their own Parliaments and act independently, however, the main government can take powers back