unit 6 Flashcards
What is representative democracy? Why is it regarded as the predominant paradigm
inspiring the organization of government? Is this predominance uncontested?
Representative democracy is a system where elected representatives make decisions on behalf of the people, and it is regarded as the predominant paradigm for organizing government because it is more practical for larger societies, though its predominance is contested by alternative models and critiques.
What is a legislative reserve? What is the added value of parliamentary decision-
making?
A legislative reserve is a system where only parliament can regulate certain areas of governance, ensuring that specific rights or policies are addressed through legislative acts, and the added value of parliamentary decision-making lies in its publicity, representation of diverse political views, and ability to transform societal preferences into informed and balanced judgments.
What are the constitutional prerequisites of free and fair elections?
The constitutional prerequisites of free and fair elections include universal suffrage, direct elections, freedom from interference, secrecy of the vote, and equality of votes.
‘Proportional and majoritarian election systems accommodate in different ways the
goals of governmental stability, representativeness and personal accountability’.
Discuss.
Proportional and majoritarian election systems balance the goals of governmental stability, representativeness, and personal accountability differently, with majoritarian systems prioritizing stability and accountability at the cost of representativeness, while proportional systems focus on broad representation, sometimes sacrificing stability and personal accountability, with mixed systems attempting to combine both strengths.
Illustrate the main traits of the election systems in [France, Germany, Italy, United
Kingdom, USA]
The election systems in France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the USA differ in how they balance stability, representativeness, and accountability, with the UK and USA using majoritarian First-Past-The-Post systems that prioritize stability and accountability but often sacrifice representativeness, while France uses a runoff system promoting majority support, Germany employs a Mixed-Member Proportional system balancing representation and accountability, and Italy’s mixed system under Rosatellum combines FPTP and proportional representation with challenges in voter influence and balancing stability.
How are legislative procedures typically structured?
Legislative procedures are typically structured in stages, including bill initiation by the government or individual members, parliamentary debate and committee scrutiny, multiple readings and votes, party discipline guiding the process, and executive approval for final passage, with bicameral systems adding an extra layer of decision-making in the upper and lower chambers.
What are the reasons for bicameralism?
Bicameralism serves to balance representation of collective groups, secure limited government by preventing unchecked power, accommodate federal systems by representing both regional and popular interests, and assign varying legislative powers to each chamber.
Illustrate the role, composition and tasks of upper chambers in federal and non
federal bicameral systems.
In federal systems, upper chambers represent regional interests, often with equal representation for states or regions, and their tasks include reviewing and amending legislation, with some chambers having equal or greater legislative power; in non-federal systems, upper chambers generally act as revisory bodies, scrutinizing and amending bills passed by the lower chamber, with less legislative authority, as seen in the UK and France.
What is executive rule-making? What are its main manifestations?
Executive rule-making refers to the process by which the executive branch creates detailed regulations, issues executive orders, delegates legislative powers, and empowers regulatory agencies to implement and enforce laws passed by the legislature, ensuring effective governance and adaptability to changing circumstances.
