Voting and Legislation Flashcards
What portion of the world is Unicameral?
2/3
What states can benefit from a unicameral system?
States that are smaller and unitary
What does uni cameral mean?
Means that the state legislation only has one chamber
What does Bicameral mean?
A state legislation that has 2 chambers
What states benefit from Bicameral forms of legislation?
Larger more diverse states.
What was the Canadian senate designed to do?
It was designed to be a house of sober second thought.
What is parlimenterisam?
A form of government common among developed democracy, where a system of democratic governance of a state (or subordinate entity) where the executive derives its democratic legitimacy from its ability to command the support (“confidence”) of the legislature
What is a key feature of Parliamentarism?
The fusion of executive and legislative powers
How many members serve in the House of Commons?
338
What are 4 characteristics of the fusion of government of a responsible government
1)The executive of the state acts on behalf pf its advisor
2)Advisors must be selected from the legislature
3)Advice will only be taken from advisors who have confidence of the legislature
4)
What is Presidentiailism?
The presidential system is defined by the separation of the executive branch from other aspects of government. The head of government is elected to work alongside, but not as a part of, the legislature. There are several types of powers that are traditionally delegated to the president.
What is a key characteristic of Presidentialisam?
The separation of legislative and executive branches
What does the legislature have no say in a presdentialistic system versus a parlimentiary system?
Who is chosen to be the president / ruler - they are elected through the process of proportional representation.
What is a hybrid system of government?
A combination of both the presidential and parliamentary systems. President is elected and then nominates a prime minister - who as a candidate - must have parliamentary approval
What is a big flaw of Hybrid systems?
They lead to cohabitation and can enter into a state of paralysis do to rivalry between executives.
Define cohabitation
A system of divided government that arises when the president elected is of a different party form the majority of the parliament
What is the voting paradox?
Caused when Rational and self interested actors recognize that associated costs of voting ultimately outweigh the benefits.
What does Arrows impossibility theorem reflect?
That in systems of government with numerous electoral candidates it is almost impossible to represent which one is the most preferred as the margin of votes per party is not high enough to display a majority that is notably far off.
What are the functions of legislatures
To form governments. act as a representational body of the people and to pass legislations
What are the two basic Electoral systems
Plurality and proportional representation
What are some cons to Pluraity
Margins of victory tend to be exaggerated
Punishes third parties
generates the wasted vote problem
What is the wasted vote problem? Why is it problematic?
A vote for a party that cannot realistically win - for example the Green Party, subsequently discouraging voters for voting for that party in the future
What is Pluraity
Plurality voting refers to electoral systems in which a candidate, or candidates, who poll more than any other counterpart, are elected.
What is Proportional representation
Proportional representation refers to a type of electoral system under which subgroups of an electorate are reflected proportionately in the elected body. The concept applies mainly to political divisions among voters.
what are some Problems with proportional representation
Creates fragmentation of the party system
Gives disproportionate power to small parties
More difficult to assign accountability for individual decisions.
What are some of the roles of political parties?
Exist as an important system of political systems
Exist as a group of political activists that aspire to form government
provide specific program of policies
What are some cons of political parties ?
Benefit of joining is minimal
Ethnic, regional and religious parties tend to be divisive
Where did political parties originate?
the U.S and The U.K
Formed within parlmianets of like minded individuals
Expanded outwards with structuring votes in popular elections
What are some of the reasons for Carothers Aversion to political parties?
thought parties were corrupted, ill prepared to govern, they dont stand for anything, they waste time and energy squabbling with one another, parties are only active during electoral periods
What is a catch all party?
Parties that try and gain support form the median or middle of the rode voter?
A big tent party, or catch-all party, is a term used in reference to a political party’s policy of permitting or encouraging a broad spectrum of views among its members.
What is a cartel party?
A party that has a lot of power and control exerted by party officials or “elites”
In politics, a cartel party or cartel political party is a party which uses the resources of the state to maintain its position within the political system, operating similar to a cartel
What are several functions of political parties?
Legitimation of the political system
Intergration of and mobilization of citizens
Provide a forum of representation
Structuring the popular vote
Aggregation of diverse interests
Formulation of public policy
Recruitment of leaders for public office
Who said that the party system was “the system of interactions resulting from inter party competition?
Sartori , 1976
What are the three key factors of of the party system?
The nature of the political system as a whole
The pattern of social cleavages underlying the party as a whole
the channels open for competition - primarily the electoral system
What is the party system?
A party system is a concept in comparative political science concerning the system of government by political parties in a democratic country.
