Codified and Uncodified Constitutions Quiz

A constitution where the fundamental laws and principles are written in one single document.

A constitution where the fundamental laws and principles are spread across multiple sources, such as legislation and judicial precedents.

A constitution that combines elements of both codified and uncodified constitutions. It has a written document as its primary source but also relies on other sources like tradition and convention.

Decisions made by judges in previous cases that serve as guidance for resolving similar cases in the future.

A legal system where judicial precedents are binding on future decisions, meaning judges must follow previous rulings in similar cases.

Sources of law that are expressed in written documents, such as Acts of Parliament.

Sources of law that are not explicitly written but are established through tradition, custom, or practice.

A system with both a head of state and head of government, often with separate powers and responsibilities.

The Swiss Federal Council, consisting of 7 members, serves as the country's executive branch, with each member serving a fixed term of four years.

The President in a semi-presidential system holds the title of Head of State and is responsible for appointing the Prime Minister as the head of government.

The D'Hondt method allocates seats based on a divisor, where a party's vote share is divided by the divisor to determine the number of seats awarded. The Sainte-Laguë method uses a higher divisor compared to D'Hondt, resulting in a more proportional allocation of seats.

A mixed-member proportional (MMP) system combines elements of first-past-the-post, where individual candidates are elected based on their majority vote in a constituency, and proportional representation, where seats are allocated to parties based on their overall vote share.

The UK House of Commons uses a plurality system, also known as first-past-the-post, where the candidate with the most votes in a single-member constituency wins the election.

A quota or divisor is used in proportional representation systems to determine the number of votes required for one seat. It serves as a measure for dividing the total number of votes by the number of seats available.

The term 'bicephalous' refers to the dual leadership structure in a semi-presidential system, where both a Head of State (President) and a Head of Government (Prime Minister) exist concurrently.

A process where a court examines a law to see if it goes against the constitution. If it does, the law can be declared invalid.

The idea that laws should be organized in a hierarchy, with the constitution at the top. This ensures all other laws are based on the constitution.

A system where judges are appointed by the executive branch or elected by citizens.

A system where judges are chosen through a competitive exam process.

A process where a court compares a strict constitution to other legal sources. If a law conflicts with the constitution, it can be declared invalid.

A process where individuals can complain to the constitutional court if they believe their rights have been violated by the government.

The idea that a court's ruling is binding from the moment the law it addresses came into effect.

The idea that a court's ruling is binding only from the moment the court made the decision.

A court's tendency to make decisions that go beyond interpreting the law and shape social or political change.

A model of judicial review where any court can review laws against the constitution during a legal case.

A model of judicial review where a specific court, usually a supreme court, is solely responsible for reviewing laws against the constitution.

A model of judicial review where a specific court reviews laws against the constitution, but only in response to legal cases brought before it.

A model of judicial review where a specific court can review laws against the constitution, even without a specific case being brought before it.

The principle that requires courts to follow previous legal rulings in similar cases.

The process of a court examining a proposed law to see if it conforms to the constitution. If it doesn't, the law must be changed.

Constitutional courts have the authority to prohibit political parties if their principles or activities violate the constitution, as exemplified by Article 21 of the German constitution which forbids parties resembling Nazi ideology.

The primary objective of the Absolute State in terms of economic policy was to promote national wealth and stability through interventionist measures.

Aristotle identified three fundamental forms of government: monarchy, aristocracy, and polity, each distinguished by the number and nature of ruling individuals.

The Industrial Revolution, by triggering significant socio-economic change, propelled the transition from absolute states to liberal states.

Totalitarian states are characterized by a dominant, ideologically driven one-party system, whereas authoritarian states maintain a weak party system that masks an authoritarian structure.

The distribution of power in government refers to how authority is divided among constitutional bodies, outlining the balance and relationship between the judiciary, executive, and legislature.

The Chancellor, appointed by and accountable to the Bundestag, serves as Germany's head of government, responsible for day-to-day governance.

Parliamentary republics, like Ireland, elect their head of state from within Parliament, while parliamentary monarchies, like the United Kingdom, have a hereditary head of state who serves for life.

The German President can dissolve the Bundestag under specific circumstances, such as failure to elect a Chancellor or a failed vote of confidence, presenting the only instances where parliamentary dissolution occurs.

A vote of no-confidence expresses Parliament's lack of trust in the Prime Minister's ability to lead the government, leading to a potential change in leadership.

The Electoral College is a unique U.S. system for electing the President where states are assigned electors based on their congressional representation, and the candidate with the most votes in each state wins all of its electoral votes. A majority of 270 electoral votes is needed to win the presidency.

In presidential systems, like the United States, the President is both head of state and head of government, separate from the legislature, and subject to impeachment rather than a vote of no confidence.

Impeachment is a formal process in presidential systems for accusing a government official of wrongdoing or abuse of power, leading to potential removal from office. It's a legal rather than a political process.

The German Basic Law and Chilean Constitution illustrate the power of constitutional courts to regulate political parties by declaring their unconstitutionality based on their manifesto or activities.

The absolute state, characterized by strong centralized monarchy, practiced interventionist economic policies through taxation and protectionism to promote national wealth and stability.