European Political Systems Overview
8 Questions
0 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to Lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is a key difference in how the president and prime minister are selected?

  • The president is chosen by the voters. (correct)
  • The prime minister is elected by the voters.
  • The president is elected by the legislature.
  • The prime minister is chosen by popular vote.

    • In a presidential system, what role does the chief executive typically have with respect to the legislature?

  • The chief executive is often elected from outside of the political system. (correct)
  • The chief executive is solely a legislative leader.
  • The chief executive cannot appoint anyone from the legislature.
  • The chief executive must be a member of the legislature.

    • How does the selection of cabinet members differ between a president and a prime minister?

  • Prime ministers can also choose cabinet members from outside parliament.
  • Cabinet members are elected officials in both systems.
  • Presidents select cabinet members from outside Congress. (correct)
  • Presidents and prime ministers have no role in selecting cabinet members.

    • What is required for a prime minister to remain in power?

    <p>To retain a majority in the legislature. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why do presidents often face challenges in passing legislation?

    <p>Congress may not be sympathetic to their agenda. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one characteristic of a prime minister's party in relation to legislative power?

    <p>They must hold a majority of seats in the legislature. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following individuals served as Secretary of State under President George Washington?

    <p>Thomas Jefferson (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can be said about the relationship of prime ministers to the legislative body?

    <p>They are always established politicians within the legislature. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Flashcards

    Presidential System

    In this system, the leader is chosen by the voters and appoints a cabinet that doesn't have to be in the legislative body. They don't need a majority in the legislature for their agenda.

    Parliamentary System

    In this system, the leader is chosen by the legislative body and appoints cabinet members from within its ranks. They need a majority in the legislature for their agenda.

    How is the President chosen?

    The president in a presidential system, acting as the head of state, is chosen by voters.

    How is the Prime Minister chosen?

    The prime minister in a parliamentary system, acting as the head of state, is chosen by the legislature.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Does a President need to choose cabinet members from the legislature?

    A president can choose their cabinet members from outside of the legislature.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Does a Prime Minister need to choose cabinet members from the legislature?

    A prime minister must appoint cabinet members from the legislature.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    What challenges could a president face?

    The president does not always have the majority in the legislature needed to pass bills.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    What challenges could a prime minister face?

    The prime minister always has the majority in the legislature needed to pass bills because the legislature chose them.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Study Notes

    European Political Systems

    • France combines a directly elected president with a prime minister and a parliament.
    • In a parliamentary system, the prime minister is the chief executive, chosen by the legislature, not the voters.
    • The prime minister selects other ministers from those in parliament.
    • If there are only two major parties, ministers would usually come from the majority party.
    • In multi-party systems, such as Israel, members from multiple parties might join a coalition cabinet.
    • Presidential vs Parliamentary systems differ greatly in the identity and power of the chief executive.

    Presidents Often Outsiders

    • Winning presidential elections helps when a candidate tries to show they're not part of the political "establishment".
    • Prime ministers are selected from members of parliament; this keeps them as insiders.
    • US presidents often lack prior high-level government experience.
      • Examples, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, lacked previous federal experience before becoming president.
      • Others have background as governor or military leader (e.g., John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson).
    • Some presidents have had experience in the executive branch (like Nixon or George H.W. Bush).

    Presidential Cabinet Members

    • US Presidents are constitutionally barred from appointing sitting members of Congress to positions in the executive branch.
    • Prime ministers usually select cabinet members who are current members of parliament.
    • Almost all cabinet members are members of parliament.

    Congressional Majorities

    • Prime Ministers' parties usually hold a majority in parliament.
    • Presidential parties often don't control Congress.

    Studying That Suits You

    Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

    Quiz Team

    Related Documents

    Unit 3 Chapter 14: Presidents and Prime Ministers PDF

    Description

    This quiz explores the structure of different political systems in Europe, focusing on the distinctions between presidential and parliamentary systems. It delves into the roles of leaders, election processes, and the implications of political party dynamics. Test your knowledge about how these systems function across various countries.

    More Like This

    Use Quizgecko on...
    Browser
    Open
    Browser
    Browser