European Political Systems Overview

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

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

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

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

Why do presidents often face challenges in passing legislation?

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

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

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

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.

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.