Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is a primary aim of import substitution?
What is a primary aim of import substitution?
The House of Lords in the United Kingdom has the power to initiate legislation.
The House of Lords in the United Kingdom has the power to initiate legislation.
False
What happens during a hung parliament in the House of Commons?
What happens during a hung parliament in the House of Commons?
Coalition is formed to help reach a majority.
The __________ Act of 2011 established a fixed parliamentary term of five years in the UK.
The __________ Act of 2011 established a fixed parliamentary term of five years in the UK.
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Match the following organizations/terms with their purpose or characteristic:
Match the following organizations/terms with their purpose or characteristic:
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What is the maximum number of consecutive terms a president can serve in Nigeria?
What is the maximum number of consecutive terms a president can serve in Nigeria?
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Mexico's president can serve up to 9 years in total with consecutive terms.
Mexico's president can serve up to 9 years in total with consecutive terms.
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What is the role of the president in Nigeria?
What is the role of the president in Nigeria?
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In Nigeria, the ___ system is used for laws, while in Mexico, the ___ system is used.
In Nigeria, the ___ system is used for laws, while in Mexico, the ___ system is used.
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Match the following countries with their specific characteristics:
Match the following countries with their specific characteristics:
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What triggers a runoff election in Nigeria?
What triggers a runoff election in Nigeria?
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The president in Nigeria can be removed through impeachment.
The president in Nigeria can be removed through impeachment.
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Name one major challenge that Nigeria faces related to its oil industry.
Name one major challenge that Nigeria faces related to its oil industry.
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Mexico has a history of ___ which has led to protests from groups like the Zapatistas.
Mexico has a history of ___ which has led to protests from groups like the Zapatistas.
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What is the purpose of the Federal Character Principle in Nigeria?
What is the purpose of the Federal Character Principle in Nigeria?
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Study Notes
NIGERIA
- Former Authoritarian Regime: Nigeria previously had an authoritarian government.
- Current Democratic System: Now a democratic system with a written constitution and regular elections.
- Federal System: Power is divided between the national and state governments.
- Presidential System: A president is elected by popular vote and serves as head of state, head of government, and commander-in-chief.
- Presidential Appointments: The president appoints cabinet members, subject to Senate approval.
- Impeachment: The president can be removed through impeachment proceedings.
- Term Limits: The president is limited to two consecutive four-year terms.
- Election Process: Direct elections every four years; the winning candidate needs a majority (50% + 1) of the vote or a runoff election to secure 25% of the national vote in two-thirds of the states.
- Bicameral Legislature: A bicameral legislature comprised of the House of Representatives (lower house) and the Senate (upper house).
- House of Representatives Election: Elected through the plurality system (winner-take-all).
- Senate Election: Elected through the plurality system.
- Legal System: Adopts a common law system with the power of judicial review.
- Sharia Law: Sharia law is used in 12 northern states.
- Multiparty System: Nigeria has a multiparty system.
- Patron-Clientelism: Favors and jobs are exchanged for personal gain, often associated with prebendalism.
- Social Movements: Groups like MEND (Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta) and MOSOP (Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People) protest issues like those in the Niger Delta.
- Ethnic and Religious Divides: Nigeria faces ethnic and religious cleavages (north is predominantly Muslim, south is predominantly Christian), leading to regional tensions.
- Economic Divisions: Economic disparities exist between the oil-rich south and other regions.
- Rentier State: Nigeria relies heavily on oil revenue.
- Resource Curse: Over-reliance on oil exports limits diversification.
- Oil Wealth & Bureaucracy: Oil wealth is often paired with a large and corrupt bureaucracy.
- State Corporatism: Para-statals are used to maintain state control, despite the appearance of public-private cooperation.
- Para-statals: These are privately owned entities headed by government appointees.
- Foreign Policy: Nigeria's importance in international relations stems from its oil exports. Active member with several supranational organizations, including the AU, ECOWAS, OPEC, UN, and WTO.
- Federal Character Principle: A quota system designed to promote ethnic balance among government officials.
MEXICO
- Former Authoritarian Regime: Mexico previously had one-party dominance under the PRI.
- Current Democratic Regime: Now a democratic regime with written constitutions and regular elections.
- Federal System: Power is divided among national and subnational (state and local) governments.
- Presidential System: Mexico has a presidential system.
- Presidential Term Limit: One term limit of six years.
- Election System: First past the post system, candidate with most votes wins.
- Impeachment: The legislature can impeach the president.
- Bicameral Legislature: Mexico has a bicameral congressional system, wherein the Chamber of Deputies (lower house) and the Senate (upper house) have distinct elections.
- Chamber of Deputies: Elected through single-member district elections, limited to four terms.
- Senate: Chosen through multi-member state elections, with two year term limits for each of the six-year terms.
- Judicial System: Follows civil law.
- Judicial Review: Though a judicial review exists, it is not extensively used.
- Supreme Court Appointments: Members of the Supreme Court are appointed for 15-year terms by vote and Senate approval.
- Multiparty System: Mexico has a multiparty system.
- Political Party: Morena is a prominent political party.
- Transparency & Media: The constitution promises transparency, but historical media limitations remain.
- Civil Society: Organisations like the Zapatistas, who protested NAFTA policies, are examples of civil society responses to neoliberal policies.
- Cleavages: Mexico faces ethnic (Indigenous/White), regional (North/South), and economic (wealthy/poor) divides.
- Economic Activity: Maquiladora factories in the North, agriculture in the South.
- Economic Focus (Past): Import Substitution Industrialization
- State Oil Company: PEMEX, a state-owned oil company.
- Government Privatization: The current government advocates for PEMEX privatization.
- Election Integrity: The INE (Federal Electoral Institute) protects elections.
- Drug Trafficking and Cartels: A significant challenge.
- Supranational Organizations: Importance in organizations like NAFTA, WTO, and IMF, recently replaced by the USMCA.
UNITED KINGDOM
- Parliamentary System: The UK has a parliamentary system.
- Bicameral Legislature: A bicameral legislature comprised of the House of Lords (upper house) and the House of Commons (lower house).
- House of Commons: Elected through a single-member district plurality system, with 650 members.
- Prime Minister: Chosen by the majority party in the House of Commons.
- Government & Opposition: The party in control forms the government; the minority forms the opposition.
- Fixed-Term Parliament Act (2011): Set five-year terms for Parliament.
- Vote of No Confidence: Allows the House of Commons to remove the government.
- Hung Parliament: Occurs when no party achieves a majority in the House of Commons, often leading to coalition governments.
- House of Lords: Composed of appointed members. Their power is mainly to delay legislation or raise concerns about technical details.
- UK Cabinet Members: All cabinet ministers are also members of the House of Commons.
- Prime Minister's Questions: A parliamentary session where the prime minister answers questions put forth by opposition members.
- Judicial System: Uses common law.
- Supreme Court: Established in 2009.
- Judicial Review: The UK Supreme Court does not utilize judicial review.
- Devolution: Process of delegating power to regional governments.
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Description
Explore the political structure of Nigeria, from its former authoritarian regime to the current democratic system. This quiz covers the key elements of governance including the federal system, presidential elections, and the legislative framework. Test your knowledge on how power is distributed and the processes of impeachment and election in Nigeria.
