Podcast
Questions and Answers
What two houses make up the Parliament in the UK?
What two houses make up the Parliament in the UK?
- House of Commons and House of Lords (correct)
- House of Representatives and Senate
- National Assembly and Senate
- House of Parliament and House of Commons
Which role does the Prime Minister serve in the UK government?
Which role does the Prime Minister serve in the UK government?
- Head of state with veto power
- Head of the Executive branch (correct)
- Member of the House of Lords
- Supreme Court Justice
What is a key power the President has in the French government regarding Parliament?
What is a key power the President has in the French government regarding Parliament?
- Can veto legislation at any time
- Can dissolve Parliament once a year (correct)
- Appoints the Prime Minister without vote
- Must be a member of the National Assembly
Which entity has no executive power in the UK system?
Which entity has no executive power in the UK system?
What is the requirement for members of the government in the UK?
What is the requirement for members of the government in the UK?
What happens if a vote of no confidence is passed in the UK?
What happens if a vote of no confidence is passed in the UK?
In which model of government do two heads of the executive state exist?
In which model of government do two heads of the executive state exist?
What describes a unitary state in terms of power distribution?
What describes a unitary state in terms of power distribution?
How often is the Head of Government in Spain elected?
How often is the Head of Government in Spain elected?
What initiates the motion of no confidence against the Prime Minister?
What initiates the motion of no confidence against the Prime Minister?
What distinguishes a federal state from a unitary state?
What distinguishes a federal state from a unitary state?
What characterizes a federal country in relation to its states?
What characterizes a federal country in relation to its states?
What is a characteristic of a parliamentary system of government?
What is a characteristic of a parliamentary system of government?
What must the Prime Minister provide when initiating a question of confidence?
What must the Prime Minister provide when initiating a question of confidence?
Which feature is associated with unitary states?
Which feature is associated with unitary states?
What form of state represents a structure that combines elements of both unitary and federal systems?
What form of state represents a structure that combines elements of both unitary and federal systems?
In which system does the President serve as both the head of state and head of government?
In which system does the President serve as both the head of state and head of government?
In the context of federal states, what occurs in positive conflicts?
In the context of federal states, what occurs in positive conflicts?
What differentiates symmetrical federalism from asymmetrical federalism?
What differentiates symmetrical federalism from asymmetrical federalism?
What is a feature of a semi-presidential system?
What is a feature of a semi-presidential system?
Which type of democracy allows direct participation from the people in political decisions?
Which type of democracy allows direct participation from the people in political decisions?
Which statement correctly describes devolutionary federalism?
Which statement correctly describes devolutionary federalism?
What percentage of registered votes must candidates secure to enter the second round of voting?
What percentage of registered votes must candidates secure to enter the second round of voting?
How many times do citizens vote in a presidential system?
How many times do citizens vote in a presidential system?
Which group elects the members of the Senate in France?
Which group elects the members of the Senate in France?
What distinguishes indirect democracy from direct democracy?
What distinguishes indirect democracy from direct democracy?
What is a potential issue with cohabitation in a semi-presidential system?
What is a potential issue with cohabitation in a semi-presidential system?
What is the total number of members in Spain's Senate?
What is the total number of members in Spain's Senate?
How often are members of Congress of Deputies elected in Spain?
How often are members of Congress of Deputies elected in Spain?
What is the primary function of parliament in a parliamentary system?
What is the primary function of parliament in a parliamentary system?
In the US, how many electors are there in the Electoral College?
In the US, how many electors are there in the Electoral College?
What is the role of the Vice President in the US?
What is the role of the Vice President in the US?
Which statement correctly describes the Senate in Spain?
Which statement correctly describes the Senate in Spain?
What happens if the Senate vetoes a bill from Congress in Spain?
What happens if the Senate vetoes a bill from Congress in Spain?
Which of the following is a tool used in indirect democracy?
Which of the following is a tool used in indirect democracy?
What is the primary function of a parliament?
What is the primary function of a parliament?
What characterizes a bicameral parliament?
What characterizes a bicameral parliament?
In a majoritarian electoral system, what is often a significant consequence?
In a majoritarian electoral system, what is often a significant consequence?
What does the term 'constituency' refer to in an electoral system?
What does the term 'constituency' refer to in an electoral system?
The 'spoiler effect' primarily occurs in which electoral system?
The 'spoiler effect' primarily occurs in which electoral system?
What is the main characteristic of a proportional electoral system?
What is the main characteristic of a proportional electoral system?
Which of these statements about unicameral parliaments is true?
Which of these statements about unicameral parliaments is true?
Flashcards
UK Parliament Structure
UK Parliament Structure
The UK Parliament has two houses: the House of Commons (lower) and the House of Lords (upper).
UK Executive
UK Executive
The UK executive is headed by the Prime Minister.
UK Judicial Branch
UK Judicial Branch
UK judicial branch is headed by the Supreme Court.
UK King's role in legislation
UK King's role in legislation
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French Parliament Structure
French Parliament Structure
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French Executive Heads
French Executive Heads
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Vote of No Confidence (France)
Vote of No Confidence (France)
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Presidential Dissolution Power (France)
Presidential Dissolution Power (France)
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Parliamentary System
Parliamentary System
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Presidential System
Presidential System
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Semi-Presidential System
Semi-Presidential System
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Head of State
Head of State
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Head of Government
Head of Government
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Direct Democracy
Direct Democracy
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Indirect Democracy
Indirect Democracy
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Confederation
Confederation
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Unitary State
Unitary State
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Devolution
Devolution
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Federal State
Federal State
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Symmetrical Federalism
Symmetrical Federalism
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Asymmetrical Federalism
Asymmetrical Federalism
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Spanish Head of Government
Spanish Head of Government
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Spanish Cohabitation
Spanish Cohabitation
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Vote of No Confidence (Spain)
Vote of No Confidence (Spain)
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Spanish Vertical Power Distribution
Spanish Vertical Power Distribution
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Unitary State vs. Federal State
Unitary State vs. Federal State
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Referendum
Referendum
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Popular Initiative
Popular Initiative
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Plebiscite
Plebiscite
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Recall
Recall
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Unicameral Parliament
Unicameral Parliament
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Bicameral Parliament
Bicameral Parliament
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Lower Chamber
Lower Chamber
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Upper Chamber
Upper Chamber
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French Senate Elections
French Senate Elections
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Spanish Congress of Deputies
Spanish Congress of Deputies
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Spanish Senate Representation
Spanish Senate Representation
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Spanish Senate Voting
Spanish Senate Voting
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US President's Term
US President's Term
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US Electoral College
US Electoral College
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UK King's role
UK King's role
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UK Government & Opposition
UK Government & Opposition
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Study Notes
Separation of Powers
- Three branches of government exist (Legislative, Executive, and Judicial)
- Montesquieu developed the theory of separation of powers.
- Legislative branch creates laws.
- Executive branch enforces laws.
- Judicial branch interprets laws.
- Separation of powers also implies division of power among the branches.
- Staff and personnel are separate among branches.
Separation of Powers in the USA
- Legislative Branch: Congress (House of Representatives and Senate)
- Executive Branch: President and US Federal Government
- Judicial Branch: US Federal Courts (Supreme Court)
Checks and Balances
- Veto power: President can veto legislation made by Congress. Congress can override the veto with a supermajority.
- Pocket veto: The president can let a bill die if Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting the bill.
- Impeachment: Congress can impeach and remove the President for "high crimes and misdemeanors."
- Judge nominations: The President appoints judges, requiring Senate approval.
- Constitutional review: Judicial branch ensures laws are consistent with the Constitution. Laws deemed unconstitutional are returned to Congress for amendment.
Separation of Powers in the UK
- Legislative Branch: Parliament (House of Commons and House of Lords)
- Executive Branch: Prime Minister
- Judicial Branch: Supreme Court
- Checks and Balances: King-in-Parliament Acts (power of the Crown to approve acts made by Parliament). Acts of Parliament must have Royal assent, thus are approved by the Crown. King has no veto power but signs all legislation.
Separation of Powers in France
- Legislative Branch: Parliament (National Assembly and Senate)
- Executive Branch: President and Prime Minister
- Judicial Branch: Supreme Court
- Constitutional Council
- Checks and Balances: relationship between President and Prime Minister, both elected separately. Checks and balances with the legislature ensuring sufficient support for government policies.
Parliamentary, Presidential, and Semi-Presidential Models
- Unitary States: power is not divided among territories.
- Regional/Decentralized States: power is divided between central and regional levels.
- Federal Countries: power is divided between central and state or provincial governments.
- Confederations: a loose union of states.
Parliamentary Model
- Head of state: King or President
- Head of Government: Prime Minister, elected by the parliament.
- Parliament: strongest institution in the government.
Presidential Model
- Head of State and Head of Government: President, elected by the people.
- Parliament: elected separately from the executive, has no confidence vote mechanism for the president
Semi-Presidential Model
- Separate head of state and government; President elected by popular vote
- Head of government is the prime minister, elected by the parliament.
Direct and Indirect Democracy
- Direct Democracy: citizens directly vote on issues.
- Indirect Democracy: representatives are chosen to make decisions on behalf of the citizens.
Legislative Processes
- Legislative Process: Initiate, amend, and veto laws.
- House of Representatives and Senate are the representative houses of the US government
Parliaments
- Different countries have different numbers of members, election methods, and terms of service for parliament members
- House of Commons consists of 650 MPs elected every 5 years in the UK.
- Congress has 435 representatives, elected every 2 years; and a senate with 100 senators with 6 year terms, elected every 2 years, to stagger the elections.
- Parliaments in different countries have varying structures to balance power.
- The US House of Representatives is elected every 2 years and the Senate is elected every 6 years.
Executive Power
- Executive Branch holds executive power in differing levels among countries
- Executive's power and responsibilities are varied among countries governed by different systems and approaches.
- Executives vary in terms of their power concerning legislation and their influence on policy making.
Vertical Distribution of Power
- Unitary countries: All power rests in the central government.
- Federal countries: Power is divided between the central and regional governments.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the key aspects of the UK and French governmental systems. This quiz covers the functions of Parliament, roles of the Prime Minister, and characteristics of various government models. Delve into the intricacies of unitary and federal states and their implications.
