Democratic regimes can be distinguished by how they select the head of government and whether a separate head of state exists. These arrangements shape who exercises executive power and how leaders relate to the legislature.
The three main democratic regime types are presidential, parliamentary, and semi-presidential. The central distinction is the relationship between the executive and the legislature, especially how the head of government receives authority.
All flashcards
Head of state
The person who formally and symbolically represents the state, often through public events and ceremonies.
Head of government
The chief executive who leads governing activity, such as setting policy and directing the executive branch.
Government legitimacy
Citizens' recognition that a government has a rightful basis for exercising authority.
Presidential regime
A regime in which a popularly elected president serves a fixed term as head of state and head of government.
Crisis and public judgment
Citizens may evaluate leaders in crises, but approval and election outcomes have multiple causes.
Quiz questions
What is the usual distinction between a head of state and a head of government?Answer: The head of state represents the country; the head of government leads political action.
How can a head of state reinforce a new government's legitimacy after an election?Answer: By formally marking the new government's assumption of office.
Why can public ceremonies involving a head of state support national unity?Answer: They can provide shared symbols for citizens with different political views.
What can cross-national survey differences in pandemic-response ratings establish on their own?Answer: They show differences in reported public judgments, not the cause of those differences.
How does asking which issue is 'the most important' differ from asking whether an issue is 'very important'?Answer: The first requires one choice; the second can allow several issues to be rated highly.
Based on Introduction to Political Science by Mark Carl Rom, Masaki Hidaka, Rachel Bzostek Walker (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.