Political scienceLesson 4 of 7 in the course Executives, Cabinets, and Bureaucracies

Stability, Gridlock, and Party Representation in Presidential and Parliamentary Regimes

5 flashcards · 4 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

This lesson examines what stability means in presidential and parliamentary regimes and how coalition governments affect governing. It is important to distinguish a political system’s continued stability from the duration of a particular government.

A country may experience changes in government while its political system and institutions remain in place. Governmental stability concerns the continuity and functioning of the political system, not simply how long a particular cabinet or governing coalition lasts.

All flashcards

What is governmental stability?
The continuity and functioning of a political system and its institutions, not simply the lifespan of one government.
What is policy stability?
The degree to which public policy remains consistent over time.
What is a coalition government?
A government in which two or more parties cooperate to secure legislative support and govern.
What is divided government?
A situation in which different parties control the presidency and at least one legislative chamber.
How can proportional representation help minor parties?
It can enable them to win legislative seats in proportion to their share of the vote.

Quiz questions

  1. What is political gridlock?Answer: An impasse that prevents government from passing major legislation.
  2. Which situation is an example of divided government?Answer: One party controls the presidency while another controls at least one legislative chamber.
  3. What does Duverger’s law predict about plurality voting in single-member districts?Answer: These arrangements tend to encourage competition between two major parties.
  4. How can proportional representation give a minor party influence in a parliamentary system?Answer: It can win seats and help a larger party assemble a governing coalition.

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.

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