Political scienceLesson 2 of 4 in the course Legislatures

Electoral Systems, Legislative Selection, and Executive–Legislative Relations

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

Save course
Lesson progress
0 / 5

Your progress is kept in this browser only.Sign up to save it

Summary

This lesson introduces the branches of government and the central distinction between parliamentary, presidential, and semi-presidential systems. Understanding these arrangements helps explain how laws are made and who leads the executive.

The branches may have different powers and different levels of independence, depending on the system of government.

All flashcards

What does the legislative branch do?
It makes laws. Its relationship with the executive varies across systems of government.
What does the executive branch do?
It oversees the implementation and enforcement of laws.
What is a parliamentary system?
A system in which the executive and legislature are closely connected, with the prime minister typically serving as a leader in the legislature.
What distinguishes a presidential system?
It has a stronger separation between the legislative and executive branches, and the president is institutionally distinct from the legislature.
What is a semi-presidential system?
A system with both a president and a prime minister that combines features of presidential and parliamentary government.

Quiz questions

  1. In a single-member plurality election, how does a candidate win?Answer: By receiving more votes than any other candidate.
  2. What tendency does Duverger’s law describe for single-member plurality races?Answer: They tend to have two competitive parties in each race.
  3. What makes an election indirect?Answer: Elected officials select legislators rather than citizens choosing them directly.
  4. In a presidential system, what can the legislature often do after a president vetoes a bill?Answer: Pass it again with a supermajority, allowing it to become law.
  5. How can opposition parties scrutinize a government in a parliamentary system?Answer: They can question government ministers and publicize their responses.

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.

More in Political science

All Political science lessons
Political sciencePolitical Socialization: Family, Peers, Environments, and Identity5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 4 gamesPlay free →Political scienceDemocratic Executive Regimes, State Roles, and Political Accountability5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 4 gamesPlay free →Political scienceCollective Action: Commons, Free Riding, and Cooperation5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 4 gamesPlay free →Political scienceCabinets in Presidential and Parliamentary Systems: Roles and Personalization5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 4 gamesPlay free →Political scienceSocial Movements, Civil Rights, and Political Reform5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 4 gamesPlay free →Political scienceCollective Dilemmas: Decision Rules, Coordination, and Costs5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 4 gamesPlay free →