Political scienceLesson 5 of 7 in the course Executives, Cabinets, and Bureaucracies

Semi-Presidentialism: Executive Power, Cohabitation, and Freedom Ratings

4 flashcards · 3 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Semi-presidentialism combines features associated with presidential and parliamentary systems. It divides executive authority between a president and a prime minister, while also connecting the government to the legislature. This lesson explains how the system is structured, how it differs from other democratic regime types, and what the unit’s Freedom House comparisons suggest about political freedom.

All flashcards

What is a semi-presidential regime?
A regime in which executive authority is shared between a president and a prime minister, who must also be able to gain parliamentary support.
How are the president and prime minister typically selected in the arrangement described?
The public directly elects the president. The president usually appoints the prime minister, who must gain majority support in parliament.
What does a Freedom House global freedom score indicate?
A score from 0 to 100; higher scores indicate greater freedom. Countries are also categorized as free, partly free, or not free.
Why should comparisons between regime type and freedom be interpreted cautiously?
An association does not prove causation. Ratings can vary within a regime type, reflect other factors, and change over time.

Quiz questions

  1. What is the defining executive feature of a semi-presidential regime?Answer: A president shares executive authority with a prime minister.
  2. What condition must a prime minister generally meet to govern in a semi-presidential system?Answer: Gain support from a majority in parliament.
  3. What does cohabitation mean in a semi-presidential system?Answer: The president and prime minister belong to different political parties.

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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