Political Terminology
This is an entity with a defined territory, government, and the ability to enter relationships with other states.
What is a State?
In this type of district, only one representative is elected to represent the area.
What is a Single-Member District?
In this system, a single candidate wins when they surpass the 50% threshold.
What is First-Past-the-Post?
This legislature has only one chamber.
What is a Unicameral legislature?
One person serves as both head of state and head of government and is elected by citizens.
What is a Presidential System?
This legal system relies on previous court decisions and interpretations.
What is Common Law?
A group of people who share a common identity, culture, or history.
What is a Nation?
In this type of district, multiple representatives are elected to represent the area, often used with proportional representation systems.
What is a Multi-Member District?
Legislative seats are allocated based on the percentage of votes a party receives.
What is Proportional Representation?
Double Jeopardy: Name the difference between closed and open list
This legislature has two chambers.
What is a Bicameral legislature?
This system has an elected president and a prime minister who is chosen by the legislature.
What is a Semi-Presidential System?
Laws are codified in statutes, and past decisions are less important.
What is Civil Law?
The institution currently running a state.
What is a Government?
This system has a central government that holds almost all power.
What is a Unitary System?
Citizens often vote twice: once for their preferred candidate and again for the winner among the top candidates.
What is a Two-Round/Runoff system?
During apartheid, South Africa had this rare three-chamber legislature based on race.
What is a Tricameral legislature?
An individual holds the ceremonial role of head of state, often inherited through a bloodline.
Constitutional Monarchy
Daily Double: What's an absolute Monarchy?
This system relies on traditions or customs to make legal decisions.
What is Customary Law?
These are the rules and norms that dictate how power is exercised in a state.
What is a Regime?
This system has a limited central government that shares power with local governments.
What is a Federal System?
In this system, you rank candidates in order of preference, and votes are transferred as candidates SURPASS thresholds.
What is Single Transferable Vote?
This is when the legislature can remove the Prime Minister from office for loss of support. This is settled by a simple majority vote.
What is a Vote of No Confidence?
In this system, executive power is shared by a council, committee, or group, and leadership may rotate.
What is a Directorial System?
Laws are based on religious doctrines or texts.
What is Religious Law?
This is the ability of a state to carry out actions independently within its borders. (No interference or control from other states)
What is Sovereignty?
The recognized right of a government to use power within its borders is called this.
What is Authority?
This system combines first-past-the-post and proportional representation, and it is famously used in Germany.
What is Mixed-Member Proportional (MMP)?
This is the process used to remove a sitting president for illegal or unethical actions.
What is Impeachment?
A prime minister leads the government and is formally appointed by the head of state but is effectively chosen by the legislature.
Double Jeopardy: Name the three special types of executive systems where authority differs from typical presidential or parliamentary systems.
What is a Parliamentary System?
Hybrid/Personalist Executives, Military Regimes, Theocratic Executives
Citizens accept a government because they believe its authority is rightful or appropriate.
What is Legitimacy?