6 Pillars
The first three words of the U.S. Constitution--"We the People"--best reflect this democratic pillar, which states that all legitimate political power originates from the consent of the governed.
What is popular sovereignty?
The executive power specifically granted to the President under Article I, Section 7 to reject a bill passed by both houses of Congress
What is a presidential veto?
In this form of democratic government, common in the United Kingdom and Canada, the executive leader (Prime Minister) is chosen directly from the elected legislature rather than through a separate national presidential ballot
What is a parliamentary system?
The collective title given to the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1791 to guarantee individual liberties against government overreach
What is the Bill of Rights?
A form of government where power is held by a single dictator or military junta, political opposition parties are banned, and citizens have no constitutional protections
What is an authoritarian state (or dictatorship/autocracy)?
This fundamental pillar guarantees that no individual--whether a billionaire, police officer, or the President of the United States--is above the law, and that all statutes apply equally to everyone
What is the Rule of Law?
The exact fraction of votes required in both the HOuse of Representatives and the Senate for Congress to override a presidential veto and enact a law over executive objection
What is a two-thirds (2/3) supermajority vote?
A system of government, such as in Japan or the United Kingdom, where a monarch serves as the official ceremonial Head of State, but elected parliamentary officials hold actual political authority
What is a constitutional monarchy?
This clause in the First Amendment prevents the federal government from declaring an official national religion or favoring one faith over another
What is the Establishment Clause?
A political system in which power is concentrated in the hands of a small, elite group of wealthy corporate leaders, military officials, or royal family members
What is an oligarchy?
This pillar prevents a temporary 51% majority of voters from passing laws that strip away fundamental freedoms or land ownership from non-majority populations
What is protected minority rights?
Established in the landmark 1803 Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison, this is the judicial branch's power to declare acts of Congress or executive orders unconstitutional
What is judicial review?
Unlike the U.S. system where executive and legislative branches are strictly separated, a parliamentary system features this structural relationship between the executive and legislative branches
What is fused power (or fusion of powers)?
Guaranteed by both the 5th and 14th Amendments, this constitutional principle requires government officials to follow fair, established legal procedures before taking away an individual's life, liberty, or property
What is due process of law?
Country Y holds multi-party national elections every four years, but the ruling government owns all media outlets, uses police to harass opposition candidates, and restricts court independence
What is an illiberal democracy (or hybrid regime)?
To satisfy this pillar, elections must involve secret ballots, universal adult suffrage, multiple competing political parties, and this crucial post-election outcome
What is a peaceful transfer of power?
Under Article II, Section 2, the Senate exercises this specific power when reviewing and voting on presidential cabinet nominees, federal judge appointments, and foreign treaties
What is advice and consent (or Senate confirmation)?
In a parliamentary system, if a majority of lawmakers vote against the Prime Minister on a major legislative bill, Parliament can pass this measure to force the Prime Minister to resign and trigger early elections
What is a vote of no confidence?
This post-Civil War amendment contains the Equal Protection Clause, which prohibits state governments from discriminating against citizens based on race or background
What is the 14th Amendment?
A government structure, such as Iran, where religious leaders hold supreme legal power, state laws are directly based on religious texts, and courts are overseen by clergy
What is a theocracy?
A nation whose state media censors opposition viewpoints, blocks social media during elections, and jails investigative reporters violates this pillar
What is civic participation and a free press?
Congress holds this major financial check over the executive branch, meaning no government agency can spend federal funds unless Congress specifically passes an appropriation bill authorizing it
What is the power of the purse?
While the United States uses a federal system that divides power between national and state governments, this foreign structural system concentrates all legal governing authority in one central national government
What is a unitary system?
Under the Fourth Amendment, law enforcement officers must demonstrate this legal standard to a neutral judge to obtain a search warrant
What is probable cause?
Country Z holds elections for its national assembly, but an unelected judicial council appointed by the President disqualifies opposition candidates from appearing on the ballot. Classify Country Z's regime type
What is an illiberal democracy/authoritarian hybrid state?