Executives
Who runs the daily operations of the government?
Head of Government
What does a legislature do mainly?
Make laws
What do courts do when they check if laws follow the Constitution?
Judicial Review
What system mixes features of both parliamentary and presidential systems?
Semi-Presidential System
What's the main document that outlines how a country's government works?
Constitution
In what country does the president serve as both head of state and head of government?
United States/Brazil
What's the word for a legislature with one part?
Unicameral
What court focuses on constitutional issues?
Constitutional Court
Who chooses the prime minister in a parliamentary system?
The Legislature
What principle says everyone, even leaders, must follow the law?
Rule of Law
What is the main role of a monarch in a parliamentary system (ex. England)?
To have a ceremonial role
Why might a country have two parts to its legislature?
To balance power or represent different regions
In what type of court system do appeals and constitutional issues get handled by the same judges?
Combined Appellate and Constitutional Court
In a semi-presidential system, who else has executive power besides the prime minister?
The President
How can the way people think about politics affect democracy?
It can shape what democracy looks like and what rights are important.
What are the two main roles in the executive branch of government?
Head of State and Head of Government
What was one reason for having two houses in the past in Europe?
To represent different social classes
What's the difference between looking at laws because of a specific case vs. without one?
Concrete review is for cases; abstract review is without a case
In most presidential systems, what is special about how long the president serves?
They have a fixed term limit
Name one thing that can help a country become a democracy.
Modernization, Civil Society, Economic Conditions, Elite Behavior, or International Influence.
What is the system where the prime minister is part of the legislature?
Parliamentary System
In some countries, how are members of the upper house chosen?
By local legislatures or to represent parts of the country
Name one country where the power to check laws against the constitution isn't written down but is used.
United States/Australia
In a parliamentary system, how is the head of state's power different from in a presidential system?
The head of state in a parliamentary system is mostly ceremonial, not like the powerful president in a presidential system.
How can the power among different parts of government vary in different democratic countries?
Some countries might have a strong legislature, others a strong leader, depending on their laws and traditions.