UK politics
What type of political system does the UK have?
Parliamentary democracy/constitutional monarchy
What is the term limit for Mexico’s president?
one six-year term, sexenio
What makes the UK government legitimate in the eyes of its citizens?
Regular elections, rule of law, and public trust in institutions, free media.
What is the largest ethnic group in Mexico?
Mestizos, people of mixed Indigenous and European descent
What is the term used to describe the UK's electoral system for general elections?
First-past-the-post/Single-Member District Plurality
What major political party dominated Mexico for most of the 20th century?
Institutional Revolutionary Party/PRI
What is the main social cleavage affecting UK politics?
Class divisions, historically between working-class Labour supporters and middle/upper-class Conservative supporters
What is the Zapatista movement?
An Indigenous-led leftist movement in southern Mexico advocating for land rights and autonomy, emerging in 1994
How does the fusion of powers in the UK’s parliamentary system affect the prime minister’s ability to pass legislation?
The prime minister is usually the leader of the majority party in the House of Commons, making it easier to pass legislation without gridlock.
How does the role of Mexico’s National Electoral Institute (INE) support democratization?
It ensures fair elections, reducing past corruption and fraud that helped sustain one-party rule
What is devolution in the UK?
The transfer of certain powers from the central government to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
How has the rise of drug cartels influenced public trust in Mexico’s government?
It has led to corruption, violence, and reduced faith in government institutions to enforce the rule of law
What happens if a prime minister loses a vote of no confidence?
They must resign or call a new election
What are the political consequences of the sexenio, Mexico’s six-year, non-renewable presidential term?
It prevents long-term autocratic rule but also limits continuity and accountability for policies
How do class divisions shape voting behavior in the UK?
the working class supported Labour, while the middle and upper classes leaned Conservative
How does internal migration from rural to urban areas shape political demands in Mexico?
It increases pressure on urban infrastructure, changes voting demographics, and influences policies on housing, employment, and public services
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the first-past-the-post electoral system in the UK?
dvantage: It creates strong majority governments. Disadvantage: It can lead to disproportionate representation and wasted votes
Why might Mexico’s combination SMD and PR in legislative elections be beneficial?
It balances local representation with proportionality, reducing dominance by a single party
Why do some people support keeping the monarchy in the UK?
Because it provides stability, national identity, and a non-political head of state who represents the country
How does Mexico’s gender quota law affect political representation?
It mandates that at least 50% of candidates be women, increasing female political participation but not necessarily ensuring policy influence