Political Systems
Executive Systems
Legislative Systems
Judiciary Systems
Dates
100
The _____________ branch makes laws
The _____________ branch enforces laws
The _____________ branch interprets laws
Legislative
Executive
Judicial
100
Give one similarity and one difference between Nigeria's and Mexico's executive branch (President).
Similarity: Term limits, appoints a cabinet with senate approval, veto power, proposes/approves laws, commander in chief, makes treaties,
Difference:
Mexico: one term 6 years, plurality vote win
Nigeria: up to two 4-year terms, majority vote win (and win 25% in 2/3 of states), each cabinet member from one state
100
What are two similarities between the legislative system in Nigeria & Mexico?
Similarities
-Both are bicameral
-Both houses approve legislation
-Upper house has confirmation power
-Upper house has more power in general than lower house
100
This is the Middlesex Guildhall building in London. Why is it significant?
It is the home of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom since October 2009.
100
Two desperate attempts of snap elections, one occured and the other didn't, in the hope of securing a majority to close Brexit deal. These were Theresa May and Boris Johnson in which years?
2017
2019
200
3 examples of checks on executive power in the UK
Vote of no confidence
Question time
Party leadership vote
Collective responsibility and cabinet resignations
200
Who are the Head of State and Head of Government in Russia? In Iran?
Russia
Head of State: Putin
Head of Government: Mikhail Mishustin
Iran
Head of State: Ali Khamenei
Head of Government: Ebrahim Raisi
200
What are two differences between the legislative systems in Nigeria and Mexico?
-Senate approves federal intervention in Mexico, but not in Nigeria
-Chamber of deputies in Mexico has the power to verify elections, which is not in Nigeria
-Chamber of deputies in Mexico is partially directly elected in single-member district elections (300 members), the rest indirectly through PR; while in Nigeria's lower house all seats are directly elected in single-member district elections
200
The doctrine of 'Parliamentary Sovereignty' limits Judicial review. But in 2019 UK supreme court ruled against a PM action, illustrating increased role and independence. What happened then?
Boris Johnson tried to ‘prorogue’ Parliament in 2019, Supreme Court ruled against it as unlawful and unprecendented (checking the executive)
200
In the year ___________ Robert Walpole served as the first prime minister.
1721
300
3 checks on executive power in Mexico or Nigeria
Impeachment by legislature
Legislature veto override (2/3 supermajority)
Confirmation of appointees
Legislative oversight
300
Identify in ascending order 5 levels in the hierarchical CCP structure
National Party Congress
Central Committee
Politburo
Politburo Standing Committee
General Secretary
300
Give one similarity and one difference between UK and Russia's legislative systems.
Similarity:
The Upper house is appointed in both UK and Russia, in the UK, the house of commons is the central power. While in Russia because the upper house members are nominated by Putin, it enhances Putin’s power
Difference:
The Prime minister in the UK is the leader of parliament with the most power
The Prime minister (and duma) in Russia has less power, overseeing the civil service (power is in Putin’s)
300
What is the term limit of the Supreme court judges in Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, China, Iran, and the UK?
How do life terms for judges help to increase judicial independence?
Mexico: 15 years
Nigeria: Life, retire at 70
Russia: 12 years
China: two 5 years
Iran: two 5 years
UK: life, retire at 70
Life terms help insulate judges from electoral or political concerns and allow them to apply the law fairly with only justice in mind (Rule of Law), without worry about losing position.
300
In __________ Parliament passed the Constitutional Reform Act for the separation of the Appellate Committee (supreme court) from the legislature (Parliament) and the executive (Government). Hence, UK Supreme Court was established in ____________.
2005
2009
400
(In Nigeria) the president must select one cabinet person from every state
What is "federal character principle”?
400
Describe one function for each of the three elected bodies in Iran's political system.
President - function
Majlis - function
Assembly of Experts - function
400
The constitution recognizes it as the government's most powerful institution. what is it called? how many members (approx.)? and identify two functions.
National People’s Congress
almost 3000 members
•elects president (head of state)
•approves premier (head of gov’t)
•legitimizes policies of the executive
•seen as a rubberstamp of executive
•two-week session annually
400
Who is this person? What triggered his arrest? for how long was the arrest?
Ai Weiwei is a Chinese contemporary artist, documentarian, and activist.
As an activist, he criticized the Chinese government’s lack of democracy and violation of human rights.
He investigated government corruption and cover-ups following the collapse of schools in the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.
In 2011, Ai Weiwei was arrested for "economic crimes“ as tax evasion. He was detained for 81 days without charge, and paid a large fine.
400
The ____________ Parliament Act reduced the role of the house of lords to only delay legislation.
1911
500
How did the 2020 reforms to Russia's 1993 constitution increase Putin's power?
2020 Russian constitution changed so
Duma is less likely to override a presidential veto
Removed the upper house’s power to reject the president’s nominee of foreign minister, now they only need to be consulted.
500
Describe three advantages and three disadvantages of executive term limits.
Advantages:
•Check executive power & inhibit emergence of dictators & personality rule
•Help focus the officeholder on governing rather than winning elections
•Provide opportunities for new leaders w/new ideas, policies, goals
Disadvantages:
•Force good executives to leave the office
•Allow insufficient time for an officeholder to achieve goals
•Impede policy continuity
•Weaken accountability
•Create a lame-duck period
•Prevent officeholders from building experience
•Cause poorly designed policy
500
When and how did Margret Thatcher come to be the first female prime minister in the UK? for how many years did she stay PM? how was she removed?
1979 PM Callaghan removed after losing No Confidence Vote. Thatcher was the leader of the opposition conservative party.
11 years
1990 Majority Party Votes to replace her with John Major
500
Who are these people (name and occupation)? Why was one of them imprisoned by the other? How long is the sentence?
Ren Zhiqiang - Blogger & critic of CPC
Xi Xinping - China's President and General Secretary of CPC
Ren called President Xi a clown on social media, and criticized China’s handling of corona virus.
Jailed 18 years on “corruption” charges in 2020.
500
The last time a monarch vetoed a legistlation was in year ____________.
1707