Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
79 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
Fascism: Whats in the name? |
"Fasciare" - bind together - strength from unity
axe - violence bound together sticks - one stick is weak, together they are strong |
|
|
What is Nazism? |
Fascism + Racism Sexism & masculinity |
|
|
Democracy |
majority rules without legal constraint |
|
|
Liberal Democracy |
majority chooses rulers, who govern within rule of law |
|
|
Majority Rule |
simple: 50% + 1 qualified: 2/3, 3/4, 3/5... |
|
|
Plurality |
largest number of votes but less than 50% |
|
|
Autocracy |
an arbitrary system of government unconstrained by the rule of law and the consent of the governed |
|
|
Despotism |
one who rules through fear without regard to law |
|
|
Authoritarianism |
a system of government in which leaders are not subjected to the theist of free elections |
|
|
Right Wing Authoritarianism |
- interpret their mission as protecting society from harmful influences - opposed to communism; unwilling to leave economic development completely to the private sector - state as a driver |
|
|
Left Wing Authoritariansim |
claim to be building a new society |
|
|
Totalitarianism |
A modern form of despotic rule the state undertakes to remake society according to ideological design |
|
|
Legislative Branch |
makes the general laws of the land: public (eg. taxes) and private (marriage)
Canada: House of Commons and Senate US: House of Congress Australia: House of Representatives and Senate Britain: House of Commons and House of Lords |
|
|
Executive Branch
|
proposes policies which use state resources |
|
|
Judiciary Branch |
resolves conflicts when laws are not obeyed (courts) |
|
|
The Crown |
In Canada - the Governor General British Monarch is head of state (Symbolic) Head of State but not Head of Government |
|
|
The House of Commons |
- where all major policies & laws are made - democratically elected with 308 seats - ministers are chosen from here |
|
|
Prime Minister is primus inter pares which means... |
the first among equals do not select PM, select the party |
|
|
The Senate |
- sober 2nd thought - chosen by PM (105) - seats assigned on regional basis (24 each) not by population - 30 years of age, $4000 worth of property - cannot veto legislation - cannot be removed |
|
|
Cabinet |
- PM is the first minister of cabinet - PM chooses other mps to serve in ministry, can be whatever size he wants - appointed by Governor General - Ministers of the Crown determine the legislative priorities for the country |
|
|
Cabinet Solidarity |
All members of the cabinet support government policy and do not criticize the government in public |
|
|
Ministerial Responsibility |
The principle that ministers are individually responsible to the HOC for everything that happens in their departments |
|
|
Myth of "Fusion" |
Legislative and executive are fused in majority government |
|
|
Private Member Bills |
Public bill introduced in the legislation by a member who is not in the cabinet **can’t include spending** |
|
|
Responsible Government |
The political executive (cabinet) must retain the confidence of a majority of the elected assembly, and must resign or call an election if and when defeated |
|
|
Free Votes VS Whipped Votes |
Tension between do what you’re told and represent your constituents |
|
|
Backbenchers and Party Caucus |
How they get say, cheerleaders for the government |
|
|
Opposition Parties |
Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition (shadow cabinet) (currently the NDP) |
|
|
President |
4 year term Head of State & Government Commander in Chief of Military |
|
|
Electoral College |
The formal body that chooses the President of the United States (270/538) |
|
|
Vice-President |
President of the Senate Breaks ties |
|
|
Congress: House of Representatives |
- 435 members: elected based on population - 2 year term - fixed election dates (Tuesday after the 1st Monday in November) |
|
|
Congress: Senate |
- 100 members, 2 from each state - elected for a 6 year term - 1/3 of senators facing election every 2 years |
|
|
Cabinet |
- 15 secretaries - may not hold a seat in congress - unlike parliamentary systems, do not meet as a group |
|
|
Unitary System |
- Unitary systems are those in which a single sovereign government rules the country - All powers are concentrated in one level of government |
|
|
Devolution |
Systems of government are those in which the central government devolves (or gives) power to regional governments subject to its overriding control |
|
|
Constitutional Autonomy |
Enumerated powers so that neither level of government is subordinate to the other |
|
|
Asymmetrical Federalism |
powers are unevenly divided among provinces (some provinces have more than others) |
|
|
Confederal System |
A permanent union of sovereign states (EU) |
|
|
Interest Groups |
- aka Pressure Groups
- any organization whose members act together to influence public policy
- doesn’t want to govern but wants to influence public policy (prevent/change) |
|
|
Political Consultation |
Where a progressional advisor puts his/her experience and contacts to work for private and public sectors |
|
|
Lobbying |
The activities of the interest groups directed at government to achieve favourable results |
|
|
Lobbyists Registration |
Requires that lobbyists (in house and consultant) register and provide information regarding their clients, the matters on which they are lobbying and with which departments they were in contact |
|
|
Political Disadvantage Theory |
Judges are independent of majority opinion, thus, courts can defend rights of unpopular minorities So’”political outsiders” (e.g. African Americans in the US South) could turn to the courts for protection of basic rights |
|
|
Judicial Democrats |
litigation can make institutions “more accessible, transparent, responsive… so long as courts listen to a diverse range for interests, guards fundamental social values, and protect disadvantaged minorities” |
|
|
One Shotters (OS) |
- Reactive to new legislation - Fewer resources and experience - Gun lobby |
|
|
Repeat Players (RP) |
- Use litigation to pro actively to achieve/pursue long term interests - Vast resources and experience |
|
|
Pragmatic Parties |
political parties concerned primarily with winning election
Canada: Liberals and Conservatives US: Republicans and Democrats UK: Labour and Conservatives |
|
|
Ideological Parties |
parties that emphasize ideological purity over the attainment of power
Communist Party Reform Party NDP? |
|
|
Interest Parties |
those with a single interest who run candidates is an attempt to gain political power (vs. interest group politics)
NDP? Green Party |
|
|
Personal Party |
founded around a single, influential political leader
Charles de Gaulle (Gaullist Party) |
|
|
Movement parties |
start as a political movements and morph into party apparatus
Congress Party of India |
|
|
Representation by Population |
principle suggesting that the allocation of seats should occur in a manner that encourages equal division across electoral districts to ensure each vote is of equal weight |
|
|
Single-Member Plurality (SMP) |
candidate with the most votes wins, even though that win may not represent 50% + 1 of the votes
aka “First past the post” |
|
|
Preferential or Alternative Vote |
- voters rank the candidates (1-?) - if no candidate obtains a majority, the second preferences of the last place person are transferred to the remaining candidates until one candidates receives a majority of the voters
Australian House of representatives |
|
|
Proportional Representation |
the share of seats won closely matches the share of popular votes received |
|
|
Gerrymandering |
Deliberately drawn out to help one side win in a Representation by Population |
|
|
Legislature |
representative assembly responsible for making laws in society |
|
|
Representative Democracy |
system of government based on the election of decision makers by the people |
|
|
Trustee |
representative who acts independently in deciding what is in the best interests of his or her constituents |
|
|
Delegates |
suppress individual preferences for those preferences of his or her constituents |
|
|
Microcosm Theory of Representation |
The idea that a governing body should be a miniature replica of the society it represents
John Adams: assemblies “should be in miniature an exact portrait of the people at large. It should think, feel, reason and act like them.” |
|
|
Intra-state federalism |
Regional representation at the national level |
|
|
Mixed appointment models |
provincial election, PM appointment mixed appointed and elected |
|
|
The Executive |
a small group of elected officials who direct the policy process and oversee the departments and agencies of government
Collectively, they're known as Ministers of the Crown or the Cabinet |
|
|
Cabinet Government |
decisions are made by the cabinet as a whole, as opposed to one or two members |
|
|
Treasury Board |
oversee government spending spending proposal approved by treasury board |
|
|
Prime Ministers Office |
- Support staff appointed by the PM to carry out political functions - Speech writers, strategists, advisors |
|
|
Privy council |
- all present and former cabinet ministers - Government department that supports the prime minister, cabinet, and cabinet committees in devising policies - Non-partisan |
|
|
Deputy Ministers |
public servants who heads the government department, manages the department, and advises the Minister |
|
|
Requirements to be a Judge |
A member of a provincial or territorial bar association and a minimum of 10 years experience as a practicing lawyer/judge |
|
|
Judicial Independence |
theory that judges should be impartial and not subject to influence from the other branches of government or from private or political interests |
|
|
Security of Tenure (Judicial Independence) |
- Cannot be fired, replaced without any just cause - Once appointed a judge serves until 75 (70 in some provinces) - “Judges of superior courts shall hold office during good behaviour” |
|
|
Financial Security (Judicial Independence) |
- Stability in pay, no cutbacks or raises - “Salaries, allowances and pensions of judges, shall be fixed and provided by the parliament of Canada” |
|
|
Administrative Independence (Judicial Independence) |
- Don’t want anybody telling the courts what they can hear/deal with - No one can interfere with how courts manage the litigation process and exercise their judicial functions |
|
|
Supreme Court of Canada |
no higher court for appeal it is the legitimate law |
|
|
What do Constitutions Do? |
“Creates the preconditions for a well-functioning democratic order, one in which citizens are genuinely able to govern themselves” - Cass R. Sunstein |
|
|
Charter |
applies only to government - there has to be legislation that offends the Charter before a challenge can be launched
Charter is unique to Canada because its the only one that is included in the constitution in the world |
|
|
Human Rights Commission |
Federal or provincial legislation which protect individuals from discrimination (eg. a hiring process)
HR legislation has to be in accordance with the Charter and may be challenged in court if its not |
