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Exam 2
Politics
83
History
Undergraduate 2
04/21/2014

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Term
Mexico's political system
Definition
Federal Republic (since 1917). 31 states & federal district.
Term
Mexico's executive branch
Definition
president, elected by direct election with 6 year term. Reelection not permitted.
Term
Mexico's judicial system
Definition
Independent state and federal courts. Eleven justices appointed by president, approved by Senate
Term
Mexico's legislative branch
Definition
Bicameral. Senate (upper house) and Chamber of Deputies (lower house). Elections every 3 years.
Term
Mexico's party system
Definition
Multiparty system. One-party dominant (Institutional Revolutionary
Party) system from 1929 until 2000. Major parties: National Action
Party, Institutional Revolutionary Party, & Party of the Democratic Revolution
Term
clientelism
(Mexico)
Definition
An informal aspect of
policy-making in which
a powerful patron offers resources
such as land, contracts,
protection, or jobs in
return for the support
&services (such as labor
or votes) of lower-status
& less powerful clients;
corruption, preferential
treatment, & inequality are characteristic of
clientelist politics.
Term
PRI
(Mexico)
Definition
Institutional Revolutionary Party. Coalition gov't. Focused on interests of the elite
Term
South Africa's political system
Definition
parliamentary democracy; federal republic
Term
South Africa's executive branch
Definition
president elected by parliament. President selects cabinet.
Term
South Africa's regime history
Definition
Governed by an African National Congress–led coalition from 1994. Between 1910
&1994 governments were formed by parties representing a white minority
and were elected through racially restricted franchises. A British dominion until
1961 &then a republic.
Term
South Africa's judicial branch
Definition
Independent constitutional court with appointed judges.
Term
South Africa's party system
Definition
Multiparty system. African National Congress predominates. Other important
parties: Democratic Alliance, Congress of the People, Inkatha Freedom Party,
United Democratic Movement, Freedom Front.
Term
South Africa's admin. structures
Definition
Nine regional governments sharing authority with a national administration.
Regional governments have few exclusive legislative powers and can be
overridden on most issues by national legislatures.
Term
South Africa's legislative branch
Definition
National assembly and regional legislatures elected on the basis of party list
proportional representation.
Term
Apartheid
Definition
In Afrikaans, “separateness.” First used in 1929
to describe Afrikaner
nationalist proposals for
strict racial separation &
“to ensure the safety of
the white race.”
Term
History of Apartheid
Definition
Developed in early 1940's by National Party. Pass Laws (prevented blacks from traveling). Sharpeville massacre (peaceful protestors). Creation of "homelands." Segregation.
Term
Problems facing Mexico
Definition
Poverty, gender/ race inequality, disputed elections, need for immigration reform, cartel&gov't. interactions
Term
Problems facing Brazil
Definition
Poverty, racism, weak political parties, gov't institutions that don't bridge gap <--> common good & party interest
Term
End of apartheid
Definition
F. W. De Klerk--> legalized ANC. Freed Nelson Mandela. 1994: ANC wins elections, Mandela becomes president.
Term
ANC
Definition
African National Congress. Authoritarian tendencies. PR + “strong parties” + HUGE ANC majority = relative lack of electoral accountability for elected officials
Term
Nigeria's political system
Definition
federal republic
Term
Nigeria regime history
Definition
Democratic government took office in May 1999, after sixteen years of military rule. Most recent national elections were held in 2011.
Term
Nigeria administrative structure
Definition
a federation of thirty-six states, plus the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in
Abuja.
Term
Nigeria legislative branch
Definition
Bicameral civilian legislature. 109 senators elected on equal representation from states. 360 members of the House of Representatives are elected from singlemember districts.
Term
Nigeria's executive branch
Definition
U.S.-style presidential system. Federal in structure--unitary in operation.
Term
Nigeria's judiciary systems
Definition
Federal, state, and local court system, headed by the Federal Court of Appeal and
the Supreme Court, which consists of fifteen appointed associate justices and
the chief justice. States may establish a system of Islamic law (shari’a) for cases
involving only Muslims in customary disputes (divorce, property, etc.). Most
Nigerian states feature such courts, which share a Federal Court of Appeal in
Abuja. Non-Muslim states may also set up customary courts, based on local
traditional jurisprudence. Secular courts retain supreme jurisdiction if conflict
arises between customary and secular courts.
Term
Nigeria's party system
Definition
Nearly fifty parties have been registered by the Nigerian electoral commission
since 2002. The largest are the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the All Nigerian
People’s Party (ANPP), the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and Congress for
Progressive Change (CPC).
Term
General problems facing African nations
Definition
-Lasting legacy of colonial rule by European powers
-Problems of national identity caused by largely random borders laid down during colonial rule
-Most African government struggle to achieve/maintain legitimacy and accountability
-Scarcity and weak institutions make democratic governments susceptible to authoritarian impulses
Term
Nigeria Overview
Definition
Most populous African nation. Transitional democracy. Population split between Muslims and Christians.
Term
Nigeria history
Definition
Colony of Britain. Random borders. Freedom in 1960s. Parliamentary system adopted. Revolution in 1966-- democratic rule. Civil war: 1967-1970. Alternated between military & civilian rule from 1970-1999
Term
Problems facing Nigeria
Definition
HIV & infant mortality. Fraud/mismanagement of oil& natural resources--> 90% of population live in worst poverty in world. Prebendalism.
Term
Prebendalism
Definition
the disbursing of public offices and state rents to one’s ethnic clients. It is an extreme form of clientelism that refers to the practice of mobilizing
cultural and other sectional identities by political aspirants and officeholders for the
purpose of corruptly appropriating state resources.
Term
President Goodluck Jonathan
Definition
Came from Nigerian Delta--> governor in 2005, vice president 2007, acting president 2010, elected to presidency in 2011.
Term
Nigerian ethnic differences
Definition
“North/South” cleavage is most acute- North tends to be more Muslim, traditional, agrarian; South tends to be more Christian, industrial, modern
Term
Iran's political system
Definition
Has president, however: political power lies with Supreme Leader and various theocratic councils
Leader &councils not only make many major decisions, they also decide who can run in elections
Term
Islamic regime history
Definition
Islamic Republic since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Term
Iran admin. structure
Definition
Centralized administration with 30 provinces. The interior minister appoints the
provincial governor-generals.
Term
Iran executive branch
Definition
President and his cabinet. The president is chosen by the general electorate every
four years. The president chooses his cabinet ministers, but they need to obtain
the approval of the Majles (parliament). Ruled by theocracy, interpretation of Koran
Term
Iran legislative branch
Definition
Unicameral. The Majles, formed of 290 seats, is elected every four years.
Term
Iran judiciary system
Definition
Chief Judge and a Supreme Court independent of the executive and legislature
but appointed by the Leader.
Term
Iran party system
Definition
ruling clergy restricts most party and organizational activities.
Term
Industrial products of Iran
Definition
Coal, iron ore, steel, cement, sugar, tractors, motor vehicles
Term
Germany's political system
Definition
parliamentary democracy
Term
Germany's admin. structure
Definition
Federal, with sixteen states.
Term
Germany's executive branch
Definition
Ceremonial president is the head of state, elected for a five-year term (with a twoterm limit) by the Federal Convention. Chancellor is head of government and is
a member of the Bundestag and a leader of the majority party or coalition.
Term
German legislature
Definition
Bicameral. Bundestag (622 members after 2009 federal election) elected via
dual-ballot system combining single-member districts and proportional
representation. Upper house (Bundesrat) comprised 69 members who are
elected and appointed officials from the 16 states.
Term
German judiciary system
Definition
Autonomous and independent. The legal system has three levels
Term
Germany's party system
Definition
Multiparty. Major parties are Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Christian Social
Union (CSU), Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Greens, Free Democratic Party
(FDP), and Left Party (die Linke).
Term
Weimar Republic (1918-1933)
Definition
Replaced Second Reich. Militant SPD took control after WW1, surrendered to Allies.
Term
German Unification (1990)
Definition
Happened quickly. East German technology was behind. Increase of taxes & unemployment. Economic depression.
Term
Eurozone
Definition
The 17 members of
the EU (out of 27 total
members) who share a
common currency, the
euro.
Term
Japan's political system
Definition
Parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy, in which the emperor
is merely a symbol of national unity.
Term
Japan's regime history
Definition
Current constitution promulgated in 1946 and in effect since 1947.
Term
Japan's structure
Definition
Unitary state, 47 units of intermediate-level subnational government
“prefectures,” and 1,790 lower-level units designated as city, town, or village.
Term
Japan's executive branch
Definition
Prime minister selected by legislature; a cabinet of about twenty ministers
appointed by prime minister.
Term
Japan's legislative branch
Definition
bicameral. House of councilors &house of representatives.
Term
Japan's judiciary branch
Definition
Supreme Court has fifteen judges appointed by the cabinet, except the chief
judge who is nominated by the cabinet and appointed by the emperor
Term
Japan's party system
Definition
One-party dominant (Liberal Democratic Party) from mid-1950s to
mid-1990s, evolving into a quasi-two-party system since. Major parties:
Liberal Democratic Party, Democratic Party of Japan, Clean Government
Party, Social Democratic Party, Japan Communist Party.
Term
Mixed Member Proportional elections
Definition
mixes the
proportional features of
a party list proportional
representation system
with the local representation features of a singlemember plurality system.
Under this mixed system,
each voter casts one
vote for a party list and
another for an individual
candidate in a singlemember electoral district.
Term
Russian political system
Definition
Constitutionally a presidential system
Term
Russian regime history
Definition
Re-formed as an independent state with the collapse of communist rule in
December 1991; current constitution since December 1993.
Term
Russia admin structure
Definition
Constitutionally a federal system, with eighty-three subnational governments;
politically centralized.
Term
Russia executive branch
Definition
Dual executive (president and prime minister). Direct election of president; prime
minister appointed by the president with the approval of the lower house of the
parliament (State Duma)
Term
Russian legislative branch
Definition
Bicameral. Upper house (Federation Council) appointed by heads of regional
executive and representative organs. Lower house (State Duma) chosen by direct
election, national proportional representation system with 450 deputies.
Term
Russia's judiciary system
Definition
Independent constitutional court with nineteen justices
Term
Russia party system
Definition
Dominant establishment party (United Russia) within a multi-party system
Term
Hindu caste system
Definition
The four main varnas are
the Brahmin, or priestly caste; the Kshatriya, or warrior and royal caste; the Vaishyas,
or trading caste; and the Shudra, or artisan caste.
Term
Glasnost
Definition
Gorbachev’s policy
of “openness,” which
involved an easing of controls on the media, arts,
and public discussion.
Term
India's political system
Definition
Parliamentary democracy and a federal republic.
Term
India regime history
Definition
In 2009 the government was formed by the United Progressive Alliance; the
Congress Party is the single largest party in the government, and Manmohan
Singh is prime minister.
Term
India executive branch
Definition
Prime minister, leader of the party or coalition with the most seats in the
parliament.
Term
India's legislative branch
Definition
Bicameral, upper house elected indirectly and without much substantial power;
lower house, the main house, with members elected from single-member
districts, winner-take-all.
Term
India's judiciary system
Definition
Independent constitutional court with appointed judges.
Term
India's party system
Definition
Multiparty system. The Congress Party is the dominant party; the Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP) is the major opposition party.
Term
Brazil's political structure
Definition
Federal republic, presidential with separation of powers.
Term
Brazil's regime history
Definition
Democratic since 1946 with periods of military authoritarianism, especially 1964–1985.
Term
Brazil's admin. structure
Definition
Federal, with twenty-six states plus the Federal District, which also functions
as a state.
Term
Brazil's executive branch
Definition
President, vice president, and cabinet.
Term
Brazil's legislative branch
Definition
Bicameral: The Senate is made up of three senators from each state and from the
Federal District, elected by plurality vote for an eight-year term; the Chamber
of Deputies consists of representatives from each state and from the Federal
District, elected by proportional vote for a four-year term.
Term
Brazil's judiciary system
Definition
Supreme Court, High Tribunal of Justice, regional courts, labor courts,
electoral courts, military courts, and state courts. Judiciary has financial and
administrative autonomy.
Term
Brazil's party system
Definition
Multiparty system including several parties of the right, center-left, and left.
Elections are by open-list proportional representation. There is no restriction on
the creation and merging of political parties.
Term
bureaucratic rings
Definition
fragmented
structure of the state
bureaucracy that allows
private interests to make
alliances with midlevel
bureaucratic officers. By
shaping public policy to
benefit these interests,
bureaucrats gain the
promise of future employment in the private sector
Term
Proportional representation in Brazil
Definition
Brazil’s PR system is open-list. On
electronic voting machines, voters cast their ballots for individuals not parties by
punching in the candidate’s electoral number.
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