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Parliamentary, Presidential, and Semi-Presidential Systems

William Gray

William Gray

5 min read

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Study Guide Overview

This study guide covers political institutions, focusing on parliamentary, presidential, and semi-presidential systems. It examines the roles and responsibilities within each system, including the Prime Minister, President, Cabinet, and legislature. Examples like the UK, Mexico, and Russia illustrate these concepts. Note: China and Iran are excluded from this unit.

AP Comparative Government: Political Systems Study Guide 🚀

Hey there, future AP Gov ace! Let's get you prepped and confident for the exam. This guide is designed to be your go-to resource for a quick, effective review. We'll break down the key concepts, make connections, and get you ready to rock! 🎸

Unit 2: Political Institutions - Focus on Parliamentary, Presidential, and Semi-Presidential Systems

This unit is super important! Let's dive in. Remember, we're skipping China and Iran for this section, as per the CED.

Parliamentary System 🏛️

  • What it is: A democratic system where the party with the most seats in the legislature forms the government. The leader of that party becomes the Prime Minister (or Chancellor). Think of it as a team winning and their captain becoming the leader. 🏆

  • Key Feature: The people vote for members of parliament (MPs), not directly for the Prime Minister. The majority party in parliament selects the PM. This is a big difference from the US! 🇺🇸

  • Power Dynamic: Parliament has the power to select and remove the head of government and cabinet. They're the boss! 💪

Key Concept

The executive and legislative branches are intertwined in a parliamentary system. The Prime Minister is the head of both branches.

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The UK, a classic example of a parliamentary system.

Roles and Responsibilities in a Parliamentary System

RoleResponsibilityExplanation
Prime MinisterLeader of the National GovernmentThe PM is the leader of the party with the most seats in parliament and heads both the executive and legislative branches.
CabinetCabinet Members/Heads of BureaucracyChosen by the PM from the majority party, the cabinet is the center of policy making. They believe in collective responsibility – they all support the government's policies. 🤝
Memory Aid

Parliamentary System = Party Power! Remember, the party with the most seats in parliament gets to form the government and choose the Prime Minister.

Presidential System 🧑u200d💼

  • What it is: A democratic system where the head of government (the President) leads an executive branch that is separate from the legislative branch. Think of it as two separate teams working together. 🤝

  • Key Feature: The people directly elect the President. Legislative elections are separate. 🗳️

  • Example: Mexico 🇲🇽 is a great example! Nigeria 🇳🇬 is also a presidential system.

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Mexico, a presidential system.

Roles and Responsibilities in a Presidential System

RoleResponsibilityExplanation
Executive Branch - PresidentHead of State/Head of Government/Commander in ChiefThe President is the head of the executive branch, head of state, head of government, and supreme commander of the military. They are directly elected by the people.
Legislative Branch - Senate & Chamber of DeputiesCreating LawsHas the power to make laws, impose taxes, declare war, reject treaties, and ratify diplomatic appointments. Legislative elections are separate from presidential elections and often use proportional representation.
Judicial Branch - Supreme CourtInterpreting LawsDivided into federal and state systems. The Supreme Court has final appellate powers over federal and state courts.
Memory Aid

Presidential System = People's Pick! Remember, the people directly elect the president, and the executive and legislative branches are separate.

Semi-Presidential System 🤹

  • What it is: A dual executive system with a President and a Prime Minister and cabinet. It's a mix of parliamentary and presidential systems. Think of it as having two leaders, each with their own role. 👯

  • Key Feature: The President is directly elected, while the Prime Minister is appointed by the President (usually with legislative approval). 🤝

  • Example: Russia 🇷🇺 is our example here. The power dynamic between the President and PM can vary. 💡

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Russia, a semi-presidential system.

Roles and Responsibilities in a Semi-Presidential System

| Role | Responsibility | Explanation | | ---------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------...

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