Executive Term Limits

Lily Lee
8 min read
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Study Guide Overview
This study guide covers executive term limits and removal processes in the six AP Comparative Government course countries (UK, Mexico, Nigeria, China, Iran, and Russia). It examines the advantages and disadvantages of term limits concerning political stability and effective policymaking. Key terms include fixed-term election systems and processes like impeachment and votes of no confidence. The guide also provides sample FRQ responses and practice questions to help students prepare for the exam.
AP Comparative Government: Executive Term Limits & Removal - Your Night-Before Guide ๐
Hey there, future AP Gov superstar! Let's make sure you're totally prepped for those questions on executive term limits and removal. We're going to break down Topics 2.4 and 2.5 so that everything clicks right into place. Let's do this! ๐ช
Executive Term Limits: Promoting Stability & Effective Policy ๐๏ธ
This section is all about how long executives can stay in power and what impact that has. Remember, this is a that often shows up in FRQs, so pay close attention! We'll be focusing on the advantages and disadvantages of term limits in relation to political stability and effective policymaking. ๐ก
Key Terms ๐
- Executive Term Limits: Rules that restrict how long an executive can serve. Think of it like a timer on their time in office. โฐ
- Fixed Term Election System: Elections that happen on a set, pre-announced date. No surprises here! ๐
Remember, you need to know the term limits for each of our course countries: UK, Mexico, Nigeria, China, Iran, and Russia. This is a quick way to earn points on the exam.
Term Limits in Our Course Countries ๐บ๏ธ
Let's get this straight with a handy comparison chart:
Course Country | Executive Term Limits | Where Established | Notes/Explanations |
---|---|---|---|
UK | NO Formal Limit | Common Law | No formal term limit for the Monarchy (serves for life). Prime Minister serves until a motion of no confidence or a general election (every 5 years). |
Mexico | 1 - 6 Year Term | Constitution | One 6-year term (sexenio), no re-election. |
Nigeria | 2 Consecutive-4 Year Terms | Constitution | Two consecutive 4-year terms. Coups have also removed presidents in the past. |
China | 10 Year Term Limit (Previously) | Constitution | Originally a 10-year limit, but the constitution was amended in 2018 to allow President Xi to serve indefinitely. |
Iran | 10 Year S.L. / 2 Consecutive-4 Year President Terms | Iranian Law | Supreme Leader (S.L.) has a 10-year term limit, but has never been removed. The President is limited to two consecutive 4-year terms. |
Russia | 2 Consecutive-6 Year Terms | Constitution | Changed from 4 to 6 years in 2012. Putinโs โPrime Minister Shuffleโ shows how term limits can be circumvented. |
Make sure you know the term limits for each country. This is a quick way to earn points on the exam. Also, note that the UK does not have a written constitution.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Term Limits ๐ค
Now, let's dive into the pros and cons. The CED wants you to understand how term limits affect political stability and the effectiveness of policies.
Advantages โ
- Checks on Power: Prevents the rise of authoritarian leaders. ๐ก๏ธ
- Focus on Governing: Encourages executives to focus on their job rather than reelection campaigns. ๐ฏ
- Innovation of Ideas: Brings in new leaders with fresh perspectives. ๐ก
Disadvantages โ
- Forces Out Good Leaders: Popular and effective leaders may have to leave office. ๐
- Insufficient Time for Policy: Complex policies may not be fully implemented. โณ
- Impede Policy Continuity: New leaders may reverse previous policies. ๐
- Weakens Accountability: Executives may be less accountable knowing their time is limited. ๐
- Lame Duck Period: Reduced influence as the end of the term approaches. ๐ฆ
- Prevents Experience: Limits the ability of executives to gain experience. ๐ซ
- Poorly Designed Policy: Rushed policies due to time constraints. ๐ง
Remember, the AP exam often asks you to analyze the impact of term limits on political stability and policy effectiveness. Be ready to make an argument using specific examples.
Sample Argument FRQ โ๏ธ
Here's a sample FRQ to show how these concepts might appear on the exam:
Different countries have different rules regarding executive term limits. Are executive term limits an effective constraint of executive power? In your response, be sure to address one of the following course concepts: democratic regimes, authoritarian regimes, political legitimacy.
Sample Response:
Executive term limits are not an effective constraint of power, because they don't effectively limit how much power the branch or an individual can gain over time. There is evidence of this particular claim in both a democratic regime, such as Mexico and an authoritarian regime like Russia.
In Mexico all Presidents can only serve, 1, 6-year term often referred to as the sexenio, and all Presidents have adhered to this term limit throughout the course of Mexican history. However, despite the term limit, the power of the office has continued to grow over time. An example of this power in Mexico is the President's ability to appoint or remove cabinet members and heads of executive branch employees without opposition.
In Russia, an example of an authoritarian regime where there is a 2 consecutive, 4-year term limit, Vladimir Putin's power has been unchecked. Putin, in fact, manipulated the system in 2008 moving from President to Prime Minister and back to President and the power of the office has only continued to grow under his.
Notice how the response uses examples from both a democratic (Mexico) and an authoritarian (Russia) regime to support the argument. Always incorporate the required terms into your response.
Removal of Executives: Controlling Power Abuse โ
Now, let's shift our focus to how executives can be removed from office. This is crucial for understanding how power is checked and balanced in our course countries. โ๏ธ
The AP exam wants you to know how leaders are removed and how this process controls the abuse of power in each of course countries. ๐ฅผ
Key Concepts:
- Impeachment: A formal process of accusing an executive of wrongdoing. ๐๏ธ
- Vote of No Confidence: A vote by the legislature to remove an executive. ๐ณ๏ธ
- Recall Election: A process that allows voters to remove an executive before their term is over. ๐ณ๏ธ
Many students confuse term limits with removal processes. Term limits are about the length of service, while removal is about ending a term early due to certain circumstances.
Final Exam Focus ๐ฏ
Okay, let's wrap this up with the most crucial points for your exam:
- Term Limits: Know the specific term limits for each of the six course countries. Focus on how term limits affect stability and policy. ๐
- Removal Processes: Be familiar with the different ways executives can be removed (impeachment, vote of no confidence, etc.). ๐
- Argumentative FRQs: Practice making arguments about the effectiveness of term limits and removal processes. โ๏ธ
- Connect Concepts: Be ready to connect term limits and removal to broader concepts like democratic and authoritarian regimes. ๐
Last-Minute Tips โฐ
- Time Management: Don't spend too long on any one question. Keep moving and come back if you have time. โฑ๏ธ
- Read Carefully: Make sure you understand what the question is asking before you start writing. ๐ค
- Use Examples: Always back up your arguments with specific examples from the course countries. ๐
Practice Questions โ
Okay, let's get some practice in! Here are a few questions to test your knowledge:
Practice Question
Multiple Choice Questions
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Which of the following countries has a fixed-term election system? (A) Mexico (B) Russia (C) United Kingdom (D) Iran
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Which of the following is an advantage of executive term limits? (A) It allows for policy continuity (B) It provides executives with more time to implement policy (C) It prevents the rise of authoritarian leaders (D) It ensures accountability of executives
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Which country changed its constitution to allow the president to serve indefinitely? (A) Mexico (B) Nigeria (C) China (D) Russia
Short Answer Question
- Briefly explain two disadvantages of executive term limits.
Free Response Question
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Prompt: Evaluate the effectiveness of executive term limits as a constraint on executive power. In your response, be sure to address one of the following course concepts: democratic regimes, authoritarian regimes, or political legitimacy. Use specific examples from at least two course countries to support your argument.
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Scoring Guidelines:
- Thesis (1 point): A clear, defensible thesis statement that takes a position on the effectiveness of executive term limits.
- Evidence (2 points): Provides specific examples from at least two course countries that support the argument.
- Reasoning (2 points): Explains how the evidence supports the argument and connects it to the chosen course concept (democratic regimes, authoritarian regimes, or political legitimacy).
- Complexity (1 point): Demonstrates a nuanced understanding of the topic by considering counterarguments or alternative perspectives.
You've got this! Go ace that exam! ๐

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Question 1 of 12
What are 'Executive Term Limits' best described as? ๐ค
Rules that dictate how long an executive can serve
Processes for removing an executive early
A system of elections that occur at a set time
The powers given to the executive branch