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Politics (Government & Politics)
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Politics is the activities associated with the governance of a country or other area, especially the debate or conflict among individuals or parties having or hoping to achieve power.
The three main branches of government in most democracies are the legislative branch (parliament/congress), the executive branch (government/president), and the judicial branch (court system).
In a unitary system, power is concentrated at the national level. In a federal system, power is divided between national and regional/state governments.
The legislative branch is responsible for drafting, debating, and passing laws and legislation.
The executive branch is responsible for implementing and enforcing laws passed by the legislative branch.
The judicial branch is responsible for interpreting laws and settling disputes through the court system.
A monarchy is a form of government where a monarch (king/queen) rules for life. A republic is a system where the head of state is elected for a fixed term.
Key principles of democracy include free and fair elections, rule of law, protection of human rights, and separation of powers.
The main sources of political authority are traditional authority (e.g. monarchy), charismatic authority (e.g. revolutionary leaders), and legal-rational authority (e.g. elected officials).
In direct democracy, citizens directly participate in decision-making on policy issues. In representative democracy, citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.
Main functions of political parties include nominating candidates for elections, mobilizing voters, developing policies, and forming governments.
Capitalism is an economic system based on private ownership and free markets. Socialism is an economic system based on collective/public ownership and centralized planning.
Interest groups aim to influence public policy and decision-making processes to benefit the interests they represent.
Separation of powers refers to the division of governing powers among different branches (legislative, executive, judicial) to prevent abuse of power.
Bicameralism is a system of government with two legislative chambers or houses, such as a Senate and a House of Representatives.
Public opinion plays a crucial role in influencing government policies and holding elected officials accountable in a democracy.
In a presidential system, the president is both head of state and head of government. In a parliamentary system, the head of government (prime minister) is separate from the ceremonial head of state.
A constitution is the fundamental governing document that establishes the structure, powers, and limitations of government.
Domestic policy deals with issues within a country's borders, while foreign policy deals with a country's relationships and interactions with other countries.
Checks and balances refer to constitutional restrictions on the powers of each branch of government, allowing them to be checked and balanced by the other branches.
A bicameral legislature, with an upper and lower house, provides a system of checks and balances and allows for more deliberation on legislation.
In a presidential democracy, the president is directly elected and serves as both head of state and government. In a parliamentary democracy, the prime minister is the head of government and is drawn from the legislature.
The civil service is the non-political workforce that carries out the day-to-day administration and implementation of government policies and programs.
In a unitary system, power is centralized at the national level. In a confederal system, power is decentralized and retained by member states.
The judicial branch acts as a check on the legislative and executive branches by having the power to review laws and executive actions for constitutionality.
Rule of law is the principle that all members of society, including government officials, are equally subject to publicly disclosed legal codes and processes.
The main types of electoral systems are plurality/majority systems (e.g. first-past-the-post), proportional representation systems, and mixed systems.
An authoritarian regime limits political freedoms but still allows some pluralism, while a totalitarian regime aims to control nearly every aspect of public and private life.
A bicameral legislature, consisting of two chambers (e.g. Senate and House), provides checks and balances and allows for more deliberation on laws.
The media plays a crucial role in informing citizens, scrutinizing government actions, and facilitating public discourse in a democracy.
Popular sovereignty is the principle that the authority of the government derives from the will of the people, who are the source of all political power.
In a unitary system, power is centralized at the national level. In a federal system, power is divided between the national and state/regional governments.
An independent judiciary system is intended to prevent any one branch of government from becoming too powerful and to protect individual rights.
In a direct democracy, citizens directly participate in decision-making. In an indirect (or representative) democracy, citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.
Political ideologies, such as liberalism, conservatism, and socialism, shape perspectives on the role of government and influence policy priorities and approaches.
The main types of economic systems are market economies (capitalism), command economies (socialism/communism), and mixed economies (combining elements of both).
A system of checks and balances aims to prevent any one branch of government from becoming too powerful by allowing the branches to limit and balance each other.
Civil society, including non-governmental organizations and social movements, plays a crucial role in holding governments accountable and advocating for various interests.
In a parliamentary system, the head of government (prime minister) is drawn from the legislature. In a presidential system, the president is both head of state and head of government.
Political parties play a key role in aggregating diverse interests, nominating candidates, developing policy platforms, and forming governments in a democracy.
Sovereignty refers to a state's supreme power and authority over its territory and peoples, without external interference.
A monarchy is a form of government where a monarch (king/queen) rules for life. A republic is a system where the head of state is elected for a fixed term.
A written constitution serves as the fundamental law of a nation, defining the structure, powers, and limitations of government and protecting individual rights.
In a presidential system, the president is both head of state and head of government. In a semi-presidential system, the prime minister is the head of government, but the president also has significant powers.
A system of federalism divides power between a central national government and regional/state governments, allowing for both national unity and local self-governance.
The legislative branch serves as a check on the executive branch by having the power to pass laws, approve budgets, and potentially impeach the president or prime minister.
In a direct democracy, citizens directly participate in decision-making on policy issues. In a representative democracy, citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.
Political participation, such as voting, campaigning, and engaging in civil society, is essential for the functioning of a democracy and holding governments accountable.
A free and independent press serves to inform the public, scrutinize government actions, and facilitate public discourse, which is crucial for a healthy democracy.
In a unitary system, power is centralized at the national level. In a confederal system, power is decentralized and retained by member states or regions.