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Political Institutions

Political Institutions. Levels of Governance. Political Institutions. Unitary System. Government has authority over all lower levels of government Authority may be granted to the lower government but power resides in the central government

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Political Institutions

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  1. Political Institutions

  2. Levels of Governance Political Institutions

  3. Unitary System • Government has authority over all lower levels of government • Authority may be granted to the lower government but power resides in the central government • Lower level governments have no power granted them by a Constitution

  4. Federal Systems • Lower level governments are granted authority by the constitution • Power cannot be taken away from the lower levels

  5. Advantages to the Federal System • Logistically advantageous for large countries • Accommodate regional differences • Reduce tensions in regions given to social, ethnic, and religious conflict

  6. Disadvantages to the Federal System • Lack of uniformity • Possible reinforcement of social divisions

  7. Confederation • Affiliation of two or more states • No strong central government • Member states retain a great deal of sovereignty • Example: European Union

  8. Devolution • Characteristic of a unitary system • Transfer of power from a central government to the lower levels

  9. Political Institutions Executive and Legislative Systems

  10. Legislatures Unicameral Single Chamber Bicameral Different chambers for different classes Common feature of federalism, one house is regional represented

  11. Duties of the Legislature Legislating Authorizing taxes and government spending Selection, Approval, and Removal of Government Officials Oversight of the Executive

  12. Parliamentary System Prime Minister is the head of government Removed by • national elections • Legislature vote of no confidence Monarch or President is the head of state • Largely ceremonial but may be elected • Very little real power Other Important Terms: Party Discipline: following directions of party leaders Opposition/Shadow Government

  13. Parliamentary System Advantages Disadvantages Instability Espw/coalitions Hasty Decision Concentration of Power Efficiency in passing legislation fusion of power Accountability for Voters Reward/punish those in office

  14. Presidential System Directly elected president President serves as both head of state and government—no prime minister Powerful, and cannot be removed other than by impeachment or election Not beholden to legislature Can weaken party as candidates focus on winning one single election versus coalition building and working up the ranks

  15. Presidential System Advantages Disadvantages Difficult to Remove Gridlock Unable to pass legislation Creeping Authoritarianism Concentration in the office of the presidency over time Check on Majority Rule Less likely to ‘undo’ legislation National Mandate Only nationally elected office National support for policies

  16. Semipresidential System Combination of two systems Prime minister who is charged with domestic policy Directly elected president who sets broader agenda and foreign relations, national security Russia, South Korea, Taiwan

  17. Benefits of Each • Benefits and downsides of a parliamentary system? • Of a presidential system? • Semipresidentialism? • Remember—this completely unconnected from the kind of electoral system used for legislature • Could have president with PR to elect legislature

  18. Political Institutions Elections and Electoral Systems

  19. Participation: Voting and Elections • Central to liberal democracy • Suffrage: right to vote • Age, ethnicity/race, income? • Obligatory, voluntary? • Electoral systems: How do we count votes? How do we waste votes? • Single Member District (SMD) • Proportional Representation (PR)

  20. Single-Member Districts (SMD) • Electoral system used in minority of democratic countries, including US, Canada, Great Britain • Constituencies as single-member districts: only one seat being contested per district • Numerous candidates compete; voters cast ballots for one individual • Candidate with plurality (largest share) wins seat. “First past the post” • May not be a majority! Majority of votes could be “wasted”—not be cast for the winner!

  21. Effects of Single-Member Districts (SMD) • Large number of votes may be wasted • Share of seats may not reflect the share of votes won • Small parties tend to do badly, unable to gain first place in single member districts • Result is a two party system—people unwilling to vote for small parties • One alternative is to have two rounds or other mechanisms to ensure majority

  22. Proportional Representation: Multimember Districts • System used by majority of liberal democracies • Attempts to make proportion of votes reflect number of seats won in the legislature • Voters cast vote for a party (not a candidate) that competes in multimember districts • Votes are tallied and seats divided by the percentage gained by each party

  23. Effects of Proportional Representation: Multimember Districts • Fewer votes wasted—small parties can win seats • Elections not centered on individuals, as in SMD • Parties control who will fill seats for their party, increasing party discipline • Many more parties in legislature—may lead to coalition government (no one party has majority of seats)

  24. Which Is the More Democratic System? • Attractions of SMD? Drawbacks? • Attractions of PR? Drawbacks? • Which is more democratic? • Participation? • Efficiency?

  25. Mixed Electoral System • Some countries use both SMD and PR: Germany, Japan, Mexico, others • Some seats in legislature elected by one system and some by the other • Voters get a dual ballot—cast vote for a single member district and for a party • Can split your vote between two parties, save PR vote for smaller party, SMD for larger one!

  26. Electoral System and Executive-Legislative Relations • Parliamentary systems with SMDs less likely to have multiple parties • PR in parliamentary systems make coalition governments more likely • Electoral system and executive system not connected—independent of each other

  27. Referendum and Initiative • National ballot on an issue • Referendum: top-down, binding on government • Initiative: bottom-up, binding on government • Countries vary greatly in how these are used • US and Canada: no constitutional provision • Switzerland: very common

  28. T

  29. Political Institutions nondemocratic regimes and governance

  30. Origins of Nondemocratic Rule War, occupation, imperialism • Poorly drawn borders • Uneven modernization • Weak autonomy and capacity • International support for nondemocratic regimes

  31. Culture and Nondemocratic Rule Culture rather than ideology shapes authoritarianism • Political culture: social roadmap for politics • Democracy as a Western product • Christianity • Secularism • Individualism • National identity and nation-state • Not universal?

  32. Figure 6-1 TAXATION, 2005

  33. Outside of the West • Non-Western cultures less receptive to democracy? • Islam: tight connection between religion and state? • “Asian Values”: Confucian emphasis on community over individual? • Western democracy may appear anarchic, selfish in comparison!

  34. Problems with the Cultural Argument • Critics argue that democracy can spread • Not limited by cultural barriers • Asian values: but spread of democracy to much of Asia in 1990s! • Confucianism, Islam can each be interpreted differently

  35. Nondemocratic and Political Control How do nondemocratic regimes stay in power? • Coercion and Surveillance • Cooptation • Personality Cults • Legitimacy?

  36. Coercion and Surveillance • Means of control • Observation, use of force • Targeted harassment, torture, killings • Inculcation of fear necessary • Secret police as political tool to enforce

  37. Cooptation • Bringing individuals into an organization and forming a relationship • Dependency on organization • Cooptation is present in democracies, widespread in nondemocratic system

  38. Methods of Cooptation Corporatism • Limited number of state-sanctioned organizations • No private organizations allowed • Organizations connected directly to state Clientelism • Less structured method • Public exchanges political support for specific favors or benefits • Rent-Seeking: parts of state “rented out” to supporters Kleptocracy: rule by theft

  39. Personality Cults • Promotion of image of leader above mortal qualities • Extraordinary wisdom and power • Quasi-religious qualities • Use of media to portray this image • All failings ascribed to “lesser” people below him or her • Terror: no one willing to that leader is fallible?

  40. Can a Non-democratic Rule be Legitimate? Accepted form of Government • Yes—charisma (Mao) • Yes—tradition (monarchs) • Yes—rationality (rule by unelected “experts”)

  41. Types of Nondemocratic Rule • Personal and Monarchical Rule • Military Rule • One-Party Rule • Theocracy • Illiberal/Hybrid Regimes

  42. Types of Nondemocratic Rule Personal and Monarchical Rule • One person alone is fit to rule • Patrimonialism: ruler depends on collection of supporters in the state who gain direct benefits from that rule Military Rule • Military seizes control of state: coup d’etat • Often justified as a temporary move • Often lacks a specific ideology

  43. Types of Nondemocratic Rule One-party Rule • Single political party monopolizes power, and other parties banned or excluded from power • Benefits given to party members in return for support • Leadership uses the party to mobilize and spread propaganda as needed

  44. Types of Nondemocratic Rule Theocracy • “Rule by God,” • Faith is the foundation for the political regime Illiberal/Hybrid Regimes • Possess democratic mechanisms, but weakly institutionalized • Executives typically hold tremendous power • Democratic processes not well respected • Subject to sudden changes, arbitrary withdrawal • Media under state control • State institutions under direct control of government (politicized)

  45. Figure 6-2 AUTHORITARIANISM IN DECLINE, 1977–2007

  46. Political Institutions Political Parties and Bureaucratic Systems

  47. Types of Party Systems • One Party • Single party • One party generate support from the government • Non competitive • Example: China’s CCP • One Party-Dominant • Large party controls the political system • Small parties may exist but not competitive • Example: Mexico’s PRI

  48. Types of Party Systems • Two Party Systems • Two parties compete for the majority of control • Smaller parties play no role in the electoral outcome • Example: UK • Multiparty systems • Several important political parties • None gain a majority in the legislature • Example: Iran and Nigeria

  49. Unelected Institutions in Government • Bureaucracy • Part of the executive responsible for the implementation of government policy • Tasks of the Bureaucracy • Implementation of laws and policy • Agenda setting and advising on policy specifics • Interpretation of existing but vague laws • Policy creation

  50. Unelected Institutions in Government • Organization • Cabinet departments/ministries • civil service/ civil servants • Military • Hierarchy • Implements policy • Civilian vs. government control

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