oThe study and comparison of

Jim Hiddink 08-01-2022 Chapter 1 - introduction Comparative politics oThe study and comparison of politics across countries States oOrganizations that maintain a monopoly of violence over a territory oDiffer in Origin Length of existence Strength Historical development Country oEncompasses the territory and people living within a state Government oThe leadership or elite that administers the state oWays in which states differ Size Population Origins Historical development Natural endowments Resources such as oil Level of organization Level of effectiveness Level of stability Level of legitimacy Sources of legitimacy oTraditional legitimacy The state is obeyed because it has a long tradition of being obeyed oCharismatic legitimacy Identification with the magnetic appeal of a leader or a movement oRational-legal legitimacy On the basis of a system of laws and procedures that become highly institutionalized Ability to preserve their sovereignty Strong states 1 / 4

oCan perform the tasks of defending the borders from outside attacks and defending their authority from internal nonstate factors Weak states oHave trouble carrying out those tasks oOften suffer from  endemic violence Poor infrastructure Inability to collect taxes and enforce the rule of law High levels of corruption Failed states oExperience a complete loss of legitimacy and power oMay be overwhelmed by anarchy and violence The degree to which they centralize or disperse political power Unitary states oConcentrate most of their political power in national capital oAllocate little decision making power to regions or local authorities oMay be stronger and more decisive than federal states May create local resentment and initiate calls for a devolution of power to regions and localities Federal states oDivide power between the central government and regional or local authorities oOften find that their dispersal of power hampers national decision making and accountability oOften suffer from more corruption due to giving local officials greater access to resources oPolitical regimes oThe norms and rules regarding  individual freedoms and collective equality The locus of power The use of that power oOften described in constitutions Democratic regimes Have rules that oemphasize a large role for the public in governance oProtect basic rights and freedoms oAttempt to ensure the basic transparency of and accountability for government actions Authoritarian regimes Limit the role of the public in decision making Often deny citizens basic rights Restrict freedoms oDemocratic political institutions Executive 2 / 4

Branch of government that carries out the laws and policies of a given state Performs two duties oHead of the state Symbolizes and represents the people, both nationally and internationally, embodying and articulating the goals of the regime oHead of government Deals with the everyday tasks of running the state Formulates and executes policy Legislature Branch of government formally charged with making laws Differ considerably from country to country Two types of legislatures oUnicameral legislature Consist of a single chamber oBicameral legislatures Consist of two legislative chambers One represents the population at large (lower house) One reflects certain geographic subunits Judiciary Branch of government that is concerned with dispensing justice Constitutional court oHighest judicial body to rule on the constitutionality of laws and other government actions oFormally oversees the entire judicial structure review oJudicial review The mechanism by which the court reviews laws and policies and overturns those seen as violations of the constitution oConcrete review Allows the high court to rule on constitutional issues only when relevant disputes are brought before it oAbstract review Allowing the high court to decide on questions that do not arise from legal cases Sometimes even allows it to make judgement on legislation that has not yet been enacted Models of legislative-executive relations within democratic regimes Parliamentary oFeatures an executive head of government Elected from within the legislature Hugely cerimonial duties oCabinet 3 / 4

The body of chief ministers or officials in government in charge of such policy areas as defense, agriculture and so on o^Both charged with formulating and executing policy Presidential system oCombines the roles of head of state and head of government in the office of the president oFeatures a directly elected president oPresident holds most of the government’s executive powers Semi-presidential system oAn attempt to avoid the weaknesses of parliamentary and presidential systems oIncludes a prime minister approved by the legislature and a directly elected president, both sharing executive power oTend to produce strong presidents akin to those in pure presidential systems Exact balance of power varies from case to case Electoral system oDetermines how votes are cast and counted Proportional representation (PR) (netherlands) oRelies on multimember districts (MMDs) More than one legislative seats are contesred in each electoral district oAlso single-member districts possible (SMD) One person per party and constituency Mixed electoral system oVoters given two votes One for party One for candidate oCandidates selected through SMD oRest is selected through MMD votes for parties onondemocratic regimes Types Personal dictatorship Military regime One-party regime Theocracy Illiberal regime oRetains the basic structures of a democracy but does not protect civil liberties Communist regimes oOne party regimes oEconomy and political world controlled by the regime Totalitarian oFeature a strong official ideology that seeks to transform fundamental aspects of the state, society, and economy,

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