Flaws in the System
UK Unitary System Executive Branch Head of State Head of Government Cabinet Legislative Branch - Bicameral (Parliament) House of Lords (appointed, heredity, clergy) House of Commons (SMD, plurality) Judiciary Common Law System (No Judicial Review)
UK The Positives The Negatives
Plurality System
Nigeria Federal System Executive Branch Head of State Head of Government Legislative Branch – Bicameral(National Assembly) Senate – Symmetric MMD Plurality House of Representatives – Asymmetric SMD FPTP Judicial Branch No Judicial Review Civil, Common, Traditional, Shari’ah Law Systems
Nigeria The Positives The Negatives
Russia Federal System Executive Branch Head of State Head of Government Legislative Branch – Bicameral (Federal Assembly) Federation Council (166 members) Symmetrical 2 for each admin area (appointed by admin areas) State Duma (450 members) Asymmetric Proportional w/ 7% threshold Judicial Branch Civil Law System Constitutional Review
Blue – United Russian Party Yellow – Liberal Democratic Party of Russia Red – Communist Party of the Russian Federation Green – Fair Russia
Russia The Positives The Negatives
Iran Unitary System Executive Branch Legislative Branch Head of State (by the Assembly of Experts) Head of Government (by the electorate) Legislative Branch Majles (290 members) SMD and MMD Guardian Council Appointed (half by Supreme Leader, half by Majles) Expediency Council Appointed (Supreme Leader) 5 Years Judicial Branch Shari’ah Law
Red – Conservatives. Yellow – Religious Minorities Green – Reformists Red – Conservatives Yellow – Religious Minorities Green – Reformists Grey – Independents
Iran The Positives The Negatives
Mexico Federal System Executive Branch Head of State Head of Government Legislative Branch – Bicameral (Congress) Senate – Mostly Symmetric 3 for each state; 2 by election, 1 by assignment 32 at large senators divided proportionally Chamber of Deputies – Asymmetric 300 deputies are SMD, plurality 200 deputies divided proportionally Judicial Branch Civil Law System (Judicial Review)
Mexcio The Positives The Negatives
Discussion Questions Why would you choose a plurality system? Who? - Positives and Negatives Why would you choose a proportional system? Why would you choose a majority system? Why would you choose a hybrid system?
Influences on Government Political Parties Military Bureaucracies Special Interest Groups