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Related Flashcards
Related Topics
Cards In This Set
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Legislature
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A multi-member representative body which considers public issues and either accepts, amends, or rejects proposals for new laws and policies.
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Debating legislature
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One where floor debate is the central activity, through which major issues are addressed and parties gain or lose ground.
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Plenary session
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A meeting of the entire legislature, as distinct from committee meetings.
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Committee-based legislature
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One where most work takes place in committees, where members transform bills into laws, conducting hearings, and scrutinizing the executive.
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Committee
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A group of legislators assigned to look in detail at proposals for new laws.
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Vote of confidence
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A vote in a legislature on the question of its confidence in the government to lead. If lost, it normally requires the resignation of the government.
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Unicameral and bicameral
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Terms referring to the number of chambers in a legislature.
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Weak bicameralism
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This arises when the lower chamber dominates the upper, providing the primary focus for government accountability.
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Strong bicameralism
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This occurs when the two chambers are more balanced, as in federations with presidential executives.
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Model of representation
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A means for understanding the way in which elected officials represent the interests of their voters and districts.
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Political class
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A group of professional politicians with similar backgrounds, interests, and values.
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Co-option (or co-optation)
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The process by which political movements or opponents are encouraged by leaders to become part of the governing system, thereby neutralizing opposition.
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Term limits
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Rules that restrict elected politicians to a maximum number of periods in office, or ban re-election without a break.
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