Levels of Government Lesson

Within the state or country are political institutions. In this unit, we will look at the governance of states, how internal state institutions are set up and how they shape the political decision-making process. The rules that a state sets and follows in exerting its power are referred to collectively as a regime. In a democracy, a regime bases its power on the will of the people. Democracies are characterized by parliamentary systems or presidential systems. In authoritarian regimes, decisions are made by political elites or by those that hold political power. Characteristics of authoritarian regimes include a small group of elites, citizens with little or no input, no constitutional responsibility of leaders to the public, and restriction of civil rights and civil liberties. Make sure to read topics related to levels and types of governments in your e-textbook.

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Political Institutions

It is now time to watch the Political Institutions presentation. Take notes as you watch the video and reach out to your instructor with any questions.

Please complete the following Systems of Government Matching Activity.

Challenge: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial

The executive office carries out the laws and policies of a state. In many countries, the executive is split into two distinct roles: head of state and head of government. The head of state is a role that symbolizes and represents the people, both nationally and internationally and may or may not have any real policy-making power. The legislature is the branch of government charged with making laws. Formal approval for laws is usually required for major public policies, although, in authoritarian states, legislatures are generally dominated by the chief executive.

The judiciary's role in the political system varies considerably from one country to another. All countries have some form of legal structure, and the role of the judiciary is rarely limited to deciding criminal cases. Courts in authoritarian systems generally have little or no independence and their decisions are controlled by the chief executive. Constitutional courts, which serve to defend the democratic principles of a country, are the highest judicial body that rules on the constitutionality of laws and other government actions. In this unit, we will look at the varying degrees of rule of law (the idea that all people are treated equally under the country's legal procedures) in each of the six core countries. As you will see, some enjoy a high degree of rule of law, while others fall short.

Please complete the following Political Structure Matching Activity.

Judicial Review

Look over the information in the chart below.

Judicial Review
Country	Legal System	Judicial Review	Independent
China	Code Law	No	No
Great Britain	Common Law	No	Yes
Iran	Sharia	No	No
Nigeria	Common Law Sharia	Yes	Yes
Russia	Code Law	Yes	No
Mexico	Code Law	Yes	Yes

Please complete the following Judiciaries Review Activity.

Takeaway & Sendoff

Questions To Consider

What is the role of the executive(s) in each of the core countries?
How are legislatures assembled in each of the core countries?
How do the executive and legislature work together in the core countries?
What type of judicial system do the six core countries have?
What is Rule of Law?
To what degree does each of the six core countries adhere to rule of law?
What examples indicate a low adherence to rule of law?

Please complete the following Levels of Government Review Activity.

Dig Deeper

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