Notes
Systems of government
- Parliamentary: the executive (prime minister) comes from and depends on the legislature; parliament can remove it through a vote of no confidence (the UK).
- Presidential: the president is elected separately and serves a fixed term (Mexico, Nigeria).
- Semi-presidential: a powerful president plus a prime minister (Russia).
- Head of state (ceremonial role) vs head of government (runs the government). In the UK, the monarch is head of state and the prime minister is head of government.
Federal vs unitary
- Federal systems share power between national and regional governments (Mexico, Nigeria, Russia).
- Unitary systems concentrate power nationally (the UK with devolution to Scotland and Wales, China, Iran).
Legislatures
- Bicameral (two chambers: the UK, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia) or unicameral (one: Iran's Majles, China's National People's Congress).
- In authoritarian regimes, legislatures often rubber-stamp the leaders' decisions.
Executives and term limits
- Mexico's president serves one six-year term (sexenio). Nigeria's president can serve two four-year terms. Russia's 2020 constitutional amendments let Putin potentially stay in office until 2036. China removed presidential term limits in 2018.
- Iran's Supreme Leader holds ultimate power over the elected president.
Judiciaries
- Judicial independence and judicial review vary: the UK has a Supreme Court (since 2009) but parliamentary sovereignty limits judicial review. In China, courts follow the Communist Party. Iran's courts apply Islamic law. Mexico has strengthened judicial independence over time, though recent reforms have been debated.
Practice
The executive depends on parliament's support.
Russia has both a strong president and a prime minister.
The prime minister is head of government.
Reelection is not allowed.
The UK remains unitary but shares some power.
It's often called a rubber-stamp legislature.
The Supreme Leader controls the military, judiciary and key appointments.
Nigeria has 36 states.
Free response
Write your answer first, then open the scoring guide.
Free-response question
Answer (a), (b) and (c).
(a) Describe ONE difference between parliamentary and presidential systems.
Show the answer and scoring guide
In a parliamentary system, the executive comes from the legislature and can be removed by a vote of no confidence; in a presidential system, the president is elected separately for a fixed term.
Check off the points you earned:
(b) Explain how term limits affect executive power in Mexico.
Show the answer and scoring guide
The single six-year term prevents any president from building long-term personal power, encouraging turnover.
Check off the points you earned:
(c) Explain ONE way Russia's executive has gained power in recent years.
Show the answer and scoring guide
The 2020 constitutional amendments reset Putin's term count, allowing him to stay in office longer, and the president controls key appointments.
Check off the points you earned: