AP®︎ Comparative Government: Topic 2.3 Flashcards

The head of state represents the country and performs constitutional, diplomatic, military, or ceremonial functions; the head of government directs daily governing, the cabinet, and the civil service

The senior official who directs the executive functions of government, such as a president, prime minister, premier, or Supreme Leader

Senior ministers or department heads who advise the chief executive and direct major policy areas and government agencies

The officials and agencies that administer laws and programs, regulate activity, provide public services, and enforce administrative rules

Developing governmental goals and proposals by setting agendas, preparing budgets or legislation, issuing directives, and negotiating with officials

Converting a law or executive decision into an operating program through regulations, resources, personnel, and organized public services

Using administrative, legal, police, or military authority to secure compliance with laws and regulations

Formal power is authority granted by law or constitutional convention; actual power is the influence an officeholder exercises in political practice

An executive system in which a separately elected president serves for a fixed term and ordinarily combines the roles of head of state and head of government

An executive system in which a prime minister leads a government dependent on the confidence of the legislature

An executive system with both an elected president and a prime minister, dividing the offices of head of state and head of government

An executive structure that divides senior executive roles between two offices, although their actual power may be highly unequal

China's ruling party, whose leadership stands above and penetrates the state institutions that formally exercise executive authority

China’s head of state, who nominates the premier and ordinarily also serves as CCP general secretary and Central Military Commission chair, making the officeholder the senior political leader and commander in chief

The leader of the Chinese Communist Party and the party office that provides the president's authority over China's ruling political organization

The office that controls China's armed forces and makes its holder the country's commander in chief

China's head of government, nominated by the president, who directs the State Council and oversees the civil service and daily administration beneath top party leadership

China's cabinet and highest state administrative body, directed by the premier through its ministries and commissions

Top leaders are chosen through closed-door Communist Party bargaining and deliberation, after which state institutions formally ratify the party's choices

Iran’s unelected head of state and dominant authority, who sets the political agenda, commands the military, and appoints top ministers, the head of the judiciary, the Expediency Council, and half of the Guardian Council

A popularly elected executive who may serve two consecutive four-year terms, oversees the civil service, appoints ministers subject to Majles confirmation, and conducts foreign policy within limits set by the Supreme Leader

Iran's elected but candidate-vetted body that formally selects a new Supreme Leader when the office becomes vacant

Mexico’s popularly elected head of state and government, commander in chief, and leader of the federal bureaucracy who leads foreign policy and may sign, promulgate, or veto legislation passed by Congress

Mexico's single six-year presidential term; the incumbent may not seek reelection

Nigeria’s popularly elected head of state and government, commander in chief, and head of the federal civil service who conducts foreign policy and may sign or veto legislation passed by the National Assembly

Nigeria's cabinet of presidentially appointed, Senate-confirmed ministers who direct federal departments and help formulate and implement policy

Russia’s elected head of state and dominant executive, who commands the military, nominates the prime minister, appoints senior officials and ministers, directs security and foreign policy, issues decrees, and may dissolve the State Duma under specified circumstances

Russia's head of government, nominated by the president, who chairs the government, oversees the civil service, and administers economic and domestic programs under presidential dominance

The largely ceremonial head of state who formally appoints the prime minister, grants royal assent, and performs constitutional acts on ministerial advice

The head of government and chief executive who directs the cabinet, sets policy, supervises the civil service, acts as de facto commander in chief, and can initiate an early election

Senior ministers, nearly all members of Parliament, who direct departments under the prime minister and connect executive leadership to the Commons majority

The parliamentary support required for a prime minister and government to take office and remain in power

A governing party may replace its leader without a general election, after which the monarch appoints the new leader prime minister if that person retains Commons confidence