Democratic Governments Key Terms consolidated democracies parliamentary government

Democratic Governments Key Terms consolidated democracies, parliamentary government, life peers, presidential government, apartheid, sanctions Find Out • What are the forms that democratic governments take today? • What are the challenges for democracy in Western Europe and Japan?

Democratic Governments Understanding Concepts Comparative Government How does parliamentary government differ from presidential government? Section Objective Compare parliamentary government and presidential government.

Margaret Thatcher was prime minister of Great Britain from 1979 until 1990. Thatcher made sweeping reforms in the economy, such as the privatization of many of Britain’s state-owned businesses and industries, effectively ending major socialist policies of previous Labor governments. She also strengthened British and U. S. ties, which helped spur the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe.

I. Parliamentary Systems (pages 689– 691) A. One form of democratic government is parliamentary government, which combines executive and legislative functions in an elected assembly. B. In Great Britain, Parliament holds almost all governmental authority. C. The leader of the majority party in the House of Commons becomes the prime minister. D. Other ministers head executive departments and serve as Cabinet members.

I. Parliamentary Systems (pages 689– 691) E. Japan’s parliament, the National Diet, has two houses. The House of Representatives elects the prime minister. F. If the parliament votes “no confidence, ” the prime minister may dissolve the House and call for elections.

I. Parliamentary Systems (pages 689– 691) Of the parliamentary governments discussed, which one would you consider most democratic? Explain. Answers will vary. Before answering, have students define democracy.

II. Presidential Government (pages 691– 692) A. Another way to organize a democracy is by presidential government, which separates executive and legislative powers. B. The president of France 1) negotiates treaties; 2) appoints high officials; 3) acts as chair in high councils of the armed forces; 4) may dissolve the National Assembly and call for elections. C. The President appoints the premier, who appoints the ministers and maintains contact with the National Assembly.

II. Presidential Government (pages 691– 692)

II. Presidential Government (pages 691– 692) Do you think the different branches of the French government have enough checks and balances? Answers will vary. Point out the special powers of the French president.

III. Emerging Democracies (pages 692– 694) A. Poland was the first eastern European nation to overthrow its Communist government; Lech Walesa, the leader of a trade union called Solidarity, became the first freely elected president in 1990, though a new constitution was not approved until 1997. B. Beginning in 1948, South Africa followed a policy of apartheid, or strict governmentenforced racial segregation; after years of resistance from the African National Congress and others, apartheid laws were repealed during the 1990 s, and Nelson Mandela was elected president in 1994.

III. Emerging Democracies (pages 692– 694) C. Despite its 1917 constitution, the Mexican government was more authoritarian than democratic because of the power of the president and control of a single political party. Nationwide electoral reforms introduced in the 1990 s allowed other parties to compete fairly in Mexico’s political process.

Checking for Understanding 1. Main Idea Use a graphic organizer like the one below to compare the most powerful parts of the British and French governments. British—Parliament serves the legislative and executive functions of government; French—the president appoints the premier, negotiates treaties, may appeal to the people through referendum and dictatorial powers, may dissolve the National Assembly.

Checking for Understanding Match the term with the correct definition. ___ consolidated D democracies A. a person who has been awarded a title in the House of Lords for outstanding achievement ___ life peer A B. a form of democratic government in which a president heads the executive branch ___ apartheid E ___ sanctions C ___ presidential B government C. measures such as withholding economic aid, intended to influence a foreign government’s actions D. nations that have democratic elections, political parties, a constitutional government, an independent judiciary, and usually a market economy E. strict segregation of races

Checking for Understanding 3. Identify House of Commons, House of Lords, National Diet, Solidarity. The House of Commons is the British legislative body of elected representatives. The House of Lords has historically been an aristocratic body of British parliament; it now amends legislation or votes down bills passed by the Commons. The National Diet is the Japanese parliament of two houses. Solidarity was a trade union that emerged from an underground resistance movement to become a political party in Poland.

Checking for Understanding 4. What happens when the majority party in Britain loses a vote in Parliament? It must resign. Parliament is then dissolved, and new general elections are held.

Checking for Understanding 5. Why is most of the legislation introduced in the Japanese National Diet ultimately passed? Because the majority party members either approve the legislation or abstain, and the opposition party members are usually not strong enough to stop legislation.

Critical Thinking 6. Understanding Cause and Effect What recent events in Mexico have contributed to making the country more democratic? In 1994, PRI president Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de Leon introduced electoral reforms, and since Vicente Fox became president in 2000, he has worked to institute more democratic policies.

Comparative Government Choose one of the countries with a parliamentary system of government discussed in this section. Draw a diagram that compares the organization of the United States government with the parliamentary system of government that you choose.