Magruder's American Government: 14. Comparative Political Systems

Democratization refers to the change from dictatorship to democracy and is marked by the holding of free and fair elections.

This internal and external pressure may pit ruling hard-liners, who often blame foreign enemies or internal critics for undermining the state, against ruling reformers, who may recognize the need to relinquish some power even if not to fully give up power or to democratize.

This internal and external pressure may pit ruling hard-liners, who often blame foreign enemies or internal critics for undermining the state, against ruling reformers, who may recognize the need to relinquish some power even if not to fully give up power or to democratize.

As the ultimate positive outcome of democratization, democratic consolidation occurs when a country firmly establishes the necessary factors for vibrant democracy and social order.

Like the United States, the United Kingdom is a prime example of constitutionalism, government in which power is distributed and limited by a system of laws that must be obeyed by its rulers.

Political observers refer to the United Kingdom as a parliamentary system, where the chief executive—the prime minister—is chosen by the Parliament rather than being directly elected.

If no single party holds a majority, then two or more parties form a coalition, a temporary alliance of parties for the purpose of forming a government.

The prime minister selects the members of the cabinet, or ministers, from the House of Commons, although a few may sit in the House of Lords.

Each opposition member of Parliament (MP) watches, or shadows, one particular member of the cabinet. If an opposition party should win the next election, its so-called shadow cabinet would run the government.

The United States court system grew from the system used in the United Kingdom, which decides cases based on common law, where laws are adjudicated on judicial precedent.

Because of the historical and cultural distinctions England has with Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom Parliament recognized the distinctive governmental needs of these nations in the late 1990s and began a process of devolution—the delegation of authority from the central government back to regional governments.

Fellow party members sit on benches behind the cabinet ministers or shadow cabinet and are thus referred to as backbenchers, who have little or no influence over policy.

Josef Stalin became the Soviet leader after Lenin’s death in 1924 and consolidated his power in a series of purges, purifying governing power by removing rivals.