Political Systems 1

[Type the document title]

Political Systems

- is a system of politics and government. It is usually compared to the legal system, economic system, cultural system,
and other social systems.

1. As to number of people exercising government powers

a) Monarchy
-rule by one
- king or queen as the permanent head of state until he or she dies or gives up his or her position
-power is passed on hereditary
often passed to the current monarch's oldest male child
i. Absolute monarchy
total authority over the government and his or her people
rules without a constitution
monarch as both head of state and head of government
the cabinet of advisers advises or approves decisions of the monarch
ii. Limited monarchy
referred to as constitutional monarchies
governing powers of the monarch are restricted by a constitution
political power is may be held by an elected parliament or congress
o prime minister or other official
-head of government and the country's political leader
a chamber of elected representatives and a prime minister have power to make decisions
monarch usually needs the approval of the prime minister and other government officials
political power is held by an elected parliament or congress
b) Aristocracy
rule by the best
political power by a small privileged class or a minority consisting of those believed to be best
qualified
power from military, wealth, or social status
elite considered superior
c) Democracy
rule by the people
political power by majority of the people
i. Direct or pure democracy
citizens make decisions
o directly proposing laws or referendums on laws which are disliked
o citizens vote to determine who enters public office
o public officials who are not doing their jobs can be recalled
ii. Indirect, representative or republican
a small group of officials makes decisions of importance on behalf of their constituents
 2. As to extent of powers exercised by the central or national government
i. Unitary
Central government has power over national and local affairs
States have no authority to pass their own laws
little to no provincial authority
major decisions are made by the central government
ii. Federal
Power is divided into two organs
one for national affairs
one for local affairs
power is distributed from the national government to local governments
local governments can make their own laws/rules

3. As to relationship between the executive and legislative branches of the government

i. Parliamentary
chief executive (e.g. prime minister) is part of the legislative body or parliament
power is held by the legislative body
chief executive must answer to the legislature
Voters elect the members of the legislative body
The legislative body elects one of its members to be the chief executive
Roles of head of state and head of government often are held by different people
o a country might have a prime minister who acts as its head of government and a monarch
who acts as its head of state
o Some countries might also have a president instead of a monarch, who acts as the head of
state
ii. Presidential
Government power is distributed intro three separate and coequal branches
o Executive
o Legislative
o Judicial
president is the head of government and the head of state
president is separate from the legislative body
chief executive and members of the legislature are elected separately by the people

Reference:

De Leon, H., & De Leon H. Jr. (2014). Textbook on the Philippine Constitution. Manila, Philippines: Rex Book Store.