Democratic Governments

Key Terms

consolidated democracies, parliamentary government, life peers, presidential government, apartheid, sanctions

Find Out

• What are the challenges for democracy in Western Europe and Japan?

• What are the forms that democratic governments take today?

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.

A. One form of democratic government is parliamentary government, which combines executive and legislative functions in an elected assembly.

I. Parliamentary Systems (pages 689–691)

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.

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.

I. Parliamentary Systems (pages 689–691)

A. Another way to organize a democracy is by presidential government, which separates executive and legislative powers.

II. Presidential Government (pages 691–692)

B. The president of France1) 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.

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.

III. Emerging Democracies (pages 692–694)

B. Beginning in 1948, South Africa followed a policy of apartheid, or strict government-enforced racial segregation; after years of resistance from the African National Congress and others, apartheid laws were repealed during the 1990s, and Nelson Mandela was elected president in 1994.

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 1990s allowed other parties to compete fairly in Mexico’s political process.

III. Emerging Democracies (pages 692–694)

1. Main Idea Use a graphic organizer like the one below to compare the most powerful parts of the British and French governments.

Checking for Understanding

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.

___ consolidated democracies

___ life peer

___ apartheid

___ sanctions

___ presidential government

A. a person who has been awarded a title in the House of Lords for outstanding achievement

B. a form of democratic government in which a president heads the executive branch

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

D

A

E

C

B

Match the term with the correct definition.

3. Identify House of Commons, House of Lords, National Diet, Solidarity.

Checking for Understanding

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.

4. What happens when the majority party in Britain loses a vote in Parliament?

Checking for Understanding

It must resign. Parliament is then dissolved, and new general elections are held.

5. Why is most of the legislation introduced in the Japanese National Diet ultimately passed?

Checking for Understanding

Because the majority party members either approve the legislation or abstain, and the opposition party members are usually not strong enough to stop legislation.

6. Understanding Cause and Effect What recent events in Mexico have contributed to making the country more democratic?

Critical Thinking

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.