TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY VOCAB
Academic Term Personal Illustration
Universal Suffrage
Technical Definition Personal Sentence
The right to vote for everyone over the age of 18 years.
In the United States, we have Universal Suffrage.
Academic Term Personal Illustration
Referendum
Technical Definition Personal Sentence
All voters given the opportunity to vote on an important issue. Used when government needs/wants public support – but voters can be easily swayed by the wording of the referendum
Washington state called for a referendum on gun laws.
Academic Term Personal Illustration
Bicameral
Technical Definition Personal Sentence
When a legislature has two “chambers” or “houses.” Need a majority in both houses to get new laws passed.
Academic Term Personal Illustration
Cabinet
Technical Definition Personal Sentence
Consists of the head of government with his/her government ministers (called Secretaries in the US), who head the main gov’t departments or ministries
Academic Term Personal Illustration
Coalition Government
Technical Definition Personal Sentence
An alliance of political parties which have agreed to co-operate in a government. Small parties form coalitions for more influence. Big parties form coalitions to gain a majority. Some form coalitions to ensure national unity during a crisis.
Academic Term Personal Illustration
Proportional Representation
Technical Definition Personal Sentence
Representation in the legislative branch is proportional to the total vote received by the various political parties.
Academic Term Personal Illustration
First-past-the-post
Technical Definition Personal Sentence
The winner is the first to cross the finish line (% needed for a majority). In each district, only the candidate with the most votes gets a seat in parliament. Other candidates get nothing.
Academic Term Personal Illustration
Confederation
Technical Definition Personal Sentence
A loose association of states. It is looser than a federal union.
Academic Term Personal Illustration
Bicameral
Technical Definition Personal Sentence
When a legislature has two “chambers” or “houses.” Need a majority in both houses to get new laws passed.
The United States has a bicameral legislature because the House of Representatives and the Senate make up our legislative branch.
Academic Term Personal Illustration
Cabinet
Technical Definition Personal Sentence
Consists of the head of government with his/her government ministers (called Secretaries in the US), who head the main gov’t departments or ministries
The President called her a cabinet meeting to discuss going to war.
Academic Term Personal Illustration
Coalition Government
Technical Definition Personal Sentence
An alliance of political parties which have agreed to co-operate in a government. Small parties form coalitions for more influence. Big parties form coalitions to gain a majority. Some form coalitions to ensure national unity during a crisis.
The Republicans and Tea Party formed a coalition to gain a majority in the House.
Academic Term Personal Illustration
Proportional Representation
Technical Definition Personal Sentence
Representation in the legislative branch is proportional to the total vote received by the various political parties.
The National Assembly is elected using proportional representation, so if the ANC gets 65% of the votes, than they 65% of the seats in the assembly.
Academic Term Personal Illustration
First-past-the-post
Technical Definition Personal Sentence
The winner is the first to cross the finish line (% needed for a majority). In each district, only the candidate with the most votes gets a seat in parliament. Other candidates get nothing.
The United States operates on a first-past-the-post system.
Academic Term Personal Illustration
Confederation
Technical Definition Personal Sentence
A loose association of states. It is looser than a federal union.
The Southern states formed a confederation during the Civil War, to oppose the more central power of the federal government.