chapter 10 - politics beyond the UK

• democracy rankinf measures the qualirt of politics and the quality of society to decide how far a country is democratic
• direct democracy - a type of democracy where citizens are dominant and have a key role in making decisions
• federation - a union of partially self-governing states or regions under a central government
• republic - a country in which power is held only by elected representatives - no monarch
• political culture - the attitudes and beliefs that underpin practices and behavior in the political system
• consensus - general agreement
• switzerland is a federation of cantons
• cantons have independence from the federal government
• switzerland is known as a direct democracy
• China is ranked 106th in the world for democracy
• tyranny of the majority - a majority of people making decisions that discriminate against the minority
• politburo - the main policy-making committee of a communist party
• political participation - involvement in decision - making
• A communist society would entail the absence of private property and social classes, and ultimately money and the state (or nation state). Communists often seek a voluntary state of self-governance but disagree on the means to this end.
• unicameral - a parliament with a single chamber
• indirect election system - when citizens elect representatives whi then take responsibility for electing delegates to a higher layer of government
• authoritarian regime - a gov that uses its power to enforce strict obidience to its policies and practices. as a result, personal freedom is restricted