LAW W9 GOV

• Government


  The body that acts or processes the governing of a state specifically with regard to: 1) authoritative direction or control, 2) the office, authority, or function of governing, 3) the continuous exercise of authority over a political unit and the performance of functions for a political unit
• Democracy


  A system where power is vested in the people, who exercise it directly or through elected representatives. It typically includes principles of political equality and majority rule.
• Dictatorship


  A government where a single person or a small group possesses absolute power without effective constitutional limitations. Dictatorships often suppress opposition through coercion and control.
• Monarchy


  A form of government where a single person, usually a king or queen, holds supreme authority and the position is often inherited within a family line.
• Federalism


  A system where power is divided between a central government and smaller, regional governments or states. Each level of government has its own specific powers and responsibilities.
• Republic


  A form of government in which power is given to the people. However, the people select representatives to govern on their behalf. Primarily, these representatives are selected through elections.
• Socialism


  A system advocating for collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods. It aims for equal distribution of wealth and resources among the population.
• Organs of government


  • Legislative
  • Executive
  • Judiciary
• Legislative


  The organ of the government which passes the laws of the government. It is the agency which has the responsibility to formulate the will of the state and vest it with legal authority and force.
• Executive


  The branch of government exercising authority in and holding responsibility for the governance of a state.
• Judiciary


  The courts system that interprets and enforces the laws made by the Legislative.
• Separation of powers


  The political liberty of the subject, where one person need not be afraid of another. The government is so constituted that one person does not have power over another.

  
• The doctrine of separation of powers is a common feature of the Westminster system that Malaysia has inherited from its British colonial past.
• In Malaysia, there is a significant overlap between the Legislative and Executive, creating a weakness in the check and balance system.
• In Malaysia, judges are appointed by the Executive, i.e. the YDPA upon advice made by the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, making them subordinate to the Executive.
• Malaysian Government


  • Federal vs State
  • 9th Schedule of the Federal Constitution
  • Constitutional Monarchy and Parliamentary Democracy (Art. 38-43 of the Federal Constitution)

  
• Parliamentary Democracy


  A system of government in which citizens elect representatives to a legislative parliament to make the necessary laws and decisions for the country. This parliament directly represents the people.
• Parliamentary system or parliamentary democracy


  A system of democratic governance of a state where the executive derives its democratic legitimacy from its ability to command the confidence of the legislature, typically a parliament, and is also held accountable to that parliament.
• House of Representatives/House of Commons

  • Has 222 elected members, each representing a Parliamentary Constituency. General Election held every five years to elect members.
• Election


  Voting process to indicate choice officially in an election, by casting the vote on a piece of paper.
• Election Process


  1. Elections Commission responsible for managing elections

  2. Electoral system uses first-past-the-post

  3. Campaign gives equal rights to candidates

  4. Voting day procedures

  5. Vote counting procedure

  6. Announcement of results
• Differences between General and State Elections

  • General Election determines federal government, State Election determines state government
  • General Election elects Members of Parliament, State Election elects State Assembly members
  • MPs attend Parliament sessions, State Assembly members attend DUN sessions
  • MPs represent people at federal level, State Assembly members represent people at state level