Western European Politics – Flashcards

Unlock all answers in this set

Unlock answers
question
WWI Alliances
answer
Triple Entente - France, Britain, Russia Triple Alliance - Germany, Austrian Empire, Italy
question
Neocoporatism
answer
The state "referees" between unions and employers. The state is very involved with the economy.
question
Keynesian Welfare State
answer
Creation of "safety nets" like unemployment, health care, etc
question
Post-Materialism
answer
People are more financially stable so they begin to be concerned about other things (environment, social justice etc) - 1970s
question
Neo-liberalism
answer
Movement on the right to take the state of the economy. Also impose austerity measures (think Thatcher)
question
"Third Way"
answer
1990s, Blair and Schroeder create a centrist movement, liberal social policy w/ more rightest economics. V. ambiguous
question
Majoritarian
answer
Concentrates power in the hands of the bare majority. Characteristics: single party cabinet, dominant executive, two party system, majoritarian electoral system, unitary state, unicameral house, flexible constitution
question
Consensus
answer
Tries to share, disperse and limit power. Characteristics: multi-party coalitions, balance of power, multi-party system, proportional electoral system, federal state, bicameral legislature, rigid constitution
question
Separation of Powers
answer
Directly elected president. Constitutional difference between the executive and the legislature. President names the cabinet. The President and legislature cannot dismiss each other
question
Fusion of Powers
answer
Executive responsible to the legislature. Indirectly elected executive. Legislature can bring down executive and PM can dissolve the legislature and call for early elections
question
Power of Prime Minister
answer
head of government, head of party, resolves legislature, agenda setting power, most important political actor
question
Collective v. Individual Responsibility
answer
Collective: All cabinet ministers dismissed if the government is voted out Individual: A minister can be personally dismissed
question
Directly Elected President
answer
Austria, Finland, Ireland, France
question
Indirectly Elected President
answer
Italy, Germany
question
Monarchs
answer
UK, Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Netherlands
question
British Monarchy
answer
Pros: History, tourism, tradition, hassle to change Cons: Not democratic, against republican ideals, costly w/o adding value
question
Semi-Presidentialism
answer
Coexistence of a PM and cabinet alongside the President. Exists in France, used to exist in Finland and Poland
question
Formateur
answer
Person who forms the government. Usually becomes PM
question
Informateur
answer
looks for alternatives, appoints a Formateur
question
Investiture Vote
answer
Formal or informal vote of approval for a government from the legislature
question
Vote of Confidence
answer
Gov. calls for a vote in the legislature in support of their government. Usually used when sure of winning, as tool to push through legislation
question
Vote of No Confidence
answer
Opposition w/i legislature calls for a vote against the current gov. In constructive version, they must offer an alternative government.
question
Caretaker Government
answer
Temporary government that forms after a government collapses and before a new government forms. Often is simply the old government continuing to run day-to-day affairs
question
Parliamentary Government
answer
Pros: Efficiency, Clearer responsibility Cons: Limited representation of minorities, Possibility of unstable gov. (especially with coalitions)
question
Constraints on Gov.
answer
Existing rules, political culture, minority gov. problems (coalition), within government support problems
question
Inter-Party v. Cross-Party
answer
Inter-party - Majoritarian set up, one party really making all political decisions, ex. UK Cross-party - Consensus, multiple parties coordinate and negotiate to create policy, ex. Scandanavia
question
Roles of Parliament
answer
Dismissing or appointing the government, lawmaking, Oversight of government (interpellation, question time),
question
Oversight Committee Characteristics
answer
Reflect structure of gov, each MP belongs to one committee, can summon individuals including ministers and have a right to access all pertinent information
question
Consequences of Party Voting
answer
vote w/ national agenda, less incumbency advantage, valuable party labels, must remain loyal to party to succeed as politician
question
Strength of Bicameralism
answer
1) Formal constitutional powers 2)Method of selection (direct or indirect election) 3) Difference in composition (ex. incongruence in Germany)
question
Strong Bicameral
answer
Germany, Switzerland
question
Medium Bicameral
answer
Netherlands, Italy
question
Weak Bicameral
answer
Austria, Ireland, Sweeden
question
Unicameral
answer
Finland, Greece, Portugal
question
Bicameralism Pros/Cons
answer
Pros: veto constrain majority tyranny, opportunity for careful review of legislation, more info yields better policy, makes sure popular preference does not drive policy, structure w/i parties to reduce cross-chamber disagreement Cons: slows down process, over represents minority opinions, may not have legitimacy but still uses power
question
Constitution
answer
" a body of rules that defines how all other legal rules are to be produced, applied, and interpreted." Regulates actions b/w courts and political actors, defines powers of each, shows precommitment, declares rights and duties
question
Constitutional Traditions
answer
US- very rigid, Constitution above the will of the people etc France - v. changeable, people's will is always supreme ever over constitution
question
Common Law
answer
Judges make rulings based on precedent
question
Civil Law
answer
Judges make rulings based on an established legal code. More common in Europe. In practice, precedent is also used.
question
Concrete v. Abstract
answer
Concrete: a specific case Abstract: consideration of a law w/o a case, usually brought up by a political actor, like the opposition
question
Strong Judicial Review
answer
W/ Constitutional Courts - Germany, Italy W/o Constitutional Courts - France, Ireland
question
FCC
answer
German constitutional court, abstract and concrete review, v. power and seen as above politics, "interpretation in conformity with constitution" (lawmaking almost) debates over ECB etc.
question
Constitutional Court of Italy
answer
Defender of civil liberties, not follower of Gov - but only sort of true because they are only elected for 9 years and want a political career after
question
Constitutional Council France
answer
first created to protect President but in 74 became centralized. Abstract review only - can only be brought cases by political actors not courts
question
Weak Judicial Review
answer
Britain, Netherlands, Scandinavian countries.
question
Judicial Review Pros/Cons
answer
Pro: checks power of majority, keeps laws and actors restrained, balances power of legislature, slows down radical change Cons: can act against popular will - slows down change, appointed body has power over elected body?
question
EU Integration Pros/Cons
answer
Pro: economic benefits, increased bargaining power Cons: loss of sovereignty, susceptible to economic problems of other member countries, loss of national identity
question
Reasons for EU
answer
European economic reconstruction, reconstruct Germany but contain its power, threat of Soviet domination
question
ECSC
answer
European Coal and Steel community, Shuman creates it in 1950, France Germany Italy BENELUX,
question
EEC
answer
Same 6 founding members create a "common market" with the European Economic Community in 1957
question
Treaty of Maastricht
answer
1991, Formally calls it the EU, begins internal social policies
question
Schengen
answer
first created in 1985, then in 1997 incorporated in to EU law with the Treaty of Amsterdam
question
Euro
answer
adopted as idea in 1999, first paper money in 2002.
question
Constitutional Treaty
answer
Created in 2004 to make previous treaties in to a constitution and create a president and foreign minister. Referendum fails in France and Netherlands, Treaty of Lisbon in 2009 makes same reforms w/ different names and no formal constitution
question
Expansion Reasons
answer
73: DeGaulle had previously blocked them. (UK, Ireland, Denmark) 80s: Greece, Portugal and Spain had previously been not democratic 95: Austria Finland Sweden had wanted to be Cold War neutral 04: Post communist wave 07: Bulgaria and Romania weren't ready yet
question
Candidate Countries
answer
Iceland (not interested), Macedonia (issue w/ name), Montenegro, Albania (newest), Serbia, Turkey
question
Conditions for Membership
answer
Article from the TEU as well as Copenhagen Criteria (democracy, rule of law, human rights, respect for minorities, functioning market economy, adherence to aims of EU)
question
Steps to EU Membership
answer
Apply for candidacy, only TEU and C. Criteria satisfied need unanimous vote to become candidate, complete 35 "chapters", unanimous approval of Accession Treaty by all member parliaments and candidate country
question
Pros/Cons of Expansion
answer
Pro: export potential, foreign investment, diverse European labor market, extension of zone of peace, stability and prosperity Cons: extra costs for EU (invest in weaker economy), social concerns of labor migration, weak boarders leads to concerns about illegal immigration and organized crime, weak democracies and economies
question
Turkish Membership
answer
Pros: increased diversity, young and growing population and economy, support democracy in a Muslim yet secular state, keep Turkey attached to Western values Cons: relative poverty, potential for significant labor migration, human rights issues, Kurdish rights, freedom of press, freedom of speech, police brutality, judicial independence, not geographically in Europe, issue of Cyprus, cultural differences
question
Privileged Partnership
answer
A status that includes all the economic benefits of being in the EU but does not actually include membership in EU. Turkey against it but France and Germany are supporters
question
European Parliament
answer
Directly elected by Europeans, system of committees, has hand in lawmaking, power over budget and other institutions. BUT cannot tax, cannot introduce laws and cannot enact laws alone (codecision with Council)
question
Council of Ministers
answer
National government ministers for each topic area (environment, defense, finance etc), final decision on EU law and policy, represent national interests
question
European Commission
answer
President and 27 commissioners (one from each country), each commissioner has a portfolio they work on, power of initiation AND implementation of laws.
question
European Council
answer
Council of all the executives of the member countries, responsible for providing direction and determining priorities.
question
European Court of Justice
answer
Rules on constitutionality of EU laws and their conformity with treaties, gives rulings to national courts and settles member country disputes, like Supreme Court but there is no constitution
question
Countries in Euro Crisis
answer
Greece (tourism drop off), Ireland (bank property bubble), Portugal (gov. overspending), Spain (unemployment still high) Italy (debt), Cyprus (tied to Greece economy)
question
British Proposal
answer
Faced with UKIP, Cameron promises to bring reforms to Britain's relationship with EU and referendum on exit, Scotland is biggest EU supporter in UK, will they really leave?
question
Types of Civil Service
answer
Britain - generalists France - specialists with technical training German - technical expertise w/ reliance on legal
question
Unitary State
answer
local government only implements central policies, with limited local power
question
Federal State
answer
Local government really is a government and has constitutional powers. Two conditions: Federal state defined by constitution, each regional unit had the same amount of power
question
Confederation
answer
a loose association of local states that come together to solve common problems
question
UK Regional Autonomies
answer
Northern Ireland : Good Friday Agreement in 1998 finally ends IRA violence Wales: parliament since 98 but weak powers, only 26 policy areas Scotland: parliament since 98, nationalist movement with the SNP, failed referendum (banking issues, Cameron grants more powers, cold feet, economic concerns not addressed)
question
Spain RA
answer
"asymmetric federalism" Catalonia - different language, rich region, independence v. popular but unlikely because Madrid says no Basque - terrorism of ETA, don't want independence so much as more autonomy Also: Valencia
question
Belgium RA
answer
Wallonia - Fench speaking, Flanders - Dutch speaking, Brussels - in Flanders but French speaking. Only common areas of governance are taxes, monarchy, social security and national sports teams. Cannot separate b/c Brussels issue
question
Italy RA
answer
Lega Nord - wanted to create Padania with three northern Italian regions, gains credence b/c in Berlusconi's gov. but in 2011 becomes more moderate Others: Venitia and Sardinia
question
France RA
answer
Rhones-Aples (Lyon) wants more autonomy, Corsica uses bombs and violence to gain greater autonomy in 2001
question
Separatism Consequences
answer
status of each region, isolation, EU inclusion?, financial ties and difficulties
question
Basic Roles of Local Gov.
answer
land planning, environmental issues, local services like garbage collection, policy force and school system, public housing, personal health. Denmark - local taxes, Italy - distribution of central gov. taxes
question
Second-Order Elections
answer
Many Europeans see local elections as "second order", they vote with their national preferences in mind
Get an explanation on any task
Get unstuck with the help of our AI assistant in seconds
New