Comparing Political Structures

and Institutions
Upon successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
•identify the role of constitutions in government systems;

•distinguish between presidential, semi-presidential, and

parliamentary systems;

•distinguish between unitary, federal, and confederal

governmental models;

•compare and contrast the role of the executive in selected

countries;

•compare and contrast the role of the judicial branch in selected

countries; and

•compare and contrast the role of the bureaucracy and the

policy process in selected countries.
Constitution Building: A Global Review URL
Read pages 1-56 of this report. It provides an overview of 22 constitution-building processes from around the globe. What purpose does a constitution serve?
What are its essential elements? What factors contributed to the need for these countries to create a constitution in the first place?
The Constitution and the Structure of Government PowerURL
Read this chapter, which provides a solid background on the events leading up to the first American political system and the principles embedded in the Constitution.
https://learn.saylor.org/course/view.php?id=344&sectionid=3419
The Executive BranchURL
Read this article. In presidential systems like the United States,
the Executive Branch is a central point of political power. As
you read through the White House's description of the
Executive Branch, make sure you are clear on the specific roles
and responsibilities of the Executive Branch.
The Judicial BranchURL
Read this article. As you read through the White House's
description of the Judicial Branch, make sure you are clear on
the specific roles and responsibilities of the Judicial Branch.
Types of DemocracyPage
Read this article. Make sure you can distinguish the major
differences between presidential, semi-presidential and
parliamentary systems. For example, what are the basic
operating principles of parliamentary, presidential, and semi-
presidential systems? Are political parties more powerful in
parliamentary or presidential systems? Also, be able to give an
example of a country with a parliamentary, presidential, and
semi-presidential system. Evaluate what you see as the
strengths and weaknesses of each system. Is anyone of these
three systems better than the other? Why or why not?
A Bicameral Legislative BranchURL
Read this section on the features of bicameralism in the U.S.
Congress. From its creation in 1788, Congress remains the
model for the greatest deliberative governmental institution in
the world. With that in mind, why is Congress held in such low
esteem by most Americans? What key institutional features
have made it most prone to criticism? Does bicameralism factor
into this criticism?
UnicameralismURL
Read this article. What characterizes and differentiates
bicameral and unicameral legislatures? What are the pros and
cons of each system?
the differences between federal, confederate, and unitary governments around the world. Note which countries fall into each category. What additional information might you be able to glean from a country based on th

o note the advantages and disadvantages of unitary and confederal governments.

ge 196. Modern society is defined in part by the presence of bureaucracy. Weber defines the characteristics of bureaucracies and explains why they are part of modern social systems. As you read his essay, think about h

omprehensive overview of the modern day bureaucracy. What are some of the specific ways in which the bureaucracy has increased its power over the past several decades?
Upon successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
•define political culture, political socialization, and political
participation;

•compare and contrast political cultures in selected countries;

•compare and contrast political socialization in selected

countries;

•describe and explain patterns of representation and

participation in selected countries;

•compare and contrast the roles and functions of political parties

in selected countries; and

•compare and contrast the role of interest groups in

selected countries.
ched political class. What do you think the Nigerians could have done differently to institute wholesale social and political change?

icity. Mobilization efforts by political parties and interest groups also motivate people to become engaged in the political process. Social movements have been a way for groups of people work collectively for changes