Democratic Governments
Key Terms
consolidated democracies, parliamentary
government, life peers, presidential government,
apartheid, sanctions
Find Out
• What are the forms that democratic governments
take today?
• What are the challenges for democracy in
Western Europe and Japan?
Democratic Governments
Understanding Concepts
Comparative Government How does
parliamentary government differ from
presidential government?
Section Objective
Compare parliamentary government and
presidential government.
Margaret Thatcher was prime minister of
Great Britain from 1979 until 1990.
Thatcher made sweeping reforms in the
economy, such as the privatization of many
of Britain’s state-owned businesses and
industries, effectively ending major socialist
policies of previous Labor governments.
She also strengthened British and U.S.
ties, which helped spur the collapse of
communism in Eastern Europe.
I. Parliamentary Systems (pages 689–691)
A. One form of democratic government is
parliamentary government, which
combines executive and legislative functions
in an elected assembly.
B. In Great Britain, Parliament holds almost all governmental authority.
C. The leader of the majority party in the House of Commons becomes the prime minister.
D. Other ministers head executive departments and serve as Cabinet members.
I. Parliamentary Systems (pages 689–691)
E. Japan’s parliament, the National Diet, has
two houses. The House of Representatives
elects the prime minister.
F. If the parliament votes “no confidence,” the prime
minister may dissolve the House and call for elections.
I. Parliamentary Systems (pages 689–691)
Of the parliamentary governments
discussed, which one would you consider
most democratic? Explain.
Answers will vary. Before answering, have
students define democracy.
II. Presidential Government (pages 691–692)
A. Another way to organize a democracy is by
presidential government, which separates
executive and legislative powers.
B. The president of France
1) negotiates treaties;
2) appoints high officials;
3) acts as chair in high councils of the armed forces;
4) may dissolve the National Assembly and call for elections.
C. The President appoints the premier, who appoints the
ministers and maintains contact with the National Assembly.
II. Presidential Government (pages 691–692)
II. Presidential Government (pages 691–692)
Do you think the different branches of the
French government have enough checks
and balances?
Answers will vary. Point out the special
powers of the French president.
III. Emerging Democracies (pages 692–694)
A. Poland was the first eastern European nation
to overthrow its Communist government;
Lech Walesa, the leader of a trade union
called Solidarity, became the first freely
elected president in 1990, though a new
constitution was not approved until 1997.
B. Beginning in 1948, South Africa followed a policy of apartheid, or strict government-enforced
racial segregation; after years of resistance from the African National Congress and others,
apartheid laws were repealed during the 1990s, and Nelson Mandela was elected president in
1994.
III. Emerging Democracies (pages 692–694)
C. Despite its 1917 constitution, the Mexican
government was more authoritarian than
democratic because of the power of the
president and control of a single political
party. Nationwide electoral reforms
introduced in the 1990s allowed other
parties to compete fairly in Mexico’s
political process.
Checking for Understanding
1. Main Idea Use a graphic organizer like the one
below to compare the most powerful parts of the
British and French governments.
British—Parliament serves the legislative and executive functions of government;
French—the president appoints the premier, negotiates treaties, may appeal to the people
through referendum and dictatorial powers, may dissolve the National Assembly.
Checking for Understanding
Match the term with the correct definition.
A. a person who has been awarded a
___ consolidated
D democracies
___ life peer
A
___ apartheid
E
___ sanctions
C
title in the House of Lords for
___ presidential
B government outstanding achievement
B. a form of democratic government in
which a president heads the executive
branch
C. measures such as withholding
economic aid, intended to influence a
foreign government’s actions
D. nations that have democratic
elections, political parties, a
constitutional government, an
independent judiciary, and usually a
market economy
E. strict segregation of races
Checking for Understanding
3. Identify House of Commons, House of Lords,
National Diet, Solidarity.
The House of Commons is the British legislative body of elected representatives.
The House of Lords has historically been an aristocratic body of British parliament; it now amends legislation or votes down bills passed by the Commons.
The National Diet is the Japanese parliament of two houses.
Solidarity was a trade union that emerged from an underground resistance movement to become a political party in Poland.
Checking for Understanding
4. What happens when the majority party in Britain
loses a vote in Parliament?
It must resign. Parliament is then dissolved, and
new general elections are held.
Checking for Understanding
5. Why is most of the legislation introduced in the
Japanese National Diet ultimately passed?
Because the majority party members either approve the legislation or
abstain, and the opposition party members are usually not strong
enough to stop legislation.
Critical Thinking
6. Understanding Cause and Effect What recent
events in Mexico have contributed to making the
country more democratic?
In 1994, PRI president Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de Leon introduced
electoral reforms, and since Vicente Fox became president in 2000, he
has worked to institute more democratic policies.
Comparative Government Choose
one of the countries with a parliamentary
system of government discussed in this
section. Draw a diagram that compares
the organization of the United States
government with the parliamentary
system of government that you choose.
