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Political Science - Major World Governments

Semester 3 · 17 topics in 5 units

Past question papers for Political Science - Major World Governments

Unit I 4 topics

  1. The constitution and the British constitution: sources, features, conventions and the Rule of LawWhy states have constitutions, what a constitution contains, and how the unwritten British constitution works through statutes, conventions and Dicey's Rule of Law.7 min
  2. The British executive: the Crown, the monarch, the Prime Minister and the CabinetThe nominal executive and the political executive in Britain: why the monarchy survives, King versus Crown, and the selection, powers and position of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.6 min
  3. The British Parliament: House of Commons, House of Lords and the SpeakerComposition, tenure, powers and functions of the two Houses at Westminster, the effect of the Parliament Acts, sovereignty of Parliament, and the office of Speaker.5 min
  4. The British judiciary, the Privy Council and the party systemCourts in England and Wales, the Law Lords and the Supreme Court of 2009, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, the Conservative and Labour parties, and His Majesty's Opposition.6 min

Unit II 4 topics

  1. The American Constitution: history, features, federation, amendment and separation of powersFrom the Declaration of Independence and the Philadelphia Convention to the features of the federal Constitution, the division of powers, the Article V amendment procedure and checks and balances.5 min
  2. The American President and Vice-President: election, powers, veto and impeachmentThe real executive of the United States: qualifications, the electoral college, tenure and the Twenty-second Amendment, powers, the veto, impeachment and the Vice-President's role.5 min
  3. The American Congress: House of Representatives and SenateMembership, tenure, powers and functions of the two Houses of Congress, the Speaker, the committee system, and why the Senate is the most powerful upper house in the world.5 min
  4. The American federal judiciary and the two-party systemOrganisation, jurisdiction and judicial review of the US Supreme Court, the parallel system of federal and state courts, and the organisation and working of the Democratic and Republican parties.5 min

Unit III 3 topics

  1. Switzerland: development, unique features, cantons and the plural executive (Federal Council)How the Swiss Confederation grew from 1291 to the Constitution of 1999, its distinctive features, the place of the cantons, and the seven-member collegial Federal Council with its one-year President.5 min
  2. Switzerland: the Federal Assembly and the federal judiciaryThe equal bicameral Swiss parliament (National Council and Council of States), its joint sittings and powers, and the Federal Supreme Court with the other federal courts.5 min
  3. Direct democracy in Switzerland: referendum, initiative, recall and the LandsgemeindeThe four devices of Swiss direct democracy and how they work, the double majority for constitutional amendments, the Landsgemeinde and folk moot, and an assessment of their effect on Swiss government.5 min

Unit IV 2 topics

  1. France: the republics, the Fifth Republic, the President, the Prime Minister and the prefectsFrom the Revolution of 1789 through five republics to de Gaulle's Constitution of 1958: its features, the election, powers and removal of the President, the Prime Minister and government, and the prefect.6 min
  2. France: Parliament, the judiciary and droit administratif, and the multi-party systemThe National Assembly and Senate and their relations with the executive under rationalised parliamentarism, the dual French judiciary with the Conseil d'Etat and administrative courts, and the features of French multi-partism.7 min

Unit V 4 topics

  1. India: the Government of India Act 1935, the Constituent Assembly, features, amendment and quasi-federalismThe making of the Indian Constitution, its Preamble and salient features, the Article 368 amendment procedure with landmark amendments, Parts III and IV, and why India is called quasi-federal.6 min
  2. India: the President, the Prime Minister and the Council of MinistersElection, qualifications, powers, privileges and impeachment of the President of India, and the selection, tenure, powers and position of the Prime Minister, Cabinet and Council of Ministers.6 min
  3. India: Parliament, the Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha and the SpeakerComposition and methods of selection of the two Houses of Parliament, their powers and functions, relations between them including money bills and joint sittings, and the role of the Speaker.5 min
  4. India: the judiciary and the party systemOrganisation, appointment, removal and jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and High Courts, a few landmark cases, and the organisation, functions and problems of Indian political parties.6 min