AP Comparative Final Exam Review

Expediency Council

resolves conflicts between Majlis and Guardian Council meets in secret initiates legislation

United Russia

The political party led by Russian president Vladmir Putin

Majils

"represents the nation" enacts ordinary laws (not sharia) investigates and supervises affairs of state approves or removes cabinet members appoints half the members of the Guardian Council from a list presented by the chief judge can approve budgets, foreign loans, treaties

Supreme Leader

* is the "vital link" between branches of government * determines the "interests of Islam" can dismiss the president * is the commander-in-chief of the military and can appoint and dismiss officers * nominates and can remove judges and prosecutors * appoints half the members of the Guardian Council * appoints the Minister of Justice * appoints Imam Jum'ehs at principal city mosques * appoints the director of national radio and television * directs a staff of over 600

european citizenship

- Citizenship policy of most EU nations = immigrants can become citizens with full rights if they meet certain legal qualifications - Raises questions about who can/should be European and about the way these new citizens might change European society - Immigration is a highly charged political issue, and some far-right political parties have exploited popular prejudice to make gains in national elections

President of Mexico

- elected by direct popular vote - 6 year terms (ONE term limit) - head of state - commander in chief - introduce & veto legislation - must be native born

President Hassan Rouhani

-Iranian pres since 2013; considered more moderate, better for US interests than predecessor; has sad he wants to repair Iran relationships w/ international community and recalibrate nation's diplomatic goal

Advantages of parliamentary government

1) The gov can respond directly to changed circumstances because power is unified. Allows quick passage for policy and laws 2)Lines of responsibility for policy making are clear. Elections should mean more because voters can know exactly whom to blame for their current situation 3)Parties are held to their election promises because there is nothing stopping them from passing their promises 4)Few protections for a minority that feels it is being wronged. As efficiency may be an advantage it is also a disadvantage because it doesn't have the check and balances and force the parliament to consider the pros and cons of a policy 5) It may produce an unstable gov. if no single party holds the majority of seats they must form a temporary alliance. If it works and the parties are in agreement but if they are not then it can be hard to keep them together and cooperating.

Disadvantages of parliamentary government

1. Executive can dominate the legislature 2. Power is less dispersed, more undemocratic 3. More difficult to hold the two accountable

co-optation

1. The process by which individuals are brought into a beneficial relationship with the state, making them dependent on the state for certain rewards. 2. The blurring of lines between the state and a special interest group

sources of cleavages (Mexico)

1. Wealth (Rich vs. Poor) 2. Region (Urban vs. Rural, Center vs. Periphery) 3. Religion (Catholics vs. Protestants, Christians vs. Muslims, Religious vs. Secular voters) 4. Level of education (University graduates vs. High school graduates) 5. Race 6. Ethnicity

Is the prime minister directly voted on by the people of the United Kingdom?

No, the people participate by voting for the members of the parliament and the political party with the most members then chooses the prime minister.

Features of a parliamentary government

1. governments form as a result of parliamentary elections 2. personnel of government are drawn from parliament 3. government is responsible to parliament - can be removed through a 'vote of no confidence' 4. government can 'dissolve' parliament 5. government has a collective 'face' - not a president 6. PM is head of government not state

Relationship between executive and legislature in a presidential government

1. separation of powers 2. Governments are separately elected (not through parliamentary elections) 3. Legislature cannot remove government 4. Presidentialism

Traditional legitimacy

1. tradition should determine who rules and how. 2. Most monarchies are based on traditional legitimacy, and their authority is symbolized through crowns, thrones, scepters, and/or robes of a particular color or design. 3. Traditional legitimacy may also be shaped by religion, so that political practices remind people of deep-seated religious beliefs. Many leaders in the Middle East today base authority on their ability to interpret sharia (traditional religious) law.

Number of Europeans Union countries

27

Powers of the Duma

>- Consenting to the appointment of the Prime Minister >- Hearing annual reports from the Government of the Russian Federation on the results of its work, including on issues raised by the State Duma >- Issuing votes of confidence on the Government >- Appointing and dismissing the Chairman of the Central Bank of Russia >- Appointing and dismissing the Chairman and half of the auditors of the Accounts Chamber >- Appointing and dismissing the Commissioner for Human Rights >- Impeaching the president by a two-thirds majority >- Adopting decrees by a majority vote of the total number of deputies of the State Duma

Cleavages - Reformers v. conservatives

A fundamental cleavage in the political culture since the founding of the Republic has to do with a debate about the merits of a theocracy v. a democracy. The conservatives want to keep the regime as it is, under the control of clerics and sharia law, and the reformers would like to see more secularization and democracy. Most reformers do not want to do away with the basic principles of an Islamic state, but they display a wide array of opinions about how much and where secularization and democracy should be infused into the system.

Tories

A member of a British political party, founded in 1689, that was the opposition party to the Whigs and has been known as the Conservative Party since about 1832

pluralism

A theory describing a political system in which all significant social interests (religion, unions, political parties, etc) freely compete with one another for influence over the government's policy decisions.

Ethnic Cleavages in China

Although over 90% of people living within the People's Republic of China are Han Chinese, China must still deal with significant ethnic cleavages in some regions of the country. To address these cleavages, the Chinese government has set up five autonomous regions within the PRC. The five autonomous regions in the PRC are: ~ Tibet ~ Guangxi ~ Xinjiang ~ Inner Mongolia ~ Ningxia Despite the theoretical autonomy of these regions, separatist movements operate within each of them.

Ethnic Cleavages (China)

Although over 90% of people living within the People's Republic of China are Han Chinese, China must still deal with significant ethnic cleavages in some regions of the country. To address these cleavages, the Chinese government has set up five autonomous regions within the PRC. The five autonomous regions in the PRC are: ~ Tibet ~ Guangxi ~ Xinjiang ~ Inner Mongolia ~ Ningxia Despite the theoretical autonomy of these regions, separatist movements operate within each of them. Both peaceful and violent protests are common in some of these regions. The government in Beijing frequently calls on the military to quell these protests.

Civil Society in China

An important new development is the growth of civil society - the appearance of private organizations that do not directly challenge the authority of the state but focus on social problems, such as the environment, AIDS, and legal reform. Activists had virtually no say in the Chinese political system until the 1990s when Beijing allowed non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to register with the government. Today China has thousands of NGOs, ranging from ping-pong clubs to environmentalist groups.

patron-clientalism

An unequal system of exchanging resources and favours based on an exploitative relationship between a wealthier and/or more powerful 'patron' and a less wealthy and weaker 'client'. a process where the state co-opts members of the public by providing specific benefits or favors to a person or small group in return for public support

Iranian legitimacy

As is true in China, the revolutionary credentials of the leadership are an important source of legitimacy for the current Iranian regime. The use of competitive elections in choosing many key government officials further bolsters that legitimacy.

Compare and contrast the parliamentary and presidential forms of government.

Both are democracies that allow their citizens to participate by voting. In a presidential democracy, the leader is voted on directly by the citizens of voting age in the country. In a parliamentary democracy, the citizens participate by voting on the members of the law making body (legislature or parliament) and the political party with the most members within the legislature gets to choose who the chief executive (leader of government) will be.

British cleavages

British society is characterized by numerous cleavages. Most of these cleavages are crosscutting rather than coinciding cleavages. Some of the key cleavages in British society include: - Wealth and income - Social class - Race and ethnicity - Religion - National identity

Political Participation in Iran

Citizens of Iran can join political parties that are approved by the government, run for elective office if approved by the government, petition the government on a limited range of issues, form interest groups if they are acceptable to the government, and vote for some government officials from lists of government-approved candidates.

transparency in Great Britain

Operating under the rule of law, the British system is the most transparent system covered in this course. Political decisions are publicly and freely debated, the courts are independent, and the government largely operates as the law requires.

Iranian Sovereignty lies in

God (Allah)

Cleavages and political institutions

How are cleavages expressed in the political system? For example, is political party membership based on cleavages? Do political elites usually come from one group or another? Do these cleavages block some groups from fully participating in government?

parliamentary systems

In _____, the ministers of Government who hold executive power are chosen from within the legislature and are accountable to it. There is no clear separation of executive and legislative functions in such a system. The head of government - often called the prime minister, premier, chancellor, or some other similar term - is a member of the legislature as well, and is usually the head of the majority party in parliament. In many presidential systems, including that of the United States, elections are held on regular schedules. In parliamentary systems, this is rarely the case. Instead, there is usually a maximum term between elections of the legislature, but no minimum. Elections occur on irregular election cycles, and are usually" called" by the prime minister at some point prior to the deadline.

Powers of the Federation Council

In addition to this important power, the Federation Council also has these additional powers: >- Approving changes of borders within the Russian Federation >- Approving presidential decrees invoking martial law >- Approving presidential decrees of states of emergency >- Deciding on the use of the armed forces outside the territory of the Russian Federation >- Declaring the election of the president >- Removing the president, following impeachment by the State Duma >- Approving the president's nomination of judges of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation, of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, and of the Higher Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation ~ Approving the president's nomination of the Attorney General ~ Appointing the Deputy Chairman and half the auditors of the Accounting Chamber

votes of confidence

In many parliamentary systems, _____, sometimes called "no confidence" votes, are the means of removing the prime minister and the cabinet from power. In essence, a majority vote of "no confidence" removes the current government from power and sets in motion the procedures to put another government in place.

Impeachment vs. Confidence Votes

In parliamentary systems, Governments and prime ministers are usually removed through confidence votes or internal actions of the ruling party, while in presidential systems, impeachment is the usual means of removing the executive administration. While there are many differences between these two approaches to government, one of the most important to keep in mind is that confidence votes normally require only a simple majority of the lower house to topple a government, while impeachment often requires that the president first be accused of violating a law (the literal impeachment), and then that a super-majority of the legislature, or some other body, vote to remove the president.

National People's Congress

In theory, the party's highest body is the _____________. In practice, the Party Congress is too large and meets too infrequently - once every five years - to exercise any real authority. Instead, it functions primarily as a "rubber stamp" of broad policy decisions made by smaller and more powerful party structures.

authoritarian regimes

In this type of regime, decisions are made by political elites - those who hold political power - without much input from citizens. These regimes may be ruled by a single dictator, an hereditary monarch, a small group of religious clerics, or a single political party. The economy is generally tightly controlled by the political elite.

state

In today's world, power is territorially organized into _____, or countries, that control what happens within their borders. German scholar Max Weber defined _____ as the organization that maintains a monopoly of violence over a territory. In other words, the _____ defines who can and cannot use weapons and force, and it sets the rules as to how violence is used. _____ often sponsor armies, navies, and/or air forces that legitimately use power and sometimes violence, but individual citizens are very restricted in their use of force.

presidential systems

In_______, the executive power is held in a separate branch of government from the legislative and judicial powers. This executive branch is usually led by a single president, hence the name. Under normal circumstances, the executive is not accountable to, nor removable by, the legislature. Votes of confidence are not part of presidential systems. As a result of this separation of executive and legislative powers, presidential systems are often slow to act, lack party discipline in the legislative branch, and are prone to political "gridlock."

Illiberal Regimes/Hybrid Regimes

Like liberal democracies, ____________hold elections, and the votes are counted accurately, with the winning candidates duly taking office and exercising political power. What makes them illiberal is everything leading up to election day. Significant restrictions exist on whether candidates are able to freely compete for office or not. Restrictions in the media prevent opposition candidates from being able to communicate their message and persuade voters to take a chance on them. Illiberal democracies are not really democracies since those in power are essentially able to use the state to protect their place in power.

Eurozone

Members of the European Union (19) who have adopted the Euro as their currency.

How the Federation Council and the Duma Interact

Most bills in Russia originate in the State Duma and, if passed there, are sent to the Federation Council for its approval. A majority vote is required for bills to pass the Federation Council. When the Council rejects a law passed by the State Duma, the two chambers are required to form a Conciliation Committee to form a compromise document, which is then voted on by both houses of the legislature. In addition, the State Duma may override the Federation Council's veto of legislation by passing a bill by a two-thirds majority.

Has the Supreme Leader ever been removed from power?

NO, The Supreme Leader is chosen by the Assembly of Religious Experts, and can also be removed from office by the Assembly of Religious Experts- although this has never been tested!

Elected Leaders in Iran

President Majlis Assembly of Religious Experts Unelected Supreme Leader ExpediencyCouncil Guardian Council Judiciary Cabinet Directors of Bonyads Revolutionary GuardOfficers

illiberal democracy (Russia)

Russia's system of managed elections, among similar systems in other states, led to the creation of a new term in Comparative Politics: __________________________ Like liberal democracies, illiberal regimes hold elections, and the votes are counted accurately, with the winning candidates duly taking office and exercising political power. What makes them illiberal is everything leading up to election day. Significant restrictions exist on whether candidates are able to freely compete for office or not. Restrictions in the media prevent opposition candidates from being able to communicate their message and persuade voters to take a chance on them. Illiberal democracies are not really democracies, in the end, since those in power are essentially able to use the state to protect their place in power, meaning the fundamental feature of democracy, the power of voters to hold a government accountable and remove it by ballot, doesn't really seem to exist.

Putin - Restrictions on Civil Society

Since Putin 's reelection in 2012, nonprofit groups have come under particular pressure with new laws that severely restrict foreign financing and require them to register as "foreign agents." In addition, the definition of high treason has been expanded to include assisting foreign organizations.

Putin and restrictions on Civil Society in Russia

Since Putin 's reelection in 2012, nonprofit groups have come under particular pressure with new laws that severely restrict foreign financing and require them to register as "foreign agents." In addition, the definition of high treason has been expanded to include assisting foreign organizations.

Iranian Social Class Cleavages

Social class - The peasantry and lower middle class are sources of support for the regime, partly because they have benefited from the government's social programs that have provided them with electricity and paved roads (patron-client) Middle and upper-middle class people are largely secularized, and so they tend to be highly critical of the clerics and their control of the society. (Neda Agha-Soltan and her family)

national identity

Something that makes countries unique which some countries fear losing by joining the EU

institutions

States also include _________: stable, long lasting organizations that help to turn political ideas into policy. Common examples of _______ are bureaucracies, legislatures, judicial systems, and political parties. These institutions make states themselves long lasting, and often help them to endure even when leaders change.

sovereignty

States exercise ________, the ability to carry out actions or policies within their borders independently from interference either from the inside or the outside. A state that is unable to exercise _____ lacks autonomy, and because it is not independent, it may be exploited by leaders and/or organizations that see the state as a resource to use for their own ends. Frequently, the result is a high level of corruption.

Unelected Leaders in Iran

Supreme Leader Expediency Council Guardian Council Judiciary Cabinet Revolutionary Guard Officers

Unelected leaders of Iran

Supreme Leader Expediency Council Guardian Council Judiciary Revolutionary Guard Officers

Political Party System in China

The PRC effectively operates under a single-party system. Unlike the other countries covered in this course, the PRC is run by the parallel structures of the CCP and the government. The CCP sets the ideological and policy agenda in the PRC and party members populate virtually all government positions of real authority. The CCP has ultimate control of many of the key agents of political socialization in China, including the media, schools, and the government. Although other political parties are allowed to exist, all legally operating parties in the PRC must be approved by the CCP. Parties that challenge the supremacy of the CCP rarely, if ever, gain official approval.

4 years to 6 years

The Russian Duma changed the presidential term from ____________________during the Putin regime. This is one way Putin has increased his hold on power.

Who is more powerful? The Iranian President or the Supreme Leader?

The Supreme Leader is considered the chief jurist, the leading interpreter of Islamic law (the Shari'ah) for the Shia people (majority Islamic sect in Iran). The Supreme Leader is vested with real and significant powers, far greater than the head of government, the president.

United Kingdom

The _______ consists of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Distinct administrative institutions exist in Scotland and Wales. Recently there has been devolution of power to Scotland and Wales, both of which now have their own assemblies. The parliament in Scotland has the power to tax and spend on its own, and its members are elected by proportional representation.

Prime Minister

The ___________ is the leader of the majority party in Parliament. The _______ must be elected leader of his or her party. Once he is elected he must also retain the confidence of the party. He can do this by maintaining high levels of popularity and using patronage to silence opposition or reward loyalty. If the ________ proposes legislation that is not supported by his party, he is expected to call for a vote of confidence in which a new government may be elected. The _____ appears in the House of Commons weekly for "question time," which is an intense session of questioning by the opposition party.

Cleavages - Pragmatic conservatives v. radical clerics (Iran)

The complicated set of cleavages in Iran is made more complex by distinct divisions among the clergy that have led to many important disagreements at the top levels of policymaking. Pragmatic conservatives are clergy who favor liberal economic policies that encourage foreign trade, free markets, and direct foreign investment. They base their points of view on strong personal ties to middle-class merchants (bazaaris) and rural landowners who have long supported mosques and religious activities. Conservatives argue that private property and economic inequality are protected under Islamic law. They are generally willing to tum over economic management to liberally inclined technocrats. Radicals are more numerous among younger and more militant clerics, and they call for measures to enhance social justice, especially in terms of providing welfare benefits to Iran's poor. Radicals generally endorse state-sponsored wealth redistribution and price controls.

statism

The idea that the rights of the nation are supreme over the rights of the individuals who make up the nation.

NASHI

The largest Russian political youth movement that supports the government and organizes mass marches in support of Putin. NASHI is an example of corporatism because the Russian state gives Nashi access to influence state policymaking, but other organizations that are critical of the state (independent trade unions, political clubs, or other independent civil society organizations) are banned from participating in the Russian political system.

Labour Party

The leading left-wing party in Britain, in power from 1997 to 2010

Sources of Legitimacy - Great Britain

The legitimacy of the British government rests mostly in the rule of law and competitive elections. However, hundreds of years of tradition also play a role in making the British government one of the most stable and legitimate in the world.

Iran Cleavage - social class

The peasantry and lower middle class are sources of support for the Iranian regime. However, middle and upper-middle class people are largely secularized, and so they tend to be highly critical of the clerics and their control of the society.

Structure of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)

The power is most concentrated in the inner group of central leaders at the top of the national Party, the standing committee, which chooses one of their members to act as general secretary of the Communist Party.

CCP - Concentration of Power

The power is most concentrated in the inner group of central leaders at the top of the national Party, the standing committee, which chooses one of their members to act as general secretary of the Communist Party. The general secretary recently has served concurrently as president of the People's Republic, and as the chairman of the Central Military Commission. All three of these posts are currently occupied by Xi Jinping, chosen as general secretary in 2012, and then chosen as president by the National People's Congress in 2013.

Co-optation

The process by which individuals are brought into a beneficial relationship with the state, making them dependent on the state for certain rewards (Nashi in Russia)

regime

The rules that a state sets and follows in exerting its power are referred to collectively as a _____. Regimes endure beyond individual governments and leaders. We refer to a regime when a country's institutions and practices carry over across time, even though leaders and particular issues change. _____ may be compared by using these categories: democracies and authoritarian systems

democratic regime

This type of regime bases its authority on the will of the people. Democracies may be indirect, with elected officials representing the people, or they may be direct, when individuals have immediate say over many decisions that the government makes.

supranational organizations

Today, groups ranging from the World Bank, World Trade Organization (WTO), and International Monetary Fund (IMF), to the European Union play an important role in world governance. These organizations all have some authority to enforce multilateral agreements on a wide range of issues. At times, member and non-member states have claimed that these organizations infringed upon the sovereignty of nation-states. .

Union of political and religious authority is a central component of Iranian political culture

Union of political and religious authority- From the days of the ancient Persians, political and religious leaders were often one and the same. However, starting with the rule of the Qajars (1794-1925), the two types of authority were separated, only to be brought back together by the Revolution of 1979.

Senate (Mexico)

Upper chamber of the Mexican bicameral legislature. Has control over foreign affairs. contains 128 members which are representatives of the 31 States plus the Federal District.

House of Lords

Upper house of Parliament, for nobles and bishops

Democratic Deficit (EU)

Used to describe what some people say is a gap between the powers of the EU and the power of its citizens to influence EU decision-making.

Level of Transparency (Iran)

Very low because the decisions of the Supreme Leader are open to little public scrutiny.

Bases of social cleavages

What mix of social classes, ethnic and racial groups, religions, and languages does a country have? How deep are these cleavages, and to what degree do they separate people from one another (form social boundaries)? Which of these cleavages appear to have the most significant impact on the political system?

Civil Society in Great Britain

With a strong protection of individual civil liberties at its core, the British system has encouraged the development of a strong civil society within the United Kingdom. Voluntary organizations off all types operate freely within the country.

Civil Society

_____ is made up of the voluntary organizations that form the basis of a functioning society. Social organizations, religious organizations, charities, civic groups, and other voluntary organizations are part of _______. _______ does not include the structures of the state, which are backed up by force, nor does it include the economic structures of society that form the market.

Social Cleavage

______ are divides withing a society which separate citizens into different groups whether t be on the basis of a political view, religious preference, or ethnic identity. The different sectors formed by these cleavages may merge to form political parties bases on these issues.

The Majlis

______ is directly elected by Iranian voters every four years, after candidates are vetted by the Guardian Council. The Majlis acts as Iran's unicameral legislative assembly, though its laws must keep the approval of the Guardian Council. The Majlis has the power to: • introduce and pass legislation (although most is proposed by the president). • approve the six members of the Guardian Council nominated by the Chief Judge. • investigate corruption and misconduct in the bureaucracy and judiciary. • approve the president's choices for Cabinet, and remove Cabinet members. • approve the budget devised by the president.

civil society

______ refers to voluntary organizations outside of the state that help people define and advance their own interests. ______ is usually strong in liberal democracies where individual freedoms are valued and protected. The organizations that compose it may represent class, religious, or ethnic interests, or they may cross them, creating strong bonds among people that exist outside of government control.

Russian Civil Society

______________ is underdeveloped. For example, most Russians don't attend church on a regular basis, nor do they belong to sports or recreational clubs, literary or other cultural groups, charitable organizations, or labor unions. Only about 1% report belonging to a political party. Since Putin's reelection in 2012, the government appears to be imposing new restrictions. During the Communist era Soviet authorities argued that only the party could and should represent the people's interests, and so state-sponsored organizations appeared in a state corporatist arrangement with the government clearly in control of channeling the voice of the people. The Russian Orthodox Church was brought tightly under control of the Communist Party. Since Putin 's reelection in 2012, nonprofit groups have come under particular pressure with new laws that severely restrict foreign financing and require them to register as "foreign agents." In addition, the definition of high treason has been expanded to include assisting foreign organizations.

Brexit

a term for the potential or hypothetical departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union.

President

administers government presents annual budget to Majlis supervises economic matters proposes legislation to Majlis is chair of the National Security Council appoints vice president(s) and cabinet (except Justice Minister) appoints local governors and mayors

The Guardian Council

comprised of twelve men, six of whom are clerics chosen by the Supreme leader, and six of whom are lawyers nominated by the Chief Judge (who is himself appointed by the Supreme Leader), and confirmed by the Majlis. They have the power to: • reject any law passed by the Majlis if it is contradictory to the constitution or principles of Islam, and send it back for correction. • reject candidates for the presidency or Majlis based on their interpretation of the qualifications in the constitution. • administer a test and interview to candidates for the Assembly of Religious Experts, and determine what "threshold" will be applied for allowing candidates on the ballot or not.

Question time (in the Commons)

hour when the Prime Minister must answer questions from opposition

European Parliament

not had a great deal of legislative power, members have been elected by people of their countries, may propose amendments to legislation, may reject proposals from Council, Council may override rejection by unanimous vote, smaller member-states have greater representation, Strasbourg is where meetings are held

political institutions

structures of a poltical system that carry out the work of governing-legislatures, executives, judicial systems, bureaucracies, and armies

House of Commons

the first legislative body of Parliament whose members are elected.

European Union (EU)

the world's largest common market, composed of 28 European nations

Chamber of Deputies (Mexico)

this part of the Mexican Legislature... 1) Lower House 2) 500 Seats

ethnic cleavage

this type of social cleavage is clearly the most divisive and explosive cleavages in countries at all levels of development.

The queen of England's power is legitimate because it is based on what kind of authority?

traditional

Common characteristics of authoritarian regimes

• A small group of elites exercising power over the state • Citizens with little or no input into selection of leaders and government decisions • No constitutional responsibility of leaders to the public • Restriction of civil rights and civil liberties

Factors that encourage legitimacy in both democratic and authoritarian regimes

• Economic well-being- Citizens tend to credit their government with economic prosperity, and they often blame government for economic hardships, so political legitimacy is reinforced by economic well-being. • Historical tradition/longevity - If a government has been in place for a long time, citizens and other countries are more likely to view it as legitimate. • Charismatic leadership - As Max Weber said, charisma is a powerful factor in establishing legitimacy, whether the country is democratic or totalitarian. • Nationalism/shared political culture - If citizens identify strongly with their nation, not just the state, they are usually more accepting of the legitimacy of the government. • Satisfaction with the government's performance/responsiveness: Chances are that the government is a legitimate one if citizens receive benefits from the government, if the government wins wars, and/or if citizens are protected from violence and crime.

Powers of the President of Russia that are Authoritarian, not Democratic

• ISSUING DECREES WITH THE FORCE OF LAW • SUSPENSION OF LOCAL LAWS • POWER TO REMOVE GOVERNORS. • POWER TO APPOINT GOVERNORS. • MANAGED ELECTIONS.

Powers of the Iranian Supreme Leader

• dismiss the president or members of the Guardian Council for any reason. • command all branches of the Iranian military. • declare war and peace. • appoint administrators and judges at all levels of Iranian government. • choose six of the twelve members of the Guardian Council. • appoint heads of all state-owned enterprises, including media outlets.

The president of Iran

• elected by voters every four years and can serve up to two terms. • Presidential candidates must be approved by the Guardian Council in order to appear on the ballot. The president is the head of government, possessing many administrative powers, but his actions are always under the shadow of the Supreme Leader, who may dismiss him from office at any moment he chooses. The president has the power to: • devise the budget for approval of the Majlis. • propose legislation to the Majlis. • nominate Cabinet members for approval of the Majlis. • chair meetings of the Cabinet, the National Security Council, and the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution. • send and receive foreign ambassadors.