PSCI201 LEC

Intro to Political Science

Dr.Said Sadek
(Youssef Khaled Hanafy 19104615)

Midterm Exams (25%)

Write the question followed by the answers in
straightforward points format. You can use the
relevant PowerPoints of the course plus other
academic sources.
A.Definitions
Kindly define all the following political terms
(10%):
Separation of powers
The concept of constitutional law known as "separation of powers" states that the
executive, legislative, and judicial departments of government must remain
independent of one another. Because each branch is granted specific powers in
order to check and balance the other branches, this is also known as a system of
checks and balances.

Each branch has distinct authority, and usually speaking, no branch is permitted
to use another branch's authority.
The idea behind this notion is that having too much power in the hands of one
person or institution can result in abuses of authority and violations of personal
freedoms.

Unicameralism
Unicameralism is a political system in which the legislature consists of a single
chamber or house
Unicameralism is often seen as a simpler and more efficient system than
bicameralism, as it reduces the amount of legislative duplication and redundancy
Smaller nations (like Finland, Greece, and Norway) or smaller states in federal
systems are more likely to have unicameral systems; Nebraska is the only state in
the US with one.

Powers of the American president

The President selects the leaders of all government agencies, including the
Cabinet, in order to carry out and enforce the laws passed by Congress.
The American president has a wide range of powers, including:
 Executive power: The president has the power to execute and enforce laws,
and to manage the day-to-day operations of the federal government.
 Military power: The president is the commander-in-chief of the armed
forces and has the power to direct military operations, declare war, and
make military appointments.
 Legislative power: Although the president does not have the power to
make laws, he or she can influence the legislative process by proposing
legislation, vetoing bills passed by Congress, and using the bully pulpit to
sway public opinion.
And some other powers such as judicial power & Emergency powers

British House of Commons

 The British House of Commons is the lower chamber of the Parliament of
the United Kingdom, which is the country's legislative body, the UK elects
650 Members of Parliament (MPs) to serve their interests and concerns in
the House of Commons. In addition to considering and putting forth new
legislation, members of parliament can examine government actions by
interrogating ministers in committee or in the Commons Chamber about
current matters.
 The House of Commons is a crucial representation of British democracy. It
also has a big say in who becomes Prime Minister and how he or she is
removed from office. A government may be compelled to quit if it loses the
support of a majority of MPs in the House of Commons, which can lead to a
general election

Regime Change
Regime change thus refers to the overthrow of a government considered
illegitimate by an external force and its replacement with a new government
according to the ideas or interests promoted by that force and it using various
strategies, such as armed intervention, economic sanctions, covert operations,
propaganda, or diplomatic pressure, can be used to try to overthrow a
government.

The State and its 4 components

The state is a political entity that typically has four components: a defined
territory, a population, a government, and power.
 Defined Territory: A state is typically recognized by a particular geographic
region that is accepted by other states and foreign organizations. The
state's borders may be established by political pacts and alliances, natural
landmarks like rivers and mountains, or both.
  Population: A state is made up of a group of people who live within its
boundaries and are subject to its laws and regulations.
 Government: A state has a government that exercises authority over its
population and territory. The government is responsible for everything
belongs to the state internally and externally.
 Sovereignty: (power) is the state's capacity to rule itself free from meddling
from other states or outside parties. It suggests that the state has the sole
right to wield power within its borders and to make choices that have an
impact on its citizens and its interactions with other states.

The Chinese Communist Party and its functions

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is the ruling political party of the People's
Republic of China (PRC), The CCP's primary functions include 4 main Functions:
Controlling the country, preserving societal harmony, Promoting economic
development, Controlling the country's philosophy, and National security

 Controlling the country: The CCP is responsible for running the government
of China, which includes making policy decisions, enacting laws, and
managing the economy.
 Preserving societal harmony: The CCP places a strong emphasis on
maintaining social stability and preventing unrest.
 Promoting economic development: The CCP is committed to achieving
economic growth and development in China.
 National security: The CCP is responsible for protecting China's national
security interests. This includes maintaining a strong military, conducting
diplomacy with other nations, and protecting China's territorial integrity.
 Controlling the country's philosophy: The CCP is dedicated to keeping the
country's ideology under control.

Putinism
The Vladimir Putin’s personality cult formed during his leadership of Russia
Some of the key elements of Putinism include a strong state, a centralized
economy, an emphasis on law and order, and an assertive foreign policy. Putin
has also taken steps to limit political opposition and control the media, leading
some to describe his rule as an "illiberal democracy."
It is characterized by a centralized and authoritarian approach to governance, a
focus on maintaining Russian sovereignty and power, and a preference for
strongman leadership.
Characteristics
 strong state control over property,
 reliance on siloviki
 The subjective selective application of the law ("Everything is for the
friends, the law is for the enemies"), the selective administration of
justice.
 Comparatively liberal, but lacking in financial and tax openness.
 Extreme power secrecy and behind-the-scenes decision-making.
 The government's opposition to the right of speech; and censorship.
 The conviction that Russia will reign more than any other nation.
 The desire to use any means necessary to become the world's largest
empire.
 The belief that glory is more valuable than human life.
 In the global arena, Putinism is characterized by nostalgia for the Soviet
era and a desire to return to the scenario when the USSR and USA
competed on an equal footing in areas of international politics.

The French Semi-presidential system

The French Semi-presidential system is a form of government where there is both
a directly elected President and a Prime Minister who is responsible to the
parliament which follows the fifth republic of the French constitution. The France
declares them as the secular, social, individual and democratic republic. The
government of France divides into a legislative, a judicial branch and an executive.
The prime minister shares the executive powers with the president

The Iranian Supreme Guide

The Iranian Supreme Guide also known as the Supreme Leader of the Islamic
Revolution, is the highest ranking political and religious authority in Iran. The role
of the Supreme Leader is enshrined in the Iranian constitution and he has
significant power and authority over the government and the people.

The Supreme Leader's main responsibilities include:

 Determining and directing the country's entire course, including its internal
and foreign policies.

 Choosing and removing important officials, such as the leaders of the

judicial system, the military forces, and the national broadcaster.

 Ensuring that Islamic rules and values be properly applied in all spheres of
Iranian society, including politics, economy, and culture.

 Endorsing or blocking legislation passed by the legislature (Majlis).

 Serving as the final arbiter in all aspects of national security, including

deciding whether to go to war or not.

 Acting as Iran's top religious authority, interpreting Islamic law and settling
religiously-related conflicts.

B.Essays
Kindly answer from the following (15%):
1- Compare and contrast the views of Thomas
Hobbes and Jean Jacques Rousseau about
their different views on the state of nature ,
 the social contract between society and state
and right to revolt ? Do authoritarian leaders
use Thomas Hobbes in ruling their countries?
Cite examples?

 State of Nature: According to Hobbes, nature is in a constant state of

conflict and anarchy. He believed that because people are fundamentally
hostile and egotistical, society would devolve into anarchy and violence if a
strong authority were not in place. Hobbes described existence in the
natural world as "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short" in his well-known
work "Leviathan."
Rousseau, on the other hand, thought that nature existed in a condition of
harmony and serenity. He believed that although people are naturally
decent, civilization has tainted them. Rousseau said that people were noble
savages in the state of nature who coexisted peacefully with one another in
his essay "Discourse on the Origin and Basis of Inequality among Men."
 Social Agreement:

Hobbes thought that the social contract was a pact people made with the
state, giving up their individual freedoms in exchange for a powerful,
centralized authority. He maintained that people consented to renounce
their independence in return for the safety and security the state gave. He
believed that order and peace in society could only be maintained by
upholding the social contract.

Rousseau, however, thought that the social contract was a pact made
between people to create a government based on the popular will. In his
view, people gave up their natural rights to the community as a whole
rather than to a particular king or government. The social contract,
according to Rousseau, was a pact meant to establish a just and egalitarian
society.
 Right to revolt?
Hobbes thought that since people had voluntarily given up their rights to
the sovereign, there was no such thing as a right to revolt. Any attempt to
remove the sovereign, in his opinion, would result in anarchy and disaster.
Hobbes thought that everyone should submit to the sovereign power and
abide by the rules and laws set forth by it.

Rousseau, on the other hand, thought that the freedom to revolt was
crucial since the state could only be considered legitimate if it served the
needs of its citizens. He made the case that people had the right to
overthrow any government that did not serve their interests. According to
Rousseau, having the right to rebel allowed people to protect their
independence and liberties.

Yes, authoritarian rulers have defended their power with the political
philosophy of Thomas Hobbes. Here are a few instances:

 Saddam Hussein: To support his reign, Hussein, the former dictator

of Iraq, used Hobbes' book "Leviathan." He claimed that a powerful
central authority was essential to avert disorder and that the
nation's stability depended on his use of coercion and force against
political rivals.

 Vladimir Putin: Putin, the leader of Russia at the moment, has also
used Hobbes' writings to defend his reign. He contends that for
Russia to be peaceful and have order, a strong leader is required.
Additionally, he has invoked Hobbes' theories to support his
crackdown on the media and his opponents.

 Xi Jinping: Jinping, the current president of China, has also been

known to cite Hobbes' work in his speeches. He argues that the
Chinese people need a strong government to maintain order and
 stability, and that the Communist Party is the only institution
capable of providing this.

2- Compare and contrast the similarities and

differences between the Japanese and the
British political systems?
There are some similarities and differences between the Japanese and British
political systems. Here are a few of them:
o Similarities:
 The legislature is a key player in politics under both nations' parliamentary
systems of government.

 A constitutional monarch with constrained powers serves as the head of

state in both nations.

 Both nations have written constitutions outlining the organization and

authority of their governments.

 In both nations' multi-party systems, there are two main parties.

(Conservative and Labour in the UK, Liberal Democratic Party and
Democratic Party in Japan).

 Both nations have a history of civil service, which includes a permanent

bureaucracy that aids in the execution of governmental directives.

o Differences:
 The British political system is based on the principle of parliamentary
sovereignty, meaning that the parliament has the final say in all matters,
while the Japanese system is based on the principle of constitutionalism,
meaning that the government is limited by the constitution.
 The British prime minister is the head of the government, while in Japan,
the prime minister is only the head of the executive branch of the
government.

 The British parliament has two chambers - the House of Commons and the
House of Lords, while the Japanese parliament has only one chamber - the
National Diet.

 The British political system has a strong tradition of political parties, with
the two major parties dominating the political landscape, while in Japan,
political parties are relatively weaker, and coalitions are more common.

 The British judiciary is largely independent of the government, while in

Japan, the judiciary is considered to be more closely linked to the
government.

3- Why does Israel have no written constitution?

Are the President and Prime minister of Israel
directly elected by the voters? What are duties
of the Israeli President?

 Like many other nations, Israel does not have a single,

comprehensive written constitution. Instead, its governing structure
is founded on a set of Basic Laws that were gradually enacted
beginning in the 1950s. The organization of the government, the
authority of its branches, and the rights of its citizens are outlined in
these Basic Laws.

 Israeli voters do not directly elect the prime minister; rather, the
Knesset does so. The Prime Minister, who is in charge of presiding
 over the government and carrying out policies, is normally the head
of the political party or coalition that has the majority of members in
the Knesset. Additionally, the Prime Minister has considerable
authority over the management of the nation's affairs and the
selection of government personnel.

 The President of Israel is not directly elected by voters, but it

elected by the Knesset for a single seven-year term, and is largely a
ceremonial figurehead with limited powers, The main duties of the
Israeli President are:

 Appointing the Prime Minister after consultations with the leaders

of the various political parties in the Knesset following a general
election or when the Prime Minister resigns or dies in office.
• Receiving guests from abroad and representing Israel at
international events.
• Proposing candidates for a range of posts, including the State
Comptroller, the Supreme Court, and other high-level
positions, with the appropriate authorities' consent.
• Approving treaties and international agreements by signing
them.