Laws, Constitutions, and Federalism

Question 1

What is a major feature of the modern State

Answer 1

“Law-boundedness:
- some level of order is important

Question 2

Define Legal Positivism

Answer 2

Western conception that the law is what the state says it is

Question 3

define Secularism

Answer 3

state takes legislative precedence over religious authority

Question 4

What is the Rule Of Law

Answer 4

everyone in a society is expected to obey the law and is considered equal before it (including the leader)

Question 5

what is the purpose of law

Answer 5

determines criminal behavior, punishment of criminals, provides rules for judging disputes

Question 6

Define Law as a Check on power

Answer 6

Legal system can restrain abuse of power by the executive

Question 7

what are the uses of Constitutions

Answer 7

• denotes overall structure of states political system
• outlines basic institutions of the state, procedure of changing them, and basic rights and obligations of citizens

Question 8

What is Constitutionalism

Answer 8

1. spirit of the constitution of a country
   or
2. view of that the constitution is most fundamental principle of political life

Question 9

define Federalism

Answer 9

dividing power between different authorities that have their own particular responsibilities

Question 10

define two key federal institutions

Answer 10

1. two-chamber parliament or legislative body (representatives of the provinces or state)
2. Constitutional Court (rules on constitutionality of legislation)