Contemporary political systems 2104-L-Z2WSIN

I. Constitutional Tradition of Modern Democracies: characteristics of the British Constitution; the origins and principles of the American Constitution; characteristics of the French constitutionalism; constitutional models of government systems.
II. Sovereignty and General Elections: theories of sovereignty in the tradition of constitutionalism; referendums and constitutional change; political and legal sense of elections; voting systems and electoral abuses.
III. Parliamentary systems: clasical parliamentary systems and its rationalization; origins and development of british cabinet system; Swiss committee system; French and German way of parliamentary system rationalization.
IV. American Presidential System: characteristics of the American political system; principles of the American federal government; separation and balance of powers; the role and limits of presidency; role of the Congress; role of the Judiciary.
V. Political transformation of Central and Eastern European Countries: establishing new constitutional frameworks; the constitutions as an instrument of transition to pluralist democracy and free elections; voting systems; balance of powers and the role of presidency; unicameralism or bicameralism; principle of government answerable to parliament; formation of the governments; independence of judiciary and constitutional courts;