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Political Organisation of States

An overview of state fundamentals, government structures, EU institutions, and international organisations for learners of political science.

22 cards~8 min
Political Organisation of States — Qwi
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1What is the definition of a State?
Answer

A political and administrative organisation that governs a territory independently

A State is the basic unit of political authority, exercising power over a defined territory and population.
2It is made up of three basic elements: {{Territory}}, Population and Sovereignty.
Answer

Territory

3The people who live in a State have a nationality and form its {{citizenship}}.
Answer

citizenship

4Sovereignty is the State’s ability to make {{binding}} decisions within its territory.
Answer

binding

5The Government is a permanent institution that never changes.
Answer

False

The Government administers the powers of the State and is temporary, changing with political orientation.
6What is the main difference between Centralised and Decentralised States?
Answer

Centralised → power only central | Decentralised → power shared with regions

Centralised States have uniform laws across the territory, while Decentralised (often federal) States allow regional autonomy.
7Name one essential function of the State.
Answer

Meet basic needs of the population

The State must provide housing, food, education, healthcare, transport and public works.
8The State is responsible for regulating labour relations.
Answer

True

One of the listed functions is to regulate labour relations through laws and employment policies.
9The State must {{maintain public order}} and guarantee that laws are respected.
Answer

maintain public order

10What are the three branches of power in a democratic regime?
Answer

Legislative, Executive, Judicial

Legislative makes laws, Executive applies them, Judicial ensures they are respected.
11How do democratic regimes differ from dictatorships?
Answer

Democracy → free elections, separation of powers | Dictatorship → power concentrated, no separation

Democracies have elected officials and multiple branches, while dictatorships concentrate power in one person or group without constitutional limits.
12In a dictatorship, there is a separation of powers.
Answer

False

Dictatorships lack separation of powers, constitution, elections, and political parties.
13Hybrid regimes present themselves as {{democratic}} but do not respect basic principles.
Answer

democratic

14What form of government does Spain have?
Answer

Parliamentary monarchy

Spain is a parliamentary monarchy where the King is the highest authority but power belongs to the people.
15Spain is divided into {{17 Autonomous Communities}} and 2 Autonomous Cities.
Answer

17 Autonomous Communities

16How many countries are members of the European Union?
Answer

27

The EU is an international organisation made up of 27 European countries.
17The euro is used by all 27 EU member states.
Answer

False

The euro is used by 21 of the 27 Member States, forming the Eurozone.
18What are the main roles of the European Parliament versus the Council of the European Union?
Answer

Parliament → represents citizens, approves laws and budget | Council → represents governments, co‑decides on legislation

The Parliament is directly elected and focuses on citizens, while the Council reflects member‑state governments and shares legislative power.
19When was the United Nations founded?
Answer

1945

The UN was established after the Second World War to maintain peace and security.
20The UN Security Council has five permanent members with veto power.
Answer

True

The permanent members are the USA, Russia, China, the United Kingdom and France.
21What does NGO stand for?
Answer

Non-Governmental Organisation

NGOs are international public organisations with humanitarian and social aims that do not depend on governments.
22The Red Cross is an example of an {{NGO}}.
Answer

NGO

Understanding the State

A State is a political and administrative organisation that governs a territory independently. It is the basic unit of political authority, exercising power over a defined territory and population.

Three Core Elements of a State

  • Territory: The geographic area over which the State has authority.
  • Population: The people who live within the territory and share a common nationality.
  • Sovereignty: The State’s ability to make binding decisions within its territory that cannot be ignored by anyone inside the State.

Citizenship

The people who live in a State have a nationality and form its citizenship. This legal bond defines rights and duties between individuals and the State.

Government vs. State

The Government is not a permanent institution; it administers the powers of the State and changes with political orientation. Therefore, the statement that the Government is permanent is False.

State Functions and Powers

States have essential responsibilities to meet the basic needs of the population, including housing, food, education, healthcare, transport, and public works.

  • Regulating labour relations – True. The State creates laws and policies that govern employment conditions.
  • Maintaining public order – the State must maintain public order and guarantee that laws are respected.

Structure of Democratic Regimes

In a democratic regime, power is divided among three branches:

  • Legislative: Makes laws.
  • Executive: Applies laws.
  • Judicial: Ensures laws are respected.

Centralised vs. Decentralised States

Centralised States keep power only at the centre, resulting in uniform laws across the territory. Decentralised (often federal) States share power with regions, allowing regional autonomy.

Democracy vs. Dictatorship

Key differences include:

  • Democracy: Free elections, separation of powers, multiple political parties.
  • Dictatorship: Power concentrated in one person or group, no separation of powers, no constitutional limits.

The statement that a dictatorship has a separation of powers is False.

Hybrid Regimes

Hybrid regimes present themselves as democratic but fail to respect basic democratic principles.

Case Study: Spain

Spain operates under a parliamentary monarchy. The King is the highest authority symbolically, while real political power belongs to the people through elected institutions.

Spain is divided into 17 Autonomous Communities and two Autonomous Cities, providing a clear example of a decentralised state.

European Union Overview

The European Union (EU) comprises 27 member countries. It is an international organisation that promotes economic and political integration among European states.

While the EU has 27 members, the euro is used by only 21 of them, forming the Eurozone. Therefore, the statement that the euro is used by all 27 members is False.

EU Institutions

The main roles of the two principal legislative bodies are:

  • European Parliament: Represents citizens, approves laws and the EU budget.
  • Council of the European Union: Represents the governments of member states and co‑decides on legislation.

International Organisations

United Nations

The United Nations (UN) was founded in 1945 after World War II to maintain peace and security worldwide.

The UN Security Council has five permanent members with veto power: the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, and France. This statement is True.

Non‑Governmental Organisations (NGOs)

NGO stands for Non‑Governmental Organisation. NGOs are international public organisations with humanitarian and social aims that do not depend on governments.

The Red Cross is an example of an NGO.

Summary

Understanding the political organisation of states involves recognising the State’s core elements—territory, population, and sovereignty—its functions, and the distinction between government and State. Democratic regimes rely on a separation of powers, whereas dictatorships concentrate authority. The EU illustrates a complex supranational system with distinct legislative bodies, while the UN and NGOs demonstrate global cooperation beyond national borders.