All Questions
3,157
questions
35
votes
1
answer
22k
views
What governmental power does the Monarch hold in Great Britain in practice?
We have been led to believe that much of the power that was once held by the monarchy has been transferred to the Parliament and that the King is mostly a figurehead. However, the government is still ...
- 8,861
4
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Are all the companies in communism ideology nationalized?
Is it true that in the ideology of communism, the government owns all the companies and the exploitable resources? Also, what about the socialist countries and socialism as an ideology and are there ...
- 428
83
votes
9
answers
11k
views
What is meant by the "left" and the "right"?
When discussing political issues and parties, I often hear mention of a party being "left", "centre-left", "right" or "extreme right". In broad terms, what do these designations mean?
- 1,193
4
votes
1
answer
591
views
What personal decision-making powers does the British monarch retain in practice? [duplicate]
De-jure, the Queen is the supreme ruler of the UK and retains significant decision-making power. But in practice she is obliged to follow the instructions of Parliament and the Prime Minister.
...
- 52.6k
213
votes
18
answers
124k
views
Why is communism considered as evil (like fascism and nazism) in the United States?
In this question, a person asks why it's so easy to ban Nazi symbols and so hard to ban communist symbols: Why is banning communism symbols so hard to achieve as opposed to banning of Nazi symbols?
...
user17993
42
votes
3
answers
8k
views
What are the disadvantages of first-past-the-post electoral systems?
We all know the situation could arise in the U.S. where one candidate wins the popular vote but another one the electoral college. Given that the same could arise in the United Kingdom and other ...
- 5,335
23
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Can a President be impeached after leaving office?
Suppose for the sake of the question that:
hypothetical U.S. President Liam Duke begins to be formally impeached on Jan 19, the day before the next President is sworn in.
President Duke is in fact ...
- 12.8k
26
votes
2
answers
6k
views
If a NATO member state enters a war, are other NATO members obligated to assist it?
Let's say Turkey enters a war that is going on in the Middle East. It does not matter against whom. Are other NATO members in the obligation to assist her?
Normally they should have to, if Turkey is ...
- 7,369
25
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Can a United States President issue a self-pardon?
In the event a President is accused or found guilty of a serious crime while in office, can they pardon themselves for it?
- 1,186
73
votes
10
answers
21k
views
What is the most someone can lose the popular vote by but still win the electoral college?
As the 2016 election results continue to come in, it looks pretty clear that Hillary Clinton will win the popular vote but will lose the electoral college. I know this has happened before and usually ...
- 839
65
votes
12
answers
33k
views
Why can't Northern Ireland just have a stay/leave referendum?
In following the ongoing Brexit drama, I notice that the Northern Ireland border represents an important sticking point. In particular, both sides agree that there must not be a hard border. Not being ...
- 32.4k
42
votes
11
answers
15k
views
How does Hitler's interpretation of "Nationalist Socialism" relate to the modern interpretation of "Socialism" and "Nationalism"?
I noticed a lot of hate focused on the idea of Nazism, especially with Hitler's reputation and whatnot. But I was wondering, because Hitler's scheme was far from 'socialist' and more fascist than '...
- 828
27
votes
2
answers
3k
views
What happens if a US presidential candidate drops out of the race after being nominated but before election day?
If a presidential candidate in the USA drops out of the race before (or during) election day, but after early voting has begun, what happens to that party's ticket?
For example, if Donald Trump or ...
- 1,339
11
votes
3
answers
5k
views
In the US, why is there such a long time between the elections and inauguration?
In the United States, the elections were on 6 November 2012, but inauguration only on 20 January 2013, more than two months later.
In France, the presidential elections were on 22 April, and the ...
- 47.7k
75
votes
8
answers
11k
views
What makes "Voter ID laws" so controversial in the US?
As a European, I am always baffled by the concept that requiring an ID to vote is so controversial in the US, for me is one of the most "natural" things.
I hear that it is because obtaining an ID in ...
- 6,737
57
votes
8
answers
17k
views
Do/did non-dictatorial Communist societies exist?
I've often heard the following two points of view:
Communism is a failed philosophy, and it has always failed (e.g. USSR, China, Cuba etc...). Therefore it's simply wrong.
Communism has never been ...
- 2,032
40
votes
7
answers
11k
views
Is there precedent or are there procedures for a US president refusing to concede to an electoral defeat?
I am wondering what would happen if an incumbent US President were to lose a presidential election, but refuse to accept the result and to concede defeat (even after any legitimate challenges and ...
- 4,914
31
votes
16
answers
14k
views
Direct voting on every issue (referendum) - new political system
First of all, I am not a politician. I am just a computer scientist. I asked this question because I do not think that I have adequate knowledge of various political systems.
Background: Over the ...
- 575
14
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Why is having border controls in Ireland so problematic for Irish nationalists?
One of the biggest challenges of Brexit is resolving the issue of the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland. On one hand it is impossible for the UK to leave the Single Market while maintaining ...
- 52.6k
13
votes
10
answers
5k
views
What are the benefits/drawbacks of a weighted vote based upon federal taxes paid?
Alexander Fraser Tytler famously said:
"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the majority discovers it can vote itself largess out of the public ...
- 14k
11
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What is Donald Trump's plan surrounding the US-Mexico border wall?
Has Donald Trump laid out a plan for the Mexico border wall or ever talked about it with more detail to clarify what his ultimate plan and goal may be to build a wall?
Can anyone think of any reason ...
- 575
59
votes
12
answers
16k
views
Does the Electoral College system really favor low population areas?
I was reading some questions on this site, and I stumbled up this comment. I'll transcribe the relevant parts of it here in case it ever goes away:
You could throw in something about how Hillary ...
- 658
46
votes
11
answers
3k
views
Why is denying global warming associated with conservatives?
I'm not asking for arguments about whether global warming is true. I'm asking why denying the presence of global warming is primarily associated with a conservative political affiliation.
I am looking ...
- 767
37
votes
9
answers
7k
views
Freedom of speech and where it applies
There seems to be multiple definitions of freedom of speech out there, and I hear a lot about how companies like Google and Twitter are exempt from this as they are private entities and freedom of ...
- 379
32
votes
2
answers
6k
views
What does European Union "freedom of movement" mean, and how much can individual countries restrict intra-EU immigration?
In recent years, France has embarked on a controversial program of expelling Roma people. The controversy is partly about the allegation that France expels people based on ethnic rather than legal ...
- 47.7k
29
votes
8
answers
3k
views
Could the British government un-trigger Article 50?
At some point, probably early in 2017, the British Prime Minster is likely to trigger Article 50. A number of expert commentators and a large proportion of the British public still believe that it is ...
- 897
23
votes
11
answers
7k
views
Why would Russia care about NATO troops on its borders if it has nuclear weapons?
In a related question on why Russia is against Ukraine joining the EU, @user4012 writes the following:
Basically, Russia has no natural defensive perimeter of its core. Thus, its permanent strategy ...
- 52.6k
21
votes
4
answers
9k
views
What are the main differences between different types of Marxism?
Socialism, Communism, Marxism, Leninism, Stalinism, Maoism, etc are different political idioms with some similarities in ideology. But my question is about their differences:
Question: What are the ...
user2265
18
votes
1
answer
19k
views
May the US president launch a nuclear bomb without any oversight on any target?
According to Article II, Section 2, Clause I of the Constitution, the President of the United States is commander in chief of the United States Armed Forces.
Source: Wikipedia
How does launching a ...
- 552
18
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Who supplies Saudi Arabia with weapons?
More than 140 people were killed and over 525 wounded on Saturday, by a Saudi Arabian airstrike on a funeral. (See nytimes, rt, theguardian, and foxnews.)
The questions are:
Who supplies Saudi ...
- 6,247
18
votes
5
answers
7k
views
What are the steps to become an independent country once independence has been declared?
In How to Become a Country in 3 Easy Steps they mention:
Step 1 Declare independence
Step 2 Gain recognition
Step 3 Join the United Nations
Foreign Policy has a similar article How to Start Your Own ...
- 1,806
12
votes
14
answers
8k
views
Vote amount according to "intelligence"
My friend and I had a vivid discussion about politics. We discussed about a system in which people had to go through some sort of intelligence evaluation system. According to their intelligence level ...
11
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Let's say the impeachment procedure reaches the Senate. What next?
Let's assume for a second that the House votes to impeach Trump. This only takes a simple majority, something that they might be able to achieve, depending on how serious the Ukraine allegations turn ...
111
votes
22
answers
27k
views
What is the capitalist answer to automation?
While we are not currently at total automation, we are inching closer. An Oxford Study from 2013 indicates by 2033 upwards of 45% of our job force could be automated. This automation, causing a ...
- 1,618
86
votes
4
answers
36k
views
Is there a way to block an elected President from entering office?
Given the recent results on the national election at the US, I have seen several protests here at Berkeley and the Oakland area. I am wondering whether there exists any legal option to prevent him ...
- 815
68
votes
4
answers
12k
views
Is the US unusually prone to walking away from signed treaties/accords?
For example, the Iran proliferation Deal. Letting aside considerations about where or not it was a good agreement, this is still the US agreeing to something and then not carrying it out.
Other ...
61
votes
9
answers
17k
views
How did Russia retain the UNSC veto power of the Soviet Union?
I am not sure what the criteria are to be a permanent member of the UN Security Council, but I do wonder how did Russia manage to keep its veto power after the dissolution of the Soviet Union?
I ...
- 1,178
56
votes
8
answers
19k
views
Why is it impossible to leave the Single Market without a hard Irish border?
I see a repeated assumption that puzzles me. From another well asked and answered question:
On one hand it is impossible for the UK to leave the Single Market while maintaining an open border with ...
- 652
49
votes
14
answers
11k
views
What is the pacifist position on Ukraine?
What/who are the prominent pacifist movements/organizations/thinkers in the 21st century, and what is their position on the conflict in Ukraine?
Much of the public and political discussion about the ...
- 11.8k
46
votes
5
answers
269k
views
What is the difference between liberalism and libertarianism?
According to wikipedia
Liberalism (from the Latin liberalis) is a political philosophy or worldview founded on the idea of liberty and equality. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on ...
- 1,682
45
votes
9
answers
19k
views
What arguments are there against ranked-choice voting?
In America, most elections are based on first-past-the-post voting, where whoever gets a plurality of the votes wins. For instance if candidate A gets 40% of the vote and each of candidates B and C ...
- 8,987
44
votes
6
answers
25k
views
Why don't British kings and queens veto laws? [duplicate]
I've learned from Wikipedia that the British king or queen has the right to veto laws, but they don't use the right. Why is that? Is it because of tradition, respect for democracy, some regulations or ...
- 1,627
39
votes
8
answers
9k
views
Can the U.S. Senate hold an impeachment trial if the House "passes" articles of impeachment but does not "transmit" them to the Senate?
After passing articles of impeachment against the President, Speaker Pelosi has announced she will not immediately send the articles of impeachment to the Senate for a trial.
What does this actually ...
- 4,130
32
votes
4
answers
4k
views
In the Electoral College, why can electors vote in contrast to their pledge ('faithless')?
The United States uses an Electoral College system, where electors pledge to cast their vote in a particular way. However, these electors have the ability to vote in a manner that directly contradicts ...
- 708
31
votes
9
answers
37k
views
How do I know that my vote was counted?
Can American citizens verify that their vote was tallied correctly in the public/published results that determine an election?
More generally, do there exist any systems that can simultaneously ...
user6374
30
votes
10
answers
7k
views
In the US, why do libertarians tend to side with the Republican party rather than the Democratic party?
A generic way to define a libertarian in the US could be 'fiscally conservative, socially liberal'.
Given that the two major parties (Republican and Democratic) tend to (again, speaking generically) ...
user1530
30
votes
9
answers
4k
views
If there's no government, who will stop people from creating one?
How does the doctrine(s) of anarchism address the following issue?
If there's no government, no army, no central police, who will stop local charismatic leaders from taking over and creating their ...
- 4,537
30
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Why would the Senate Majority Leader vote against their own cloture motion to stop a filibuster?
The record shows that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell voted against cloture for a continuing resolution which would have kept the government open. Despite this, he said that by not supporting ...
- 773
30
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Why don't Western countries penalize Chinese companies in the same way that China restricts Western companies working on its territory?
Some examples: China bans foreign entities from owning land, currency restrictions make it hard for companies to move funds abroad, Chinese companies are known for violating patents, and finally the ...
- 52.6k
28
votes
8
answers
4k
views
Is China really Communist?
Having read Karl Marx, and seeing the 10 tenets of Communism, I find it hard to consider China as a Communist country.
Just trying to stick to the 10 tenets.
Abolition of private property, ...
- 1,382