Comparing Foreign Governments• Recall the different forms and systems of government• Unitary – where the Central government is in control.

States have limited political power• Federal – where BOTH Central and State government

have political power• Confederal – where the State government is strong and

Central government is weak• Parliamentary System – where the legislative and

executive branches are COMBINED – same people make and enforce laws

• Presidential System – The legislative and executive branches are SEPARATE from each other

Directions for taking notes

• EACH SLIDE EQUALS ONE BOX UNDER THE COUNTRY

• NOT EACH BULLET, THERE WILL BE SEVERAL BULLETS PER SLIDE, SQUEEZE EACH SLIDE INTO THE BOX

Great Britain

• A democracy –people • Unitary • Parliamentary system• Constitutional Monarch - King/ Queen is a

Figurehead

Parliament

• Two House Parliament• House of Lords – appointed by Queen/King• No real authority – review laws• House of Commons – Elected by the people

House of Lords

• hereditary or lifetime appointments from the queen/king

• 682 members• Limited power• Law Lords serve as final courts of appeals

House of Commons• 659 members• they are elected from districts with equal

populations• More powerful – passes most of the

legislation

Prime Minister

• Appointed by the Queen/King • Must be chosen from within the House of

Commons• Current Prime Minister – David Cameron

Court system

• Most civil cases are tried in county courts• More serious cases are tried in The Crown

Court• The House Of Lords is the last Appeals Court.

Japan

• Since WWII – Japan has had a Democracy where they elect their reps

• Parliamentary Democracy (like Britain)• Constitutional Monarch - Emperor• Unitary

Japan

• Japan’s Constitution 1947—created under American supervision

• Article 9 of Japan’s Constitution is the most unique - • ( DO NOT WRITE THE FOLLOWING QUOTE- IT IS

SUMMARIZED IN THE 4TH BULLET) Japan’s people “forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation….land, sea, and air forces, as well as other potential, will never be maintained.”

• Meaning they can NEVER have an offensive military

Japan

• Japan’s Parliament – known as the “National Diet”

• Two House Parliament“ House of Councillors” • and “House of Representatives” which

contains greater power.

House of Councillors

• Very prestige but lacks much power• 232 elected members that sit for six years• Serve to provide as a forum of ideas

House of Representatives

• More power of the two houses• Power to make treaties, raise funds, spend money• 480 members which are elected from 300

districts

Prime Minister

• The Prime Minister and his Cabinet must be members of the Diet – Chosen from within the elected body

• Current Prime Minister - Shinzō Abe

Mexico

• Government influenced by America, but contains a rich Spanish influence

• Federal form of government

• Presidential system

Mexico

Cortez defeated the Aztec in 1521 giving reign to many centuries of Spanish rule.

• Spain controlled Mexico 1521 -1821 before gaining their independence

Mexico

• Constitution of 1917 was created after a revolt against harsh governing in 1910

• The Constitution established three branches of government – Legislative, Executive and Judicial – VERY SIMILAR TO OURS!!!!!

Mexico• President- elected to one six year term.

Popular PRI party has won every election since 1929

• Of the countries mentioned today – Mexico is most similar to ours –

• President = Enrique Peña Nieto

Mexico• General Congress –bicameral consist of Senate

and Chamber of Deputies

* Senate has 64 members – 2 from each state * 500 members in the Chamber of Deputies.

• Government in transition to Democracy – only free of Soviet Rule since 1993

• Previously the U.S.S.R aka Soviet Union• USSR Collapses in 1991.

Russia

Russia

• Constitution of 1993 – guaranteed freedoms and set up a democratic federal form of government

• Political parties still include the Communist party as well as a Democratic and Liberal party

Russia

• Separation of Powers between the Executive and Legislative powers

• But they have BOTH a President and Prime Minister

Russia

• Federal system• Executive – consist of a President (elected by the

people) who appoints a Prime Minister• Current President – Vladimir Putin• Prime Minister – Dmitry Medvedev

Russia

• Bicameral Legislature• Council of the Federation with 178 members • – State Duma with 450 members called

deputies. The Duma is more powerful

Russia

• Courts – a 19 member Constitutional Court along with Regional and Local courts

China• Three branches of government• Unitary• Presidential system, but primarily ran by the

communist party• Current President – Xi Jinping

China

• The People’s Republic of China • China currently operates under the

Communist system, but seem to be moving towards socialism

China• National government consist of TWO major

bodies 1. National People’s Congress 2. State Council

China

• National People’s Congress – 3,000 deputies elected to 5 yr terms –

• have the highest government authority according to the Constitution, but in reality has very little power.

China

• The State Council- main body in the executive branch. It is head by a Premier chosen by the Communist party