SS6CG1, SS6CG4, SS5CG6: The students will compare and contrast various forms of government.
FRANCE AND THE U.S.: PRESIDENTIAL DEMOCRACIES
In contrast to the United Kingdom, France is a presidential republic, commonly known as the Fifth Republic. Like the constitutional
monarchy of Britain, France’s government is based on a constitution. In 1958, a referendum, or vote, was held and the people voted for
the present constitution. This constitution blends elements of both presidential and parliamentary systems. The people vote directly for
their president. He or she is the head of state and holds most of the executive power. The president appoints the prime minister. The
French prime minister has much less power than the British prime minister.
The National Assembly and the Senate make up the two chambers of the French Parliament. Both chambers have the power ot make
laws, but the National Assembly has more power than the Senate. Additionally, France has a Constitutional Council. Its duties are to
oversee elections and decide on constitutional questions. The French government also has a cabinet. The French cabinet members do
not need to be part of the majority party. They also do not have to be a part of the legislature.
Whereas the head of government (prime minister) and the head of state (monarch) in the United Kingdom are two different people, in
the United States, the president serves both of these roles. In the United States, the legislative and executive branches are two
separate groups. In the Untied Kingdom, the executive branch (prime minister and cabinet) is part of and controls the legislative branch
(Parliament). However, the prime minister must answer to Parliament as well. In both countries, checks and balances are in place to try
to prevent any one person or group from becoming too powerful.
The U.S. government also has a cabinet. The U.S. president chooses his or her cabinet members. They must be approved by the
Senate. Cabinet members can be removed at any time by the president. The U.S. cabinet was not mentioned in the constitution, but
George Washington, the first president, established the first cabinet. Cabinet members include the secretaries of State, Treasury, and
Defense. The newest cabinet department to be added in the United States is the department of Homeland Security.