Tuesday Warm Up – WRITE
QUESTION!
1
Who holds the power in a unitary government
system? Example?
 What type of government does Japan have?
Who holds the power?
 Explain the difference between parliamentary
and presidential democracy?
 India has a FEDERAL government, what does this
mean?

USE YOUR READING FROM YESTERDAY!
Governments of Asia
Standard SS7CG7
The student will demonstrate an understanding of
national governments in Southern and Eastern Asia.
Compare and contrast:

the federal republic of the Republic of India,
 the communist state of The People’s Republic of China, and
 the constitutional monarchy of Japan,
 distinguishing the form of leadership and the role of the
citizen in terms of voting rights and personal freedoms.

Copy this in your Notebook
Fill in boxes during the presentation
India
Type of
Government
Title of Leader
How Leader takes
power
Role of Citizen
Important to
Know…
China
Japan
India –
Type of Government



India is a Federal Republic with an
elected parliament.
India has 28 states, and 7 union
territories.
Although India is a republic, individual
states are more tightly controlled by the
central government than states in the
United States.
India –
Title of Leader


India’s President is Ms. Patil.
She is the head of state.
India’s Prime Minister is Mr.
Singh. He is the head of the
government and exercises
most executive power.
India –
How the leader takes power





India’s President (head of state) is elected by an
electoral college to 5-year term.
The president has all of the powers given by the
constitution but is more a figure head.
India’s Prime Minister (exercises executive power)
is generally the head of the party that enjoys a
majority in the legislative branch.
The Prime Minister is appointed by the President.
The Prime Minister and cabinet make most of the
decisions.
The Vice-President is elected by both houses of
Parliament.
India –
Role of Citizen

Indian citizens are
encouraged to
vote when they
are 18.
India – The important thing to know
about India’s government is…
India and Japan have a parliamentary republic
with three branches: legislative, judicial and
executive.
 The executive and legislative branches work
closely together.
 There are two executives.

China – Type of Government
China is a
Communist
state.

China – Title of Leader





true power lies with the ruling Communist Party.
China has a President (head of state) and a Premier
(head of government) ~ appointed by president
The President and Vice-President are elected by the
National People’s Congress. – Elected every 5 years
In China, all power is concentrated in the Paramount
Leader, Hu Jintao.
He is the head of all three bodies of government:
 Communist Party of China
 Central People’s Government (State Council)
 People’s Liberation Army
China – How the Leader takes
power


While there are elections
for the National People’s
Congress, there is truly
only one political party,
the Chinese Communist
Party.
The State Council, which
functions as a cabinet, is
appointed by the National
People’s Congress.
China – Role of Citizen



Individuals do not have the
right to vote for their
representatives.
The government regulates the
press and restricts the
freedom of assembly,
movement, reproduction
(One Child Policy) and
religion.
The restrictions are lessening.
China – The Important thing to know about
China’s government is…




Although there are elections, China is controlled
by ONE political party
The Chinese Communist Party.
Increased population means more resources are
needed to meet the needs of the growing
population.
Due to fears of overpopulation in China, the
government has introduced a One Child Policy
encouraging families to have only one child. If
families have more than one child there are
financial penalties.
Japan – Type of Government

Japan is a
Constitutional
Monarchy
Japan – Title of Leader
Japan has an Emperor and a
Prime Minister
 Emperor Akihito (head of state)
is merely a “symbol
of the state.
 Naoto Kan, the Prime Minister
(head of government) holds
the true executive power along
with the Cabinet of Ministers,
who are part of the legislative
branch of government.

Japan – How Leader takes
Power






Emperor – The Emperor’s position is inherited.
The Emperor is a symbol of the state and of the unity
of the Japanese people.
He is the head of the Japanese Imperial Family and is
a ceremonial figurehead in a constitutional monarchy.
He is also the highest authority of the Shinto religion.
The Prime Minister is chosen by the Diet (parliament)
and the Emperor gives his blessing. The Prime
Minister must enjoy the confidence of the House of
Representatives to remain in office.
The Prime Minister is the head of the Cabinet and
appoints and dismisses the Ministers of State.
Japan – Role of Citizen


There are universal
voting rights for all
adult citizens.
Japanese citizens are
encouraged to vote
when they are 20.
Japan – The important thing to know about
Japan’s government is…
Japan has a parliament
called the Diet and has 3
branches of government.
 The executive and
legislative branches work
closely together. There are
two executives.

India
China
Communist State
Japan
Type of
Government
Federal Republic
Title of Leader
President AND
Prime Minister
President, Premier
(Prime Minister)
Emperor AND
Prime Minister
How Leader takes
power
President = elected
President = elected
Emperor – Inherited
Prime Minister =
Appointed
Premier (Prime
Minister) = head of
ruling party
Prime Minister – chosen
by the Diet and
emperor gives blessing
Role of Citizen
Vote at 18
No Vote, Restricted
freedoms: press,
assembly, movement,
reproduction, religion
Vote at 20
Important to
know…
Parliament has 3
branches
ONE political party
Diet (Parliament)
has 3 branches
(Fake Republic)
One child policy
Constitutional
Monarchy
Governments of Asia ~ Check your answers