Comparing the Governments of the
United Kingdom, Russia, & Germany
SS6G5
The student will
explain the
structure of modern
European
governments.
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
How are the
governments of the
U.K., Germany, and
Russia different and
how these
governments similar?
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom
has a parliamentary
system of
government.
United Kingdom
The leadership of the
United Kingdom
includes a monarch
(king or queen) as the
ceremonial head of
state.
1
United Kingdom
The monarch, who
today is Queen
Elizabeth II, has very
little power.
2
Queen Elizabeth II
United Kingdom
The prime minister is
the head of
government.
3
President Obama and Prime Minister Gordon
United Kingdom
The power in the UK’s
government lies with
Parliament (the
legislature), which makes
the country’s laws and
elects the prime minister.
1
United Kingdom
Parliament has two houses:
House of Commons
and
House of Lords
2&3
Parliament: House of Commons
• Citizens elect these members
– 646 members total: 529 from England, 40
from Wales, 59 from Scotland, and 18 from
Northern Ireland
• This branch controls the countries
budget (lots of power)
• The leader of the political party with the
most members becomes the Prime
Minister
– Head of the government (chief executive) &
runs the government on a day to day basis
House of Commons
Parliament: House of Lords
• In the past, these seats were passed
down through wealthy families
• Now, Lords are elected by the House
or are appointed by the monarch
– Have little power
• Can only make suggestions of ways to
improve a bill that is on its way to
becoming a law
House of Lords
UK’s Citizen Participation
• Citizens have personal freedoms like
those in the US
– All citizens are treated equally
– British citizens have freedom of speech,
press, religion and assembly
– They also have the right to vote.
• Citizens do not directly elect the
leaders (only the House of Commons)
Germany
Germany
Germany has a federal
system of government,
which means the power
is shared between a
central government and
16 state governments.
Germany
Germany’s leadership
includes a president
who is head of state
but has little
political power.
1
Germany
Germany’s leadership
also includes a
chancellor who is a
powerful head of
government.
2
President Obama with Germany’s Chancellor Angela
Merkel
Germany
• Germany’s parliament is composed of
two houses: the Bundestag and the
Bundesrat
• Germany’s constitution is called the
Basic Law
– States that Germany is a welfare state:
government guarantees people certain
benefits when they are unemployed, sick,
poor, or disabled
Parliament: Bundestag
• Has the most power
• Citizens of each German state elect its
members
• Members of this house elect the
Chancellor (chief executive of
Germany)
Parliament: Bundesrat
• Represents the interests of the state
governments
• Each state government selects
representatives for this house
– The 16 states each have differing
numbers of representatives, depending
on their population
• Mainly concerned with laws that
affect states, such as education and
local government issues
Germany’s Citizen Participation
• Citizens have same basic freedoms like
those in the United Kingdom
– All citizens are treated equally
– Have freedom of speech, religion and
press
– They also have the right to vote
• Citizens do not directly elect the
leaders (only the Bundestag)
Russia
Russia
Russia is a federation
established in 1991
where power is divided
between a central
government and 89
smaller political units.
Russia
The Russian government
was established in 1991
when the Soviet Union
dissolved.
Russia
Russia’s leader is a
president elected by
the people.
1
President Obama with Russian President Dimitri
Medvedev
Russia
The president then
appoints a prime
minister, who is
second-place in
leadership.
2
President Obama with
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin
Russia
Russia’s legislature is called
the Federal Assembly
and is divided into two
parts: the Federation
Council and the State
Duma
Federal Assembly: Federation Council
• Has two representatives from each
state
• States appoint the council’s members;
they are not directly elected by the
people
• One important duty: approve the
president’s choices of people to fill
different government jobs
Federal Assembly: State Duma
• Larger than the Federation Council
– Has 450 members who are elected
directly by the people
• This house controls the budget and
makes the laws
• Approves the president’s choice for
prime minister
Russia’s Citizen Participation
• Russia’s constitution guarantees
human and civil rights for its citizens
– All people are equal
– Russians have the right to vote, equal
rights, and the freedom of religion,
speech and press.
• Citizens directly elect the leader
1. The monarch has the most power in the government of the United
Kingdom.
YES
NO
2. The United Kingdom has a parliamentary system of government.
YES
NO
3. The German chancellor is more powerful than the president.
YES
NO
4. Germany has a federal system of government.
YES
NO
5. In Russia, power is divided between a central government and
many political units.
YES
NO
6. Russia’s leader is elected by the people.
YES
NO