American Government and
Economics:
Comparative Politics
Mr. Chortanoff
Chapter 22
Overview and Insights
Map of the UK
Democracy in the US and Great Britain
United States
Both
Great Britain
Written Constitution
Democracies
Unwritten Constitution,
traditions, customs
Federal Government
Voters elect some (GB) or
all of the legislators (US)
Unitary Government
Republican Democracy
Presidential System:
Separation of Powers.
President is chosen from
and by the PEOPLE
Civil Rights/Liberties are
protected
Voting Age: 18
Bicameral Legislature
Regularly scheduled
elections
Two-Party System
Constitutional Monarchy
Parliamentary System: No
Separation of Powers.
Prime Minister chosen
from and by the Parliament
PM can be removed with a
Parliamentary vote of “no
confidence” at any time
Multiparty System
Map of Japan
Government and Politics in Japan
Constitution
National Diet
The
Bureaucracy
Political Parties Judicial System
Adopted in
1947
House of
Councilors has
prestige but
little power
The
bureaucracy
or civil service
receives
respect and
power within
Japanese
society
One party, the
Liberal
Democrats
(LDP),
dominates the
government
Rejects
Emperor’s
Declaration of
Sovereign
Power
House of
Representatives
has much power
Places power in Consensusthe hands of
based political
the people
system
Has antimilitary clause
Leading party
controls the
prime
ministership
Independent
judicial system
is patterned on
the American
model
Has trial courts
at the local
level, several
intermediate
appellate
courts, and a
Supreme Court
Map of
Mexico
Three Branches of the Mexican
Government
The General Congress:
1) The national legislature is a
bicameral body, composed
of the Senate and the
Chamber of Deputies
2) Each of the 31 Mexican
states has two senators
3) The Chamber of Deputies
has 500 members
The Court System:
1) Mexico’s independent judicial system
is similar to that of the US
2) Two levels, state and federal, operate
within the court system
3) The federal judiciary is based on
circuit and district courts that function
under the Supreme Court
The President:
1) Popularly elected to a single
six year term
2) Selects members of the
Cabinet and top civilian
officers in government, and
appoints the senior officers of
the armed forces and all
federal judges
3) Can propose amendments to
the Constitution
Map of the USSR/Russia
The Fall of the Soviet Union
Causes:
2.
1.
The Cold War “arms race” with the US strains and breaks the USSR’s economy.
President Gorbachev introduces new reforms, aimed at restructuring political and social life.
3.
Gorbachev’s reforms encourage a wave of democratization across Eastern Europe
4.
Independence movements begin, and several Soviet republics break away
5.
Thousands of Russians call for Russian independence
The Soviet
Union Falls
In 1993, a new constitution is passed, instituting a government built on
separation of powers and guaranteeing individual rights.
Dozens of new political parties form.
The Soviet Republics break away and form independent countries. Examples:
include Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Estonia.
Map of
China/Taiwan
China’s Government Today
Taiwan
believes it
rules all of
China. China
believes it
rules Taiwan
The
Constitution
is not
permanent
law; rather is
a reflection
of current
government
policies.
China’s Communist
Government
A nationwide system
of people’s
courts deals
with criminal
and civil
The national
cases.
government
is composed
of the
National
People’s
Congress and
the State
Council
China’s Communist Party is
the largest political party
in the world. Only CCP
members can serve the
military and government.