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 China Japan

Type of

Government

Title of Leader

How Leader takes

power

Role of Citizen

Important to

Know…

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.

Pratibha Devisingh Patil.

She is the head of state.

India’s Prime Minister is

Mr. Manmohan 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 Although China is called a republic,

true power lies with the ruling Communist Party.

China has a President (head of state) and a Premier (head of government).

The President and Vice-President are elected by the National People’s Congress.

The Prime Minister is the head of the ruling party, the Chinese Communist Party.

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.

Yoshihiko Noda, 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 18.

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.

Governments of Asia India China Japan

Type of

Government

Federal Republic Communist State

(Fake Republic)

Constitutional

Monarchy

Title of Leader President AND

Prime Minister

President, Premier

(Prime Minister) Emperor AND

Prime Minister

How Leader takes

power

President = elected

Prime Minister =

Appointed

President = elected

Premier (Prime

Minister) = head of

ruling party

Emperor – Inherited

Prime Minister –

chosen by the Diet

and emperor gives

blessing

Role of Citizen Vote No Vote, Restricted freedoms:

press, assembly, movement,

reproduction, religion

Vote

Important to

know…

Parliament has 3

branches

ONE political party

One child policy

Diet (Parliament)

has 3 branches