Italy / United Sates

Type Of GovernmentItaly

Leader(President): Giorgio Napolitano

Elected 7 year term He graduated in law

from Naples University He was appointed life

Senator by the President of the Republic, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi

United Sates

Leader(President): Barack Obama

Elected 4 year term Attended Occidental College

Graduated Columbia University (1983)

Graduated from Harvard Law School (1991)

Member of Illinois State Senate, 1996-2004

United States Senator, 2005-08

Lawmaking BodyItaly

Bicameral Legislature 945

United Sates

Congress Bicameral 435

RightsItaly

Italy has the freedom of religion, speech and press. Italy does not have the right to bear arms.

United Sates

United states has the freedom of speech, press, religion, and the right to bear arms.

Political PartiesItaly

People of Freedom-Generally supports tougher immigration and crime laws, and reduced taxes and corporate control

Democratic Party Multiply parties

Unites States

Republican-Believe taxes shouldn't be increased for anyone (including the wealthy) and that wages should be set by the free market.

Democrat-Favor minimum wages and progressive taxation i.e. higher tax rates for higher income brackets.

Elections and VotingItaly

Must be 18 to vote, must be 25 to vote in the senate elections.

Ever 7 years there is an election.

General

United Sates

Must be 18 to vote Election every 4 years General

Taxes and Government Finance

Italy Yes they have income

tax Italy spends $2,631

USD on Healthcare They spend 1.4 Billion

on their Military Italy only uses 10.3%

of their money on education

Unites States

Yes we charge income tax

We spend 4.7 Billion Dollars on our military

809.6 Billion Dollars on Education

United States spends $6,719 USD on Healthcare

LawItaly

civil law system; judicial review under certain conditions in Constitutional Court

Italy does not have the death penalty

Prison Population-65,905

United States

Prison Population-2,239,751

United States spends $6,719 USD on Healthcare

We do have the death penalty in some states.

Current Relationship Italy and the United States have a very friendly

relationship. The two are NATO allies and cooperate in the United Nations. Italian Government has cooperated with the United States in the formulation of defense, security, and peacekeeping policies.