World World GovernmentsGovernments

Great BritainGreat Britain

aka The United Kingdom of Great aka The United Kingdom of Great

Britain and Northern IrelandBritain and Northern Ireland

aka United kingdom, UK, Britainaka United kingdom, UK, Britain Government: Democracy – Constitutional Government: Democracy – Constitutional

MonarchyMonarchy

- Queen Elizabeth II – figurehead – no - Queen Elizabeth II – figurehead – no

real powerreal power

Constitution : “unwritten” – no formal document Constitution : “unwritten” – no formal document – made up of statutes (written laws) and – made up of statutes (written laws) and unwritten customs & practicesunwritten customs & practices

Parliament :Parliament : - Unitary – executive & legislative powers - Unitary – executive & legislative powers in one central agencyin one central agency

- - Bicameral – 2 houses : Bicameral – 2 houses :

House of Lords – limited powers - judicialHouse of Lords – limited powers - judicial

-no longer hereditary -no longer hereditary

(was undemocratic!)(was undemocratic!)

House of Commons – popular electionsHouse of Commons – popular elections

- Prime Minister – leader of majority party -Prime Minister – leader of majority party -

- David Cameron - 5/10- David Cameron - 5/10

* Head of government

646 seats

* Selects cabinet members (ministers) to head executive departments

Russian FederationRussian Federation 46 provinces46 provinces 21 republics21 republics 9 territories9 territories 4 autonomous districts4 autonomous districts 1 autonomous province1 autonomous province 2 federal cities – Moscow, St. Petersburg2 federal cities – Moscow, St. Petersburg

*** federal system – different levels of *** federal system – different levels of government ***government ***

All have equal representation in Federation All have equal representation in Federation Council – but different levels of autonomy Council – but different levels of autonomy (independence)(independence)

Russian GovernmentRussian Government Representative democracy (theoretically)Representative democracy (theoretically) Constitution – 1993Constitution – 1993 President – head of state –President – head of state –

Vladimir PutinVladimir Putin Prime Minister / Premier– head of governmentPrime Minister / Premier– head of government

Dmitry MedvedevDmitry Medvedev

…hmmmm…

Premier appointed by President

Legislature :Legislature :

- Bicameral Federal assembly – - Bicameral Federal assembly –

- Federation Council – appointed by - Federation Council – appointed by

Federation officialsFederation officials

- State Duma – popular election- State Duma – popular election

* multi-party – Communist party one of several* multi-party – Communist party one of several Judiciary :Judiciary :

- all judges for all courts appointed for life- all judges for all courts appointed for life

by Federation Council on recommendationby Federation Council on recommendation

of presidentof president

168 members

450 members

People’s Republic of ChinaPeople’s Republic of China

Aka ChinaAka China Government : Communist StateGovernment : Communist State

run by Communist Party of China (CPC)run by Communist Party of China (CPC)

- guaranteed power by Constitution - guaranteed power by Constitution

– – top party members hold highest gov’t & top party members hold highest gov’t &

military positionsmilitary positions

- control elections- control elections

Government StructureGovernment Structure National People’s Congress – legislative bodyNational People’s Congress – legislative body

- membership largely determined by - membership largely determined by Communist Communist

PartyParty

- elects President for 5 year term - elects President for 5 year term

-”single candidate” elections-”single candidate” elections

- Hu Jintao – President since 2003- Hu Jintao – President since 2003also: - General Secretary Communist Party of China - Chairman of the Central Military Commission

State CouncilState Council

- main Executive body – appointed by National - main Executive body – appointed by National

People’s CongressPeople’s Congress

- chaired by the Premier – chosen by CPC- chaired by the Premier – chosen by CPC

- includes heads of each governmental - includes heads of each governmental departmentdepartment

& agency& agency

Wen Jiabao

about 50 members

Judicial SystemJudicial System Nationwide system of “people’s courts”Nationwide system of “people’s courts”

Supervised by Supreme People’s CourtSupervised by Supreme People’s Court

- judges appointed by National People’s - judges appointed by National People’s

CongressCongress