Latin America

Governments

GPS and E.Q.

• GPS SS6CG2a. Compare the federal-republican systems of Brazil and Mexico to the dictatorship of Cuba, distinguishing the form of leadership and the role of the citizen in terms of voting and personal freedoms.

• E.Q. How are the governments of Brazil and Mexico different from the government of Cuba?

Brazil’s Government

TYPE OF GOVERNMENT

• Federal• Presidential Democracy

CITIZEN’S RIGHTS/FREEDOMS

• Right to vote – ages 16-17 or over 70 may

choose to vote– Ages 18-70 MUST vote

• Average level of freedom• Property rights aren’t always

protected• Courts can’t be trusted

CRCT Test Prep page 60132. What type of government exists in

Brazil?Presidential democracy133. Which term describes how political

power is distributed in Brazil?Federal government134. One way Brazil’s government is

different from the U.S. government is that it…

Requires citizens aged 18-70 to vote

Mexico’s Government

TYPE OF GOVERNMENT

• Federal• Presidential Democracy (one

6 year term)

CITIZEN’S RIGHTS/FREEDOMS

• Right to vote – Age 18 and over may

choose to vote

• Average level of freedom• Court system is managed

by central gov’t – not independent of president

CRCT Test Prep page 61135. What type of government exists in

Mexico?Presidential democracy136. Which term describes how political

power is distributed in Mexico?Federal government137. One way Mexico’s government is

different from the U.S. government is that it…

Presidents can only serve one 6-year term

Cuba’s Government

TYPE OF GOVERNMENT

• Unitary• Communist dictatorship

– President is appointed by National Assembly of People’s Power

– Communist Party (ONLY POLITICAL PARTY) controls all parts of government

CITIZEN’S RIGHTS/FREEDOMS

• Right to vote – Only for members of

National Assembly of People’s Power – candidates approved by Communist Party of Cuba

– Ages 16 and up• One of least free

countries in the world• Government controls

almost all businesses, factories, & farms

CRCT Test Prep page 62138. What type of government exists in

Cuba?

Dictatorship

139. Which term describes how political power is distributed in Cuba?

Unitary government

140. Which statement about political parties is true about Cuba?

There is only 1 legal political party

Use the chart on CRCT Test Prep page 63 to answer the following

questions:141. Citizens of which country are

considered to have the least freedom?

Cuba

142. Which country requires adults to vote?

Brazil

143. Which pair of countries has governments that are most similar?

Brazil and Mexico

Summary Question

• Of the 3 countries: Brazil, Mexico, and Cuba – which would you choose to live in and why?