United Kingdom, Russia, & Germany

Parliamentary System of the United Kingdom

• Unitary System: the central government has all the power

• Parliamentary Democracy: leader is elected through the legislature, not directly by the people

• Constitutional Monarchy: Queen is part of Parliament, but doesn’t make laws.

Parliamentary System of the United Kingdom

Parliament is the lawmaking body of the United Kingdom

*House of Lords

*House of Commons

Parliament: House of Lords

• Have little power

• Make suggestions to the House of Commons.

• Positions are appointed or inherited; not elected.

House of Lords

Parliament: House of Commons

• Lots of power

• Control over the countries budget.

• Citizens elect members

• The leader of the political party with the most members becomes the Prime Minister

House of Commons

UK’s Leadership

• Prime Minister

– MOST power-Chief Executive

– Leader of the British Parliament

– Runs the government

• Monarch

– Official head of state (a symbol for the country)

– Ceremonial duties

– Constitutional Monarchy because their constitution (Magna Carta) limits power.

President Obama and Prime Minister Cameron

Queen Elizabeth II

UK’s Citizen Participation

• Citizens have personal freedoms like those in the US

– Treated equally

– Right to worship as they choose

– Freedom of speech

– Right to a fair trial

– Right to own property

– Right to security

• Citizens elect members of House of Commons.

• Federal System

• Power is shared between governments of:

• Central government

• 16 states

• Parliamentary Democracy

• leader elected by legislature, not by the people

Germany’s Parliament is composed of two houses

Bundestag

Bundesrat

Constitution called Basic Law

States that Germany is a welfare state: government guarantees people certain benefits when they are unemployed, sick, poor, or disabled

BUNDESTAG Has the most power

Citizens of each German state elect its members

Members of this house elect Chancellor, chief executive of Germany

BUNDESRAT

represents interests of the state governments (education and local issues)

each state government selects representatives

numbers of representatives from 16 states depends on their population

Chancellor

chief executive chosen by legislature

Head of Military

MOST power

Elected by the Bundestag

President

official head of state (a symbol for the country) chosen by legislature and state representatives

Ceremonial duties

President Obama with Germany’s

Chancellor Angela Merkel

Citizens have same basic freedoms like those in the United Kingdom

treated equally

right to worship as they choose

freedom of speech

right to a fair trial

right to own property

right to security

Citizens elect members to the Bundestag

Russia

Federal System of Russian Federation

Federal System

power is shared between the central government and the governments of the states

Presidential Democracy

leader is directly elected by the people

Russian Federal Assembly

Federal Assembly, Russia’s legislature

Federation Council

State Duma

Federal Assembly: Federation Council

Two representatives from each state

States appoint the council’s members

not directly elected by the people

Important duty

approve the president’s choices of people to fill different government jobs

Federal Assembly: State Duma

Larger than the Federation Council

Has 450 members who are elected directly by the people

Controls the budget

Makes the laws

Approves the president’s choice for prime minister

Russia’s Leadership

President Chief executive

MOST power

Elected by the people (presidential democracy)

Can disband the legislature

selects a Prime Minister

Prime Minister helps in the day-to-day running of the government

President Obama with Russian

President Vladimir Putin

President Obama with

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry

Medvedev

Russia’s Citizen Participation

Russia’s constitution guarantees human and civil rights for its citizens

All people are equal

Russians have the right to life and dignity

freedom of speech

right to privacy

Citizens directly elect the leader