United Kingdom, Germany, European Governments United Kingdom, Germany, & Russia © Brain Wrinkles

Government Systems – Who has the power? Let’s Review Government Systems – Who has the power? Unitary--power is held by one central authority Confederation--association of independent states that agree to certain limitations on their freedoms by joining together Federal--power is divided between central authority & several regional authorities © Brain Wrinkles

Government Types – how do citizens participate? Let’s Review Government Types – how do citizens participate? Autocracy-- 1 person possesses unlimited power & citizens have limited role in government Oligarchy-- small group exercises control & citizens have limited role in government Democracy--supreme power is vested in the people & exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation involving free elections © Brain Wrinkles

Two Types of Democratic Governments: Let’s Review Two Types of Democratic Governments: Parliamentary– citizens elect members of Parliament, and then the members select the leader Leader works with or through the legislature Presidential--system of government in which the leader is constitutionally independent of the legislature; citizens directly elect leader Leader works separate from legislature © Brain Wrinkles

United Kingdom © Brain Wrinkles

(House of UK’s Parliament) Palace of Westminster (House of UK’s Parliament) © Brain Wrinkles

Unitary System The United Kingdom has a unitary system, which means that the central government has all of the power. The central government can give power to or create lower levels of government. © Brain Wrinkles

Unitary Governments © Brain Wrinkles

Leadership 1. Prime Minister: holds the most political power and is the chief executive. Leader of the British Parliament & works with the legislative branch. 2. Monarch: is the official head of state (a symbol for the country) Duties are mostly ceremonial Role is restricted by the constitution of the United Kingdom (constitutional monarchy) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkfC8J95lGw © Brain Wrinkles

Queen Elizabeth II Her Royal Highness © Brain Wrinkles

David Cameron UK’s Prime Minister © Brain Wrinkles

How Leaders Are Chosen Prime Minister: the leader of the political party in the House of Commons with the most members is asked by the Queen to become the Prime Minister. Monarch: hereditary © Brain Wrinkles

Legislature The Parliament is the country’s bicameral legislature (law-making body). It consists of: House of Lords House of Commons © Brain Wrinkles

House of Lords In the past, these seats were passed down through wealthy families. Now, Lords are elected by the House or are appointed by the monarch. Members have little power, and can only make suggestions of ways to improve a bill that is on its way to becoming a law. © Brain Wrinkles

House of Lords © Brain Wrinkles

House of Commons UK’s citizens elect these members. 646 members total: 529 from England, 40 from Wales, 59 from Scotland, and 18 from Northern Ireland This branch controls the countries budget (has lots of power). The leader of the political party with the most members becomes the Prime Minister. © Brain Wrinkles

House of Commons © Brain Wrinkles

Parliamentary Democracy The leader of the political party with the most members in the House of Commons is asked by the queen to become prime minister. The prime minister is the head of the government and runs the government on a day-to-day basis. © Brain Wrinkles

Role of the Citizen Citizens are treated equally & have many personal freedoms like freedom of speech, press, religion, and assembly. They also have the right to vote. Men and women who are 18 years of age may choose to vote in national elections. Citizens can choose representatives from many political parties. Citizens do NOT elect the leader, only members of the House of Commons. © Brain Wrinkles

Germany © Brain Wrinkles

Germany’s Reichstag Building © Brain Wrinkles

Federal System Germany has a federal system, which means that the national government and the state governments SHARE power. There are 16 regional states in Germany. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqVqzE1utKw © Brain Wrinkles

Federal Governments © Brain Wrinkles

Leadership 1. Chancellor is the chief executive and head of the military. Runs the government 2. President: is the official head of state Duties are mostly ceremonial and is a symbol for the country © Brain Wrinkles

Angela Merkel Germany’s Chancellor © Brain Wrinkles

Joachim Gauck Germany’s President © Brain Wrinkles

How Leaders Are Chosen Chancellor: Selected by members of Germany’s legislature; serves a 4-year term President: Representatives of the legislature and representatives of the states choose the president © Brain Wrinkles

Legislature Parliament is the country’s bicameral legislature. It consists of two houses called the Bundestag and the Bundesrat. Germany’s constitution is called the Basic Law. It states that Germany is a welfare state: government guarantees people certain benefits when they are unemployed, sick, poor, or disabled. © Brain Wrinkles

Bundestag The Bundestag is the lower house and has the most power. Citizens of each German state elect its members. Members of this house elect the Chancellor (chief executive of Germany). © Brain Wrinkles

© Brain Wrinkles

Bundesrat The Bundesrat represents the interests of the state governments. Each state government selects representatives for this house. The 16 states each have differing numbers of representatives, depending on their population. It is mainly concerned with laws that affect states, such as education and local government issues. © Brain Wrinkles

© Brain Wrinkles

Parliamentary Democracy The chancellor is selected by members of the Bundestag. The chancellor is the leader of the party with the most seats in the Bundestag. © Brain Wrinkles

Role of the Citizen Citizens have same basic freedoms like those in the United Kingdom. All citizens are treated equally and have the right to worship as they choose. They have freedom of speech, right to a fair trial, the right to own property, and the right to security. Citizens do not directly elect the leaders (only the Bundestag). © Brain Wrinkles

Russia © Brain Wrinkles

Russia’s White House © Brain Wrinkles

Federal System https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pamqL32gDIQ Russia has a federal system, which means that the national government and the federal districts (political units like states) SHARE power. There are 7 federal districts in Russia, each run by its own regional governor. © Brain Wrinkles

Leadership 1. President: holds the most political power Is both the chief executive and the head of state Elected by the people (presidential democracy) 2. Prime Minister: helps in day-to-day running of government Appointed by the president 2nd in command © Brain Wrinkles

Vladimir Putin Russia’s President © Brain Wrinkles

Russia’s Prime Minister Dimitri Medvedev Russia’s Prime Minister © Brain Wrinkles

How Leaders Are Chosen 1. President: elected by popular vote for a six-year term. There is a two-consecutive term limitation. 2. Prime Minister: appointed by the President © Brain Wrinkles

Legislature The Federal Assembly is the country’s bicameral legislature. It consists of two houses called the Federation Council and the State Duma. © Brain Wrinkles

Federation Council The Federation Council has two representatives from each state. State governments appoint the council’s members; they are not directly elected by the people. One important duty: approve the president’s choices of people to fill different government jobs. © Brain Wrinkles

Federation Council in Session © Brain Wrinkles

State Duma The State Duma is larger than the Federation Council. It has 450 members who are elected directly by the people. This house controls the budget and makes the laws. It also approves the president’s choice for prime minister. © Brain Wrinkles

State Duma Building in Moscow © Brain Wrinkles

Presidential Democracy The citizens directly elect the president (every six years). The president works separately from Russia’s Federal Assembly (legislature). © Brain Wrinkles

Role of the Citizen Russia ratified a new constitution in 1993. It guarantees human and civil rights for its citizens, such as the right to vote, equal rights, freedom of religion and speech, etc. Other important rights granted, which were denied during Communist rule, include freedom of movement, mail correspondence, and right to private telephone calls. © Brain Wrinkles

Voting in Russia - 2012 © Brain Wrinkles

In Summary… United Kingdom = parliamentary democracy, constitutional monarchy, unitary system Germany = parliamentary democracy, federal system Russia = presidential democracy, federal system © Brain Wrinkles