COMPARING AND CONTRASTING GOVERNMENTS
THE UNITED STATES
TYPE OF GOVERNMENT FEDERAL REPUBLIC
CONSTITUTION? YES!!!
AMERICAN CITIZENS MAY REGISTER TO VOTE AT AGE 18. THE CITIZEN’S ROLE AMERICAN CITIZENS MAY REGISTER TO VOTE AT AGE 18. VOTING IS VOLUNTARY. BALLOTS ARE CONFIDENTIAL AND CITIZENS MAY FREELY CHOOSE CANDIDATES FOR WHOM TO VOTE.
THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT ON FEDERAL AND STATE LEVELS: EXECUTIVE JUDICIAL LEGISLATIVE
POLITICAL BOUNDARIES FIFTY STATES DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA FIFTY STATES DEPENDENCY
BRAZIL
FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY BRASILIA IS BRAZIL’S CAPITOL TYPE OF GOVERNMENT: FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY BRASILIA IS BRAZIL’S CAPITOL
YES, VIRGINIA, THERE IS A CONSTITUTION IN BRAZIL!
Required to vote after age 16. The Citizen’s Role Required to vote after age 16. Vote for president and members of the National Congress. Compulsory voting for those between the ages of 18 and 70 No legal punishment in place for not voting.
NATIONAL CONGRESS POLITICAL STRUCTURE OF BRAZIL President Michel Temer CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES (Lower House) President Michel Temer 4 year term 2 term limit (became president in 2016 after the former resigned) FEDERAL SENATE (Upper House)
Brazil’s Major Political Parties Brazil has 27 political parties, of which 9 represent the majority. Partido dos Trabalhadores - PT Workers' Party Partido do Movimento Democrático Brasileiro - PMDB Party of the Brazilian Democratic Movement Partido da Social Democracia Brasileira - PSDB Brazilian Social Democratic Party Partido Trabalhista Brasileiro - PTB Brazilian Labour Party Democratas - DEM Democrats Partido da República - PR Party of the Republic Partido Democrático Trabalhista - PDT Democratic Labour Party Partido Socialista Brasileiro - PSB Brazilian Socialist Party Partido Comunista do Brasil - PCdoB Brazilian Communist Party http://www.brazil.org.uk/government/parties.html
MEXICO
Mexico’s Presidential Residence TYPE OF GOVERNMENT: FEDERAL REPUBLIC Mexico’s Presidential Residence
DOES MEXICO HAVE A CONSTITUTION? YES!!!
THE CITIZEN’S ROLE Citizens 18 years or older are required to vote for president and part of the National Legislature. There are no formal sanctions (punishments) for not voting.
POLITICAL STRUCTURE OF MEXICO Chamber of Deputies Senate National Legislature: Congress of the Union President Enrique Nieto serves a six-year term. (2012) Can only serve one term
Major Parties in Mexico Mexico has 3 major parties and 6 minor parties PAN [National Action Party] Partido Acción Nacional PRI [Institutional Revolutionary Party] PRD[Party of the Democratic Revolution] New Alliance [Teacher’s Union) Nueva Alianza PT [Labour Party] (Partido del Trabajo) PVEM [Green Ecological Party of Mexico] Convergence [Convergencia] Social Democratic and Farmer Alternative Alternativa Socialdemócrata y Campesina http://www.mexinsider.com/mexican-political-parties.html
CUBA
UNITARY SOCIALIST REPUBLIC TYPE OF GOVERNMENT UNITARY SOCIALIST REPUBLIC
YES, BOYS AND GIRLS, CUBA DOES HAVE A CONSTITUTION, EVEN UNDER COMMUNIST RULE.
THE CITIZEN’S ROLE Must vote in elections by age 16. Vote for members of the House of Legislature (National Assembly). Candidates have been approved by the Communist Party Do not vote for the president as Cuba is a dictatorship. The president is an appointed office.
POLITICAL STRUCTURE The National Assembly of People’s Power (one house) President Raul Castro
National Ranking of Personal Freedom Global Freedom Index (score 0-100): Mexico 63 Brazil 52 Cuba 33 United States 75 Hong Kong 97 World Press Freedom: Cuba is ranked 169/180 Brazil is ranked 99/180 Mexico is ranked 148/180 United States 43/180 Norway 1/180