Comparing the Governments of the United Kingdom, Russia, & Germany

SS6G5 The student will explain the structure of modern European governments.

ESSENTIAL QUESTION How are the governments of the U.K., Germany, and Russia different and how these governments similar?

United Kingdom The United Kingdom has a parliamentary system of government.

United Kingdom The leadership of the United Kingdom includes a monarch (king or queen) as the ceremonial head of state. 1

United Kingdom The monarch, who today is Queen Elizabeth II, has very little power. 2

Queen Elizabeth II

United Kingdom The prime minister is the head of government. 3

President Obama and Prime Minister Gordon

United Kingdom The power in the UK’s government lies with Parliament (the legislature), which makes the country’s laws and elects the prime minister. 1

United Kingdom Parliament has two houses: House of Commons and House of Lords 2 & 3

Parliament: House of Commons 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 (lots of power) The leader of the political party with the most members becomes the Prime Minister – Head of the government (chief executive) & runs the government on a day to day basis

House of Commons

Parliament: 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 – Have little power Can only make suggestions of ways to improve a bill that is on its way to becoming a law

House of Lords

UK’s Citizen Participation Citizens have personal freedoms like those in the US – All citizens are treated equally – British citizens have freedom of speech, press, religion and assembly – They also have the right to vote. Citizens do not directly elect the leaders (only the House of Commons)

Germany

Germany has a federal system of government, which means the power is shared between a central government and 16 state governments.

Germany Germany’s leadership includes a president who is head of state but has little political power. 1

Germany Germany’s leadership also includes a chancellor who is a powerful head of government. 2

President Obama with Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel

Germany Germany’s parliament is composed of two houses: the Bundestag and the Bundesrat Germany’s constitution is called the Basic Law – States that Germany is a welfare state: government guarantees people certain benefits when they are unemployed, sick, poor, or disabled

Parliament: Bundestag Has the most power Citizens of each German state elect its members Members of this house elect the Chancellor (chief executive of Germany)

Parliament: 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 Mainly concerned with laws that affect states, such as education and local government issues Mainly concerned with laws that affect states, such as education and local government issues

Germany’s Citizen Participation Citizens have same basic freedoms like those in the United Kingdom – All citizens are treated equally – Have freedom of speech, religion and press – They also have the right to vote Citizens do not directly elect the leaders (only the Bundestag)

Russia

Russia is a federation established in 1991 where power is divided between a central government and 89 smaller political units.

Russia The Russian government was established in 1991 when the Soviet Union dissolved.

Russia Russia’s leader is a president elected by the people. 1

President Obama with Russian President Dimitri Medvedev

Russia The president then appoints a prime minister, who is second-place in leadership. 2

President Obama with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin

Russia Russia’s legislature is called the Federal Assembly and is divided into two parts: the Federation Council and the State Duma

Federal Assembly: Federation Council Has two representatives from each state States 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

Federal Assembly: State Duma Larger than the Federation Council – Has 450 members who are elected directly by the people This house controls the budget and makes the laws Approves the president’s choice for prime minister

Russia’s Citizen Participation Russia’s constitution guarantees human and civil rights for its citizens – All people are equal – Russians have the right to vote, equal rights, and the freedom of religion, speech and press. Citizens directly elect the leader

1. The monarch has the most power in the government of the United Kingdom. YES NO 2. The United Kingdom has a parliamentary system of government.YES NO 3. The German chancellor is more powerful than the president.YES NO 4. Germany has a federal system of government.YES NO 5. In Russia, power is divided between a central government and many political units. YES NO 6. Russia’s leader is elected by the people.YES NO