1. Government in East Asia
March 13, 2015

2. After Mao’s Death in China
After Mao’s death in 1976, the government tried to modernize
They admitted to past mistakes, including the Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution
While the standard of living has improved for many Chinese, the government does still control many aspects of daily life
As a result, many rebellions have popped up to protest the government controls

3. Tiananmen Square
In 1989, pro-democracy college students gathered in Tiananmen Square, a large city square in Beijing
The non-violent protestors were calling for freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the right to make their own economic decisions
The government sent in the military to break up the protest
No official report exists, but rumors say that as many as a few thousand protestors were killed by the military

4. Chinese Government Today
In the aftermath of the massacre at Tiananmen Square, democracy movements were suppressed
The government remains an autocratic, unitary, communist state – this means there is very little private ownership of property and the government controls almost everything

5. Leadership and the Role of the Citizen in China
All citizens are granted the right to vote at age 18
However, they do not get to vote for the national leader
The leader of China, called the Premier, is elected by the legislature
The legislature, called the People’s National Congress, is chosen in small local elections
However, the only people who are allowed to run in these elections are members of the Communist party

6. Government of Japan
After WWII, the U.S. occupied Japan until 1952, and helped them establish a democratic government
Japan is a constitutional monarchy: A system of government in which a monarch (king/queen/emperor) is guided by a constitution. His/her responsibilities are traditional and they have no real power.
The true power in the government is with the prime minister and a legislature

7. Role of the Citizen in Japan
Japan’s emperor is a hereditary position
The emperor has no real power in the government – he is a figurehead
The prime minister, the true head of government, is elected by the legislature
The legislature is elected by the people
All citizens have the right to vote at age 20

8. Government in North and South Korea
When Korea split, the U.S. established a democratic government in South Korea and the Russians established a communist government in North Korea
North Korea – A communist dictatorship that operates the same as China, except even more strict; there is no private ownership of property and the government controls everything
South Korea – A republic that operates as a presidential democracy (the people vote for their leaders)

9. Role of the Citizen in North Korea
North Korea’s government is more tightly controlled than any in the world
Even though “elections” are held, the people running for office are chosen by the Communist party, and they run unopposed (nobody challenges them)
Men and women can vote for the legislature at age 17, but not the president and premier. They are chosen by the leadership of the Communist party

10. Role of the citizen in South Korea
All citizens are granted the right to vote at age 19
They vote for the president and the legislature

11. Questions
1. What did the Chinese government do after Mao’s death in 1976?
2. Why did rebellions happen in China?
3. Where did college students gather in 1989?
4. Why were college students protesting?
5. How did the government respond to the protestors in Tiananmen Square?
6. What type of government does China have today?
7. Who has the right to vote in China?
8. Who elects China’s premier?
9. Who are the only people allowed to run in elections?

12. More Questions 10. Why did the U.S. occupy Japan after World War II?
11. What type of government does Japan have?
12. What is the role of Japan’s emperor in their government?
13. Who has the right to vote in Japan?
14. What type of government does North Korea have?
15. What type of government does South Korea have?
16. Who has the right to vote in North Korea?
17. Who chooses the president and premier of N. Korea?
18. Who has the right to vote in South Korea?
19. Who do South Koreans vote for?