1. Government in South Asia January 29, 2015

2. After Independence  When Britain first granted the Indian colony its independence, the Indian National Congress wanted the entire area to be one country  However, Muslims and Hindus were not getting along and seemed to be on the verge of a civil war  The British then split the area into 3 countries, East Pakistan (eventually Bangladesh), West Pakistan, and India  Even though each country struggled with religion, they all managed to quickly set up functional governments

3. India’s Government  India’s government is a federal republic: A country in which the powers of the central government are restricted and the parts of the countries (states, colonies, provinces, etc.) have their own self-government.  India has 29 states, each with their own government  There is a federal legislature, called the People’s Assembly and a president in charge of the Indian federal government  However, each state’s individual government has more power than the federal government

4. Role of the citizen in India  All Indians, both male and female, have the right to vote at age 18  They vote for the legislatures of their states and the People’s Assembly  Members of the state legislatures and People’s Assembly then elect the president of India

5. Government in Pakistan  Pakistan’s government is a federal republic  There are 4 provinces, each with their own government  There is a president and a federal legislature called the National Assembly in charge of the federal government  Just like India, each provinces government is more powerful than the federal government

6. Role of the Citizen in Pakistan  All Pakistani citizens have the right to vote at age 18  They vote for the National Assembly  The National Assembly then elects the president of Pakistan

7. Government in Bangladesh  Bangladesh gained their independence from Pakistan in 1971  They then set up their own government  Bangladesh’s government is a parliamentary democracy: A political system in which the parliament (legislature) selects the government, according to which political party the people elect to rule.  There is a legislature, called the National Parliament, and a Prime Minister in charge of the government

8. Role of the citizen in Bangladesh  All citizens in Bangladesh are granted the right to vote at age 18  They vote for the National Parliament  The National Parliament then chooses the prime minister, based on the political party that has the most members elected

9. Questions  1. Why did the British have to split the territory in 3 countries?  2. What type of government does India have?  3. Who is in charge of India’s government?  4. Who has the right to vote in India?  5. Who do the people of India vote for?  6. Who elects the president of India?  7. What type of government does Pakistan have?  8. Who is in charge of the federal government of Pakistan?  9. Who has the right to vote in Pakistan?

10. More Questions…  10. Who do Pakistani citizens vote for?  11. Who elects the president of Pakistan?  12. When did Bangladesh gain their independence from Pakistan?  13. What type of government does Bangladesh have?  14. Who is in charge of the government of Bangladesh?  15. Who has the right to vote in Bangladesh?  16. Who do the people of Bangladesh vote for?  17. Who elects the prime minister of Bangladesh?