Chapter 22Chapter 22Comparative Political Comparative Political

SystemsSystems

Chapter 22Chapter 22Comparative Political Comparative Political

SystemsSystems

Section 1—Great Britain

• Objectives:– Examine the elements that make up

Britain’s unwritten constitution.– Identify the role of the British

monarchy.– Explain the role of Parliament.– Analyze recent changes in regional

and local government in Britain.– Describe the British court system.

Section 1—Great Britain

• Why It Matters:– Unlike the United States, Great

Britain has a unitary government that is based on an unwritten constitution. Britain’s monarch is the head of state who reigns, but does not rule. Instead, Parliament holds the legislative and executive power.

Section 1—Great Britain

• Political Dictionary:– Monarchy– By-election– Coalition– Minister– Shadow cabinet– Devolution

Section 1—Great Britain

• Unwritten Constitution– Parts are written

• Charters, acts of Parliament, court decisions

– Unwritten part comes from customs and usages over time

– The Law of the Constitution• Magna Carta—1215• Petition of Right—1628• English Bill of Rights--1689

Section 1—Great Britain

– The Law of the Constitution (cont)• Acts of Parliament• Court decisions---make up “common

law”

– The Conventions of the Constitution• Annual meeting of Parliament• Extremely flexible—hasty actions are

possible

Section 1—Great Britain

• The Monarchy– Figureheads– Acts are performed in the “name” of

the monarch but are really those of the prime minister and Parliament

– The monarch reigns but does not “rule”

Section 1—Great Britain

• Parliament– Holds both legislative and executive

powers– Is bicameral—but the House of

Commons is much more powerful than the House of Lords

Section 1—Great Britain

• Parliament (cont)– The House of Lords

• Traditionally hereditary• Some members were appointed for life by

the monarch—selected for achievements• Being reformed to be more representative• Limited legislative power—can delay• A court function as a court of appeals

Section 1—Great Britain

• Parliament (cont)– The House of Commons

• 659 members—MPs (529 in England, 72 in Scotland, 40 in Wales, and 18 in Northern Ireland)

• Selected in a general election which takes place “at least” every 5 years.

• A “by-election” fills vacancies

Section 1—Great Britain

– The House of Commons (cont)• House chamber holds 350• Long rows of benches

– Leaders sit in front—backbenchers are junior

• Ten standing committees

– The Prime Minister• Leader of his party• Sometimes forms a coalition (1940-1945)

Section 1—Great Britain

– The Cabinet• Members of the House (some in Lords)• Leaders of government---administer

departments• A “shadow-cabinet” is formed by the

opposition—ready to govern if the government “falls.”

Section 1—Great Britain

– Calling Elections• “At least” every 5 years• When the government fails a “vote of

confidence”—loss of support• Parliament is dissolved by the monarch.• No system of checks and balances

– Political Parties• Labour• Conservatives—Tories• Liberal Party

Section 1—Great Britain

• Regional and Local Government– Unitary government– Devolution—to Scotland and Wales– Local Government—470 units

• The Courts– Different courts in Scotland and

Wales– No judicial review like the U.S.

Section 2--Japan• Objectives:

– Examine early Japanese government and the Japanese constitution.

– Summarize the structure and functions of the National Diet.

– Explain how the prime minister and cabinet perform the nation’s executive functions.

– Examine the Japanese bureaucracy, political parties, and courts.

– Understand regional and local government in Japan.

Section 2--Japan• Why It Matters:

– Like Great Britain, Japan is a parliamentary democracy. The emperor serves as a symbol of the state but has no power to govern. Instead, the bicameral parliament—the National Diet—is the highest institution of state power. The Diet’s powerful House of Representatives chooses the country’s prime minister and cabinet.

Section 2--Japan• Political Dictionary:

– Consensus– Dissolution– Prefecture

Section 2--Japan• Early Japanese Government

– Mostly evolved after 4th Century– Largely isolated throughout history

• Mikado was ruler by divine right• Power was really in a Shogun—military

might– Also a number of noble families—daimyo– Supported by warrior servants—samurai

– Dutch and Portuguese had some contact but the real opening came in 1853 when U. S. Admiral Perry visited.

Section 2--Japan• Early Japanese Government (cont)

– Japan rapidly modernized—becoming an aggressor in World War II

– The U. S. occupied Japan after WW II– Administered by General Douglas

MacArthur.– Far reaching democratic system was

established after World War II

Section 2--Japan• The Constitution—1947

– The emperor is a symbol– Bill of rights– Anti-military provisions—but broadly

interpreted

Section 2--Japan• The National Diet

– House of Councillors—252 members who sit for 6 years

• Has prestige and is “advisory”

– House of Representatives—480 seats• 300 single member—180 from 11 larger areas• Can vote “no confidence”—make treaties—raise

funds—appropriate money

– Consensus politics is important in “sedate” Japan

Section 2--Japan• Executive Functions

– Prime Minister chosen by majority in the House of Representatives.

– Prime Minister appoints cabinet from the House and bureaucracy

– Prime Minister can dissolve the House and call for new elections.• “Dissolution”

Section 2--Japan• The Bureaucracy

– Civil Service—technocrats– Very powerful and influential

• Political Parties– Liberal Democrats who are

conservative and historically the dominant party.

– Democratic Party of Japan is the chief rival

Section 2--Japan• The Courts

– Similar to the United States, they do have judicial review but seldom use it.

• Regional and Local Government– 47 “prefectures”—each with an

elected governor.• Funded by national government

– Japan is a “unitary” state– 3,200 municipalities

Section 3--Mexico• Objectives:

– Summarize Mexico’s early political history.

– Examine Mexico’s three branches of government.

– Describe recent changes in Mexico’s national politics.

– Explain how Mexico’s regional and local government is structured.

Section 3--Mexico• Why It Matters:

– In form, Mexico’s political system is similar to that of the United States in that it has three independent branches of government. In operation, however, the Mexican political system is the product of Mexico’s unique culture and history.

Section 3--Mexico• Political Dictionary:

– Mestizo– Nationalization– North American Free Trade

Agreement (NAFTA)

Section 3--Mexico• Early Political History

– Aztecs—15th and 16th Centuries– Spanish dominance for the next three

centuries—constant border conflict.– Independence from Spain—1821

• “Mestizo” population—both European and native.

• 2 year emperor—then Santa Anna and the 1824 constitution.

– Not democratic.– 100 years of chaos—dictatorships and

reforms

Section 3--Mexico• Early Political History (cont)

– The Constitution of 1917• Sparked by a revolution• A more “democratic” constitution

• Three Branches of Government– The President

• Single 6 year term—quite powerful

– The General Congress• 64 senators and 500 Chamber of Deputies

– The Court System—similar to the U. S.

Section 3--Mexico• National Politics

– The PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party)—controlled government for 70 years

• In 1938 nationalization of the oil industry.

– North American Free Trade Act (NAFTA)– 2000 election saw power go to PAN Party of

Vicente Fox.– Regional and Local Government

• 31 states with governors and legislatures and one federal district

• Most funding comes from the national government.

Section 4--Russia• Objectives:

– Summarize Russia’s political history after the Bolshevik Revolution.

– Outline the structure of the Soviet government.

– Describe Mikhail Gorbachev’s reforms.– Identify events leading to the fall of

the Soviet Union.– Examine the structure of the Russian

government.

Section 4--Russia• Why It Matters:

– The Soviet dictatorship controlled Russia for more than 70 years. It began to undergo broad changes when Mikhail Gorbachev gained power in 1985. In 1991, the once-mighty Soviet Union dissolved. Today the Russian people are still struggling to organize and run democratic institutions.

Section 4--Russia• Political Dictionary:

– Purge– Soviets– Peresroika– Glasnost

Section 4--Russia• Political History

– “Modern” Russia emerged under Peter the Great in 1721

– Czarist Russia lost the Russo-Japanese War in 1904-05 and collapsed after World War I in 1917

– The Bolshevik Revolution—1917• Led by Lenin

– Stalin assumed power in 1924• Numerous “purges”• Staggering losses in World War II• Cold War from the 1940s to early 1990s

Section 4--Russia• Soviet Government Structure

– 15 republics—largely nationalistic groups

– “Elected” soviets—but highly centralized

– The Soviet Constitution—did not contain fundamental law or guarantee basic rights.

– The Legislature—rubber stamp.– The Communist Party—specially chosen

people—9% of the adult population.• Controlled by the Politburo and general

secretary.

Section 4--Russia• Gorbachev’s Reforms

– Perestroika—restructuring of political and economic life.

– Glasnost—policy of openness—toleration of dissent.

– 2,250 member legislature– President with broad powers– Reduction in the power of the “Party”

• More important to be head of state instead of head of party.

Section 4--Russia• Fall of the Soviet Union

– Democratization swept across “Soviets”

– Attempted “coup” to oust Gorbachev—failed in 1991.

– 14 of the 15 “republics” became independent.

Section 4--Russia• Russian Government Today

– The Constitution of 1993• Guarantees basic rights.

– Political Parties—multi-party system– The Executive Branch

• President who appoints a prime minister• Directly elected for two four year terms• Must be 35 and 10 years a citizen

Section 4--Russia• Russian Government Today (cont)

– The Legislature• Council of the Federation—178 members• Lower house—Duma—450 deputies

– Constitutional Court• 19 members—judicial review

– Regional and Local Governments• 49 Oblasts (provinces) and 6 large

territories• 21 republics—ethnic, non-Russian

– Some are independence seeking (Chechnya)

Section 5--China• Objectives:

– Examine China’s political background.

– Describe China’s government today.

Section 5--China• Why It Matters:

– The People’s Republic of China is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, the largest political party in the world. Although the Chinese government is pursuing economic reform, it continues to repress political dissent.

Section 5--China• Political Dictionary:

– Cultural Revolution– Autonomous

Section 5--China• Political Background

– 5,000 year old culture—but current government dates to 1949 after a long civil war.

– China Under Mao• Nationalists fled to Taiwan• Mao embarked on a series of five-year

plans• Cultural Revolution began in 1966

– Purge “four olds”: thought, culture, customs, and habits.

Section 5--China• Political Background (cont)

– Reform and Repression• Crushing of Tiananmen Square protest in

1989.

• China Today– The Constitution—frequently changed

• Does not guarantee basic rights.

– China’s Communist Party—58m members• 1,900 in National Party Congress• 20 Politburo members actually rule• Secretariat does day to day ruling.

Section 5--China• China Today (cont)

– The National Government• National People’s Congress—3,000

deputies– Elected for 5 year terms– On paper very powerful—but under

Communist Party

• State Council– Headed by the premier—who is chosen by the

communist party (the CCP)– Standing Committee is a major decision

making body.

Section 5--China• China Today (cont)

– The Judicial System• Few guarantees of a fair trial• Capital punishment is frequent

– Local Political Divisions• China is unitary• 22 provinces—mostly ethnic minorities.• Hong Kong is a special administrative region

– Taiwan• Chiang Kai-shek fled there with Nationalists• China asserts right to rule as a province—

rejected by the Taiwanese

Section 5--China

Section 5--China