Social Studies
fhmtynyaclemocs
EuropeanGovernments.pptx
Word of the Day
MONARCHY
a government headed by a king or queen
Government
Standard
SS6CG1
Compare and contrast various forms of government
I can describe and compare the government systems of Russia, the United Kingdom, and Germany.
TIER 2 VOCABULARY
COMPARE
to examine (two or more
objects, ideas, people, etc.) in order to note similarities and differences
CONTRAST
to compare in order to show unlikeness or differences
TIER 3 VOCABULARY
AUTOCRATIC
a government where political authority rests with a single leader
CHANCELLOR
title given to the head of government in Germany
DEMOCRATIC
a government where political authority rests with a nation’s citizens
BICAMERAL
having a legislature divided into an upper and a lower house
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TIER 3 VOCABULARY
PRESIDENT
title often given to the head of government (and state) in a presidential democracy
POLITCAL PARTY
an organization which represents a specific political agenda and socioeconomic positions within a given nation
PRIME MINISTER
title often given to the head of government in a parliamentary democracy
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Democracies may be classified as either parliamentary or presidential.
In a parliamentary democracy, the citizens elect members of the nation’s legislature (typically referred to as its parliament).
Parliament then elects the nation’s chief executive (typically called a prime minister.)
In a parliamentary democracy, the citizens vote for someone who will then vote for the head of government.
Parliamentary
Government
This prime minister (head of government) is selected from among the members of the nation’s leading political party (i.e; those who won the most seats in parliament.)
The Prime Minister in the United Kingdom is selected within the leading party in the House of Commons. The citizens of the United Kingdom do not get to vote directly for the Prime Minister.
In a parliamentary system, a country may have a king or queen.
The King or queen is also known as the head of state.
The head of state, or monarch, is the symbolic leader of the country
Has NO REAL POWER!!!
In a presidential democracy, the citizens have the power to elect both the nation’s legislators and its chief executive (president).
The head of government (or state) in a presidential democracy is held accountable to the VOTERS who put him/her in power.
If the voters are not pleased with how the head of government is performing, they can vote someone else in their place.
Presidential Government
The president serves as the Head of State, runs the government on a day to day basis and heads the military.
However, does not make the laws, legislature does that.
The amount of power government has and the amount of participation allowed by its citizens, can be classified as either an autocratic system or democratic system.
In an autocratic government, the citizens are not permitted any say in the decisions of their countries government.
The word autocracy comes from the Greek words autos (meaning “self”) and Kratos (meaning “power”).
Autocratic Governments
The people in such a country have no ability to participate in the selection of the ruler or in the creation of laws.
Next in line for power are usually through bloodlines.
Autocratic governments do not allow the citizens to vote.
Con
The needs of the people may be ignored or unheard. The leader may make poor or selfish decisions that work against the well-being of the people.
Pro
One benefit from this type of government is that decisions for a country can be made quickly.
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Think of how many people it takes to drive an automobile.
Form of government that puts the power of the government in the citizens of the country.
The word democracy comes from the Greek words demos (meaning people) and Kratos (meaning “power”).
Democratic Government
The people in such a country have total ability to participate in the selection of the ruler or in the creation of laws.
The people vote what they want.
Power in numbers.
Con
Often slow to make decisions since people must discuss and vote on issues.
Pro
All citizens are involved in the decision-making process of the government, and all groups in the country are represented.
Just remember what the word “Demo” and “cratic” means.
Demo = People
Cratic = Power
Germany, Russia, and the United Kingdom are all classified as democracies, although to different degrees.
All three nations hold elections at the local and national levels.
Germans, Russians, and Brits all elect legislators to represent their interests and pass equitable laws, and there are many political parties to choose from in each nation.
Executive leadership in each country varies.
In the case of the U.K., the head of government is a prime minister; however, the nation’s monarch serves as a symbolic head of state.
U.K. Government
In the U.K. the bicameral systems are called the House of Lords and the House of Commons.
Like the U.K. the citizens of elect the members of the house of commons.
The leader of the political party with the most members is asked by the queen to become the prime minister.
The only difference in the UK and German Prime Minister is in Germany the Bundestag selects the Prime minister while in the UK.
In Germany, the head of government is a chancellor, which is synonymous (same as) with a prime minister.
Both Germany’s chancellor and the U.K.’s prime minister is elected by each nation’s Parliament, and both are limited to two consecutive five-year terms in office.
In Germany the bicameral systems are the Bundestrat and Bundestag.
The Bundestag is the house with the most amount of power.
The citizens of each branch elect its members.
Those voted to be in the Bundestag vote for the chancellor (chief executive of the government and head of the military).
In contrast, Russia’s head of government is a president.
The Russian president is directly elected by the Russian citizens and may serve for two consecutive six – year terms.
In Russia the bicameral system is called the Federation Council and State Duma.
The Federation Council has two representatives from each of the states.
The states appoint the council's members; they are not elected by the people.
The Council approves the president’s choice of people to fill different government jobs.
The State Duma is larger than the Federation Council and is elected by the people.
This group controls the budget and the laws.
Until the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia was an autocratic state. An autocratic government is where political authority rests in a single leader.
Although civil liberties and government transparency have improved in Russia since the Soviet era, its democratic institutions are still not as vibrant as Germany’s or the U.K.’s.
