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1. Chapter 22Comparative Political Systems
3. Section 1Great Britain Why It Matters:
Unlike the United States, Great Britain has a unitary government that is based on an unwritten constitution. Britains monarch is the head of state who reigns, but does not rule. Instead, Parliament holds the legislative and executive power.
4. Section 1Great Britain Political Dictionary:
Monarchy
By-election
Coalition
Minister
Shadow cabinet
Devolution
5. Section 1Great 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 Carta1215
Petition of Right1628
English Bill of Rights--1689
6. Section 1Great 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 flexiblehasty actions are possible
7. Section 1Great 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
8. Section 1Great Britain Parliament
Holds both legislative and executive powers
Is bicameralbut the House of Commons is much more powerful than the House of Lords
9. Section 1Great Britain Parliament (cont)
The House of Lords
Traditionally hereditary
Some members were appointed for life by the monarchselected for achievements
Being reformed to be more representative
Limited legislative powercan delay
A court function as a court of appeals
10. Section 1Great Britain Parliament (cont)
The House of Commons
659 membersMPs (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
11. Section 1Great Britain The House of Commons (cont)
House chamber holds 350
Long rows of benches
Leaders sit in frontbackbenchers are junior
Ten standing committees
The Prime Minister
Leader of his party
Sometimes forms a coalition (1940-1945)
12. Section 1Great Britain The Cabinet
Members of the House (some in Lords)
Leaders of government---administer departments
A shadow-cabinet is formed by the oppositionready to govern if the government falls.
13. Section 1Great Britain Calling Elections
At least every 5 years
When the government fails a vote of confidenceloss of support
Parliament is dissolved by the monarch.
No system of checks and balances
Political Parties
Labour
ConservativesTories
Liberal Party
14. Section 1Great Britain Regional and Local Government
Unitary government
Devolutionto Scotland and Wales
Local Government470 units
The Courts
Different courts in Scotland and Wales
No judicial review like the U.S.
15. 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 nations executive functions.
Examine the Japanese bureaucracy, political parties, and courts.
Understand regional and local government in Japan.
16. 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 parliamentthe National Dietis the highest institution of state power. The Diets powerful House of Representatives chooses the countrys prime minister and cabinet.
17. Section 2--Japan Political Dictionary:
Consensus
Dissolution
Prefecture
18. 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 Shogunmilitary might
Also a number of noble familiesdaimyo
Supported by warrior servantssamurai
Dutch and Portuguese had some contact but the real opening came in 1853 when U. S. Admiral Perry visited.
19. Section 2--Japan Early Japanese Government (cont)
Japan rapidly modernizedbecoming 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
20. Section 2--Japan The Constitution1947
The emperor is a symbol
Bill of rights
Anti-military provisionsbut broadly interpreted
21. Section 2--Japan The National Diet
House of Councillors252 members who sit for 6 years
Has prestige and is advisory
House of Representatives480 seats
300 single member180 from 11 larger areas
Can vote no confidencemake treatiesraise fundsappropriate money
Consensus politics is important in sedate Japan
22. 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
23. Section 2--Japan The Bureaucracy
Civil Servicetechnocrats
Very powerful and influential
Political Parties
Liberal Democrats who are conservative and historically the dominant party.
Democratic Party of Japan is the chief rival
24. Section 2--Japan The Courts
Similar to the United States, they do have judicial review but seldom use it.
Regional and Local Government
47 prefectureseach with an elected governor.
Funded by national government
Japan is a unitary state
3,200 municipalities
25. Section 3--Mexico Objectives:
Summarize Mexicos early political history.
Examine Mexicos three branches of government.
Describe recent changes in Mexicos national politics.
Explain how Mexicos regional and local government is structured.
26. Section 3--Mexico Why It Matters:
In form, Mexicos 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 Mexicos unique culture and history.
27. Section 3--Mexico Political Dictionary:
Mestizo
Nationalization
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
28. Section 3--Mexico Early Political History
Aztecs15th and 16th Centuries
Spanish dominance for the next three centuriesconstant border conflict.
Independence from Spain1821
Mestizo populationboth European and native.
2 year emperorthen Santa Anna and the 1824 constitution.
Not democratic.
100 years of chaosdictatorships and reforms
29. 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 termquite powerful
The General Congress
64 senators and 500 Chamber of Deputies
The Court Systemsimilar to the U. S.
30. 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.
31. Section 4--Russia Objectives:
Summarize Russias political history after the Bolshevik Revolution.
Outline the structure of the Soviet government.
Describe Mikhail Gorbachevs reforms.
Identify events leading to the fall of the Soviet Union.
Examine the structure of the Russian government.
32. 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.
33. Section 4--Russia Political Dictionary:
Purge
Soviets
Peresroika
Glasnost
34. 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 Revolution1917
Led by Lenin
Stalin assumed power in 1924
Numerous purges
Staggering losses in World War II
Cold War from the 1940s to early 1990s
35. Section 4--Russia Soviet Government Structure
15 republicslargely nationalistic groups
Elected sovietsbut highly centralized
The Soviet Constitutiondid not contain fundamental law or guarantee basic rights.
The Legislaturerubber stamp.
The Communist Partyspecially chosen people9% of the adult population.
Controlled by the Politburo and general secretary.
36. Section 4--Russia Gorbachevs Reforms
Perestroikarestructuring of political and economic life.
Glasnostpolicy of opennesstoleration 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.
37. Section 4--Russia Fall of the Soviet Union
Democratization swept across Soviets
Attempted coup to oust Gorbachevfailed in 1991.
14 of the 15 republics became independent.
38. Section 4--Russia Russian Government Today
The Constitution of 1993
Guarantees basic rights.
Political Partiesmulti-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
39. Section 4--Russia Russian Government Today (cont)
The Legislature
Council of the Federation178 members
Lower houseDuma450 deputies
Constitutional Court
19 membersjudicial review
Regional and Local Governments
49 Oblasts (provinces) and 6 large territories
21 republicsethnic, non-Russian
Some are independence seeking (Chechnya)
40. Section 5--China Objectives:
Examine Chinas political background.
Describe Chinas government today.
41. Section 5--China Why It Matters:
The Peoples 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.
42. Section 5--China Political Dictionary:
Cultural Revolution
Autonomous
43. Section 5--China Political Background
5,000 year old culturebut 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.
44. Section 5--China Political Background (cont)
Reform and Repression
Crushing of Tiananmen Square protest in 1989.
China Today
The Constitutionfrequently changed
Does not guarantee basic rights.
Chinas Communist Party58m members
1,900 in National Party Congress
20 Politburo members actually rule
Secretariat does day to day ruling.
45. Section 5--China China Today (cont)
The National Government
National Peoples Congress3,000 deputies
Elected for 5 year terms
On paper very powerfulbut under Communist Party
State Council
Headed by the premierwho is chosen by the communist party (the CCP)
Standing Committee is a major decision making body.
46. 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 provincesmostly ethnic minorities.
Hong Kong is a special administrative region
Taiwan
Chiang Kai-shek fled there with Nationalists
China asserts right to rule as a provincerejected by the Taiwanese
48. Section 5--China
49. Section 5--China