Europes Governments SS6CG4a/b/c SS6CG5 a/b

ESSEntial Questions What are the important democratic features of parliamentary and presidential forms of government? 2. How are the governments of the United Kingdom, Germany, and Russia different and how are these governments similar? 3. What is the purpose of the European Union? 4. What is the relationship of the member nations of the European Union?

Central government has all the power Unitary Central government has all the power

Confederation Group of states or communities that come together to support each other and to work on common problems

Federal Power is divided between the central government and the lower levels of government

Autocratic, Oligarchic, Democratic Type of rule Who Holds the Power Who Can Be Elected Who Can Vote Autocratic- Czarist Russia was an autocratic government Single ruler Unlimited power for the ruler No one- citizens have no choice in selecting a ruler No citizen participation-no elections are held Oligarchic- Many medieval governments were oligarchic Small group of people Group answers only to each other No outside the ruling group-the rulers are selected by the group No citizen participation-leaders are chosen from within the ruling group and by the group Democratic- France is an example of a democratic country Citizens of the country The voters Any citizen –with some restrictions like age, not in jail, etc Any citizen- with some restrictions like age, not in jail, etc.

Comparisons of Parliamentary and Presidential Governments Parliamentary System Presidential System Prime Minister leader heads parliament, the lawmaking body Parliament selects Prime Minister Prime Minister can dissolve Parliament MPs can vote to elect a new Prime Minister May have a head of state with little power-king or queen Legislature- lawmaking body President-leader President is elected Legislature and President serve a fixed amount of time President does not make laws The President is head of state and chief executive Comparisons of Parliamentary and Presidential Governments

Similarities between Parliamentary and Presidential Citizens elect lawmakers Leader heads the military and runs the government

Structure of modern European governments SS6CG5 A,B

Parliamentary System of the United Kingdom Parliament lawmaking body of United Kingdom Composed of: House of Lords House of Commons Also Monarch

House of Lords in past, passed down through aristocratic families Today elected by the House or appointed by monarch Has little power can make suggestions to approve a bill on the way to becoming a law

House of Commons Citizens elect the members in general election 646 members: 529 England, 40 Wales, 59 Scotland, and 18 Northern Ireland Power comes from control of budget Leader of political party with the most members is asked by queen to become prime minister Prime minister is the head of government and runs the government on a day to day basis

Monarch Official head of state Is a symbol of the country Referred to as “the crown” Duties are mostly ceremonial Role is restricted by the constitution

Federal System of Germany Made up of two houses Bundestag and Bundesrat Has sixteen states

Bundestag The lower house More powerful of the two Citizens elect the members Selects the chancellor: chief executive officer of the German government and head of military President is head of state: role is mostly ceremonial and symbolic

Bundesrat The upper house of parliament Represents the interests of the state government State selects representatives: each state has different number of representatives depending on population Concern with laws that affect the states such as education and government issues

Germany Cont. Constitution is called the Basic Law Germany a representative democracy Operates under the federal system Power is divided between member states and central government Citizens have freedoms: religion, speech All viewed equal Basic Law says Germany welfare state: government guarantees people certain benefits when they are unemployed, poor, disabled, old, or sick

Federation System of Russia Governed under a constitution President head of state: elected by the people President selects the prime minister, can disband the legislature, or Federal Assembly The Federal Assembly is divided into two parts: Federation Council and State Duma

Federation Council Two representatives from each state State appoints council members; not elected directly by the people Council represents the government of the states Important duty is to approve the president’s choices of people to fill different government jobs

State Duma Larger than the Council 450 members; elected by the people Controls the budget and makes the laws Approves the president’s choice for prime minister Day to day running of the government split between prime minister and president

European Union Purpose: to work together for advantages that would be out of reach if each were working alone. Has twenty-seven members Helps make smaller countries more competitive in world market Created the euro (currency for most of the EU) Each country still makes own laws, military, and leaders Works to improve trade, education, farming, and industry No tariffs between countries (free trade zone) Citizens can freely move to another country; live and work in any other EU nation

European Union Members

Lesson Assessment Questions United Kingdom, Germany, and Russia Government questions What body of parliament has the most power in UK, Germany, and Russia? To be prime minister, a person must first be elected to which governing body in UK, Germany, and Russia ?   Which part of government is responsible for making the laws for the U.K.? The U.K. is to House of Commons as Germany is to What is Germany’s constitution called? In the Russian Federation, which office do the people elect? Who is the Russian head of state? Why was the European Union created? What is the currency for Most EU countries?

Lesson Questions SS6CG4/5 1.Describe a confederation? 2. What countries in Europe have a federal government? 3. What are the Bundestag and Bundesrat?   4. In what types of government do citizens have no voting rights? 5. An autocracy puts the power of the government into the hands of who? 6. How can autocratic rulers come to power? 7. Write a statement about an oligarchy. 8. Who is Russia’s most powerful leader?