AP COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT FINAL EXAM WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL PEOPLE

Angela Merkel Chancellor of Germany

Vladimir Putin President of Russia

Xi Jinping President of China

Janet Yellen Chair of the Federal Reserve

David Cameron Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

Narendra Modi Prime Minister of India

Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud King of Saudi Arabia

Francois Hollande President of France

Ali Khamenei Supreme Leader of Iran

Benjamin Netanyahu Prime Minister of Israel

Jack Ma Founder of Alibaba

Christine Lagarde Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund

Dilma Rousseff President (under impeachment) of Brazil

Ban Ki-moon Secretary-General of the United Nations

Enrique Pena Nieto President of Mexico

Robin Li Founder of Baidu (the google of China)

Justin Trudeau Prime Minister of Canada

Hassan Rouhani President of Iran

Muhammadu Buhari President of Nigeria

Jeff Bezos CEO of Amazon

Comparative Legislatures Nigeria – The National Assembly is divided into the Senate and House of Representatives. The Senate has 109 members, three for each of the 36 states and one for the federal district of Abuja. The House has 360 members elected from single member districts. All members of the National Assembly serve four year terms. Mexico – Congress is divided into the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. The Senate has 128 members, three from each of the 32 states, and then an additional 32 are awarded by proportional vote throughout the country. Senators serve six-year terms. The Chamber of Deputies has 500 members. There are 300 elected from single-member districts and 200 elected by proportional representation. Deputies serve three-year terms. China – The National People’s Congress is a unicameral body. The body appoints the President, Vice President and Premier. There are approximately 3,000 members who serve for five-year terms. Russia – The Federal Assembly is divided into the Federation Council and the Duma. The Federation Council has 166 seats. They are appointed by the executives from each of the 83 sub-governments (two for each). They serve four-year terms but with limited power. The Duma has 450 seats elected by proportional representation. A party must receive 7% of the national vote to qualify for a seat. Members are elected to a four-year term. The Duma can override a vote by the Federation Council. The Duma is responsible for approving the Prime Minister. The President can dissolve the Duma.

Comparative Legislatures United Kingdom – Parliament is divided into the House of Lords and the House of Commons. There are approximately 720 members in the House of Lords. They have no power other than to delay bills from being voted on. The House of Commons has approximately 650 members. These MPs are elected from single-member districts. They hold office for five years. The party with the majority control selects the Prime Minister. Iran – The Majles is a unicameral legislature with 290 members. They are elected for four-year terms from single-member districts. All but five of these members must be Muslim. The Majles chooses six members of the 12 person Guardian Council.

Comparative Executives Nigeria – The President is elected by popular vote to a four-year term. He is limited to two terms. A candidate must win a minimum of 25% of the vote in at least 2/3 of the 36 states. Mexico – The President is elected to one, six-year term. There is a national popular election to select the president. China – The President is formally elected to a five-year term by the National People’s Congress. Russia – The President is elected by popular majority in a national election, but he must win 50% of the vote or else there is a run-off election. The term of office is four years with a limit of two terms… unless you are Putin and find a way around this limit. United Kingdom – The Prime Minister is elected by a majority of the House of Commons. Iran – The Supreme Leader is chosen by the Assembly of Religious Experts. He must be a Shi’ite cleric. There is no fixed term. The President is chosen by a national popular vote. He serves a four-year term and is limited to two terms.