European GOVERNMENTS GOVERNMENTS UK, Germany, & Russia

STANDARDS: SS6CG3 Compare and contrast various forms of government. Explain citizen participation in autocratic and democratic governments. [i.e., role of citizens in choosing the leaders of the United Kingdom (parliamentary democracy), Germany (parliamentary democracy), and Russia (presidential democracy)]. Describe the two predominant forms of democratic governments: parliamentary and presidential.   © Brain Wrinkles

United Kingdom, Germany, European Governments United Kingdom, Germany, & Russia

Government Types – how do citizens participate? Let’s Review Government Types – how do citizens participate? Autocracy - 1 person possesses unlimited power and citizens have a limited role in government. Democracy – the people hold the ultimate power and vote to elect government representatives. Oligarchy– clans or cliques of people based on wealth, social status, or military support

Two Types of Democratic Participation: Let’s Review Two Types of Democratic Participation: Parliamentary– citizens elect members of Parliament, and then the members select the leader Leader works with or through the legislature Presidential--system of government in which the leader is constitutionally independent of the legislature; citizens directly elect leader Leader works separate from legislature

Other types of Governments: Let’s Review Other types of Governments: Federation- Confederation- Unitary-

United Kingdom © Brain Wrinkles

(House of UK’s Parliament) Palace of Westminster (House of UK’s Parliament) © Brain Wrinkles

Leadership 1. Prime Minister: holds the most political power and is the powerful chief executive. He or she leads Parliament in making and enforcing laws in the UK. 2. Monarch: is the official head of state (a symbol for the country). Duties are mostly ceremonial with very little power. Role is restricted by the constitution of the United Kingdom (constitutional monarchy)

Queen Elizabeth II Her Royal Highness © Brain Wrinkles

Theresa May UK’s Prime Minister © Brain Wrinkles

How Leaders Are Chosen Prime Minister: citizens age 18 and older vote to elect members of the two houses of parliament. The British Parliament then selects a prime minister from the elected legislature. Monarch: position inherited through family line

Legislature The Parliament is the country’s bicameral legislature (law-making body). It consists of: House of Lords – appointed officials House of Commons – elected by the people

House of Lords © Brain Wrinkles

House of Commons UK’s citizens elect these members. 646 members total: 529 from England, 40 from Wales, 59 from Scotland, and 18 from Northern Ireland This branch controls the country’s budget (has lots of power). The leader of the political party with the most members becomes the Prime Minister.

House of Commons © Brain Wrinkles

Parliamentary Democracy The leader of the political party with the most members in the House of Commons is asked by the queen to become prime minister. The prime minister is the head of the government (chief executive) and runs the day-to-day activities of the government.

Role of the Citizen Citizens are treated equally & have many personal freedoms like freedom of speech, press, religion, and assembly. They also have the right to vote. Men and women who are 18 years of age may choose to vote in national elections. Citizens can choose representatives from many political parties. Citizens do NOT elect the leader, only members of the House of Commons.

Germany © Brain Wrinkles

Germany’s Reichstag Building © Brain Wrinkles

Leadership 1. Chancellor is the powerful chief executive and head of the military. He or she leads the parliament (Bundestag) in making and enforcing Germany’s laws. 2. President: is the official head of state and has very little power. Duties are mostly ceremonial and is a symbol for the country.

Angela Merkel Germany’s Chancellor © Brain Wrinkles

Frank-Walter Steinmeier Germany’s President © Brain Wrinkles

How Leaders Are Chosen Chancellor: citizens age 18 and older vote to elect members of one of the two houses of parliament. The German Parliament then selects a chancellor from the elected legislature. President: A special committee of representatives from the legislature appoint the president.

Legislature Parliament is the country’s bicameral legislature. It consists of two houses called the Bundestag and the Bundesrat. Germany’s constitution is called the Basic Law. It states that Germany is a welfare state: government guarantees people certain benefits when they are unemployed, sick, poor, or disabled.

Bundestag The Bundestag is the lower house and has the most power. Citizens of each German state elect its members. Members of this house elect the Chancellor (chief executive of Germany).

© Brain Wrinkles

Parliamentary Democracy The chancellor is selected by members of the Bundestag. The chancellor is the leader of the majority party in the Bundestag.

Role of the Citizen Citizens have same basic freedoms like those in the United Kingdom. All citizens are treated equally and have the right to worship as they choose. They have freedom of speech, right to a fair trial, the right to own property, and the right to security. Citizens do not directly elect the leaders (only the Bundestag).

UK & Germany UK and Germany are both very democratic countries. Both are parliamentary democracies. Citizens have many rights and freedoms. People can participate in government by running for office, voting, and expressing opinions on important issues.

Russia © Brain Wrinkles

Russia’s White House © Brain Wrinkles

Leadership 1. President: holds the most political power Is both the chief executive and the head of state Directly elected by the people Can issue orders without approval of the legislature Appoints many government officials, including the prime minister 2. Prime Minister: helps in day-to-day running of government 2nd in command

Vladimir Putin Russia’s President © Brain Wrinkles

Russia’s Prime Minister Dimitri Medvedev Russia’s Prime Minister © Brain Wrinkles

How Leaders Are Chosen 1. President: elected by popular vote for a six-year term. There is a two-consecutive term limitation. 2. Prime Minister: appointed by the President

Legislature The Federal Assembly is the country’s bicameral legislature. It consists of two houses called the Federation Council and the State Duma. Citizens vote to elect representatives to the State Duma, while members of the Federation Council are appointed by Russia’s many lower district governments.

Federation Council in Session © Brain Wrinkles

State Duma Building in Moscow © Brain Wrinkles

Presidential Democracy Russian citizens directly elect the president every six years. In Russia’s presidential system, the executive branch (president) and legislative branch (Federal Assembly) are separate.

Role of the Citizen Russia ratified a new constitution in 1993. It guarantees human and civil rights for its citizens, such as the right to vote, equal rights, freedom of religion and speech, etc. Other important rights granted, which were denied during Communist rule, include freedom of movement, mail correspondence, and right to private telephone calls.

Voting in Russia - 2012 © Brain Wrinkles

Russia Russia is different than the UK and Germany in that it is a presidential democracy. Even though Russia is a democracy, the Russian government is often accused of violating citizens’ freedom of speech. The government uses its power to manipulate the press and media. Russians who criticize the government often face consequences, such as jail time.