Germany vs. United States By: Trevor Schwiderske

Type of Government/Constitution Germany Title of leader: President or Chancellor Name of Current Leader: Joachim Gauck (President), Angela Merkel (Chancellor) President is elected for a 5 year term, Chancellor elected for a 4 year term Background/Qualifications: Must be German citizen, at least 40 and are able to vote United States Title of leader: President Name of Current Leader: Barrack Obama Elected, 4 year term and can run again for another 4 year term Background/Qualifications: Must be U.S. citizen for at least 14 years, must be at least 35

Lawmaking Body Germany Bundestag is the name of the Legislature It is Bicameral Upper house (Fed. Council) has 69 seats and the Lower house (Fed. Assembly) has 598 deputies or seats United States The legislature of the United States is Congress Our congress is Bicameral Senate (Upper house) has 100 seats and The House of Representatives (Lower House) has 435 seats

Freedoms/Rights Germany Freedom of Speech/Press: The freedom of speech is protected in there constitution and so is the freedom of press but the incitement of people (Volksverhetzung) is not Freedom of Religion: It’s the same there as in the U.S., they have the right to whatever religion they want to practice Right to Bear Arms: Germany is one of the strictest in the world when it comes to gun ownership and ammo possession along with knives and other weapons United States Freedom of Speech/Press: The American people have the freedom of speech and press under the first amendment Freedom of Religion: Also the people of the U.S. have the right to practice whatever religion the want to Right to Bear Arms: Under the second amendment the people of the U.S have the right to bear arms

Political Parties Germany Germany is a multiparty system. Which means more than two parties have an impact on the countries political life The two main parties are Social Democratic Party of Germany, Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union Christian democracy The Social Democratic Party beliefs are Liberal conservatism, Economic liberalism and Christian democracy The Christian Democratic/Christian Social Union’s main beliefs are Christian democracy, Conservatism, Regionalism United States The United States in considered a two party system, with the two main parties being the Democrats and Republicans The Republicans symbol is a elephant and their beliefs are no increases taxes, more military spending, pro-life, etc. The Democrats symbol is a Donkey and they believe in higher taxes, support gay marriage, decreased military spending, etc.

Elections and Voting Germany The voting age in Germany is 18 Any German eligible to vote can run for an office Must live at least 3 months in Germany Bundestag elections which is considered lower house elections, also there is local elections Federal elections every 4 years United States The voting age in the U.S. is also 18 Requirements: Citizen, Can’t be dishonorably discharged from the military, Must be a resident of the state you vote in, Can’t be convicted of certain crimes, No mental patients United States has primary and general elections on even numbered years Some state and local elections are on “off” years or odd numbered years

Taxes and Government Finance Germany Germany does have an income tax Other ways the government makes money is low interest loans, fines, inflation, borrow money Germany spends 48.8 Billion dollars a year on military Germany spends Billion a year on Education Germany also spends nearly $4,500 dollars a person on healthcare a year, the 9 th highest United States The United States also has an income tax Our government makes money off of loans, fines, other taxes, passports, tolls, etc. The United States spends 640 Billion dollars a year on military The U.S. spends Billion a year on Education The U.S. spends about $8,508 yearly a person. The most out of any other country

Law Germany Germany has the third highest reported crime rate, U.S. being first But it has the highest number of drug related crimes Germany does not have a death penalty, it was abolished in 1949 United States The U.S. crime rate is about 3.2% 11.8% are violent crimes 88% property crimes The U.S. does have a death penalty for treason or 1 st degree murder

Relationship Between U.S. and Germany Today the United States is considered one of Germany’s closest allies In 2014 relations have strained slightly as a result of revelations that the U.S. National Security Agency wiretapped the phone of Chancellor Angela Merkel and collected digital data from Germans