1. Europes Governments
SS6CG4a/b/c
SS6CG5 a/b

2. 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?

3. Central government has all the power
Unitary
Central government has all the power

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

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

6. 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.

7. 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

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

9. Structure of modern European governments
SS6CG5 A,B

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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. European Union Members

23. 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?

24. 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?