1. Produced by the Southern Center for International Studies © 2008 Southern Center for International Studies East Asia in Transition

2. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 2 Lesson 2 Politics in East Asia Activity 1 What are the characteristics of East Asian governments?

3. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 3 Terms and Definitions Teacher Resource 1 Constitutional Monarchy –A type of government in which the powers of a hereditary king or queen are limited by the constitution and laws of the country. Most constitutional monarchies have a parliament of freely elected officials. The citizens of a constitutional monarchy have many freedoms.

4. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 4 Terms and Definitions Teacher Resource 1 (continued) Republic: Presidential System –A form of a republic that is a government in which people freely elect their leaders, including the president who is the chief of state and head of the government. The president enforces the laws that are passed by the legislative branch of government. The citizens have many freedoms protected by their country’s constitution.

5. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 5 Terms and Definitions Teacher Resource 1 (continued) Republic: Parliamentary System –A form of a republic in which the executive branch consists of a cabinet (council of ministers) with a prime minister who must depend on the support of the freely elected parliament. A head of state, sometimes only ceremonially, consents to bills passed by the parliament before they go into force. The citizens have many protected freedoms.

6. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 6 Terms and Definitions Teacher Resource 1 (continued) Military Junta –A government ruled by a committee of military leaders who have almost complete control of the government.

7. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 7 Terms and Definitions Teacher Resource 1 (continued) Authoritarian Government –A type of government in which political authority is in the hands of a single leader or a small group of elite leaders who may exercise power as they wish. Authoritarian governments are very strict and rigid and stress obedience to the government’s authority. These governments are strongly opposed to individual liberty and freedoms.

8. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 8 Chief of State The formal head of a country of a country who may or may not have full powers; for example, Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain.

9. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 9 Head of State The person who holds the highest position in a country’s government, like the President of the United States

10. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 10 Country Chart Worksheet 1 COUNTRYCOUNTRY’S GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE TYPE OF GOVERNMENT EXPLAIN YOUR CHOICE W/ EVIDENCE Brunei Cambodia Hereditary monarch (sultan), is chief of state and head of government. He appoints the parliament which advises him. The country’s constitution defines the monarch’s authority. The monarch is chosen by a royal council. Following freely elected parliamentary elections, a member of the majority party becomes prime minister.

11. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 11 Country Chart Worksheet 1 (continued) COUNTRYCOUNTRY’S GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE TYPE OF GOVERNMENT EXPLAIN YOUR CHOICE W/ EVIDENCE China Indonesia The president (head of state) is elected by the Chinese Communist Party.The premier (head of government) is nominated by the president. All government is subordinate to the Chinese Communist Party. Opposition to the government is suppressed. The president is elected by the people and is both chief of state and head of government. The legislative branch includes a house of representatives, which is freely elected by the people to pass laws.

12. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 12 Country Chart Worksheet 1 (continued) COUNTRYCOUNTRY’S GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE TYPE OF GOVERNMENT EXPLAIN YOUR CHOICE W/ EVIDENCE Japan Laos A hereditary emperor serves mainly as a ceremonial chief of state. The diet or parliament elects a prime minister who is the head of government. The prime minister’s powers are defined by the constitution. A parliament, the National Assembly, is selected by the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, the country’s only legal political party. A president (chief of state) is elected by the National Assembly. A prime minister (head of government) is nominated by the president. Opposition to the government is suppressed.

13. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 13 Country Chart Worksheet 1 (continued) COUNTRYCOUNTRY’S GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE TYPE OF GOVERNMENT EXPLAIN YOUR CHOICE W/ EVIDENCE Malaysia Mongolia The paramount ruler (chief of state) is like a king and is elected by the hereditary rulers or sultans of the country’s 9 states. Powers of the paramount ruler are limited by the constitution. The prime minister (head of government) is picked by the parliament which is freely elected by the people. The president, freely elected by the people, serves as chief of state. The prime minister, selected by the parliament, serves as head of the government. The prime minister selects a cabinet with help from the president. The parliament, freely elected by the people, proposes and passes the laws.

14. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 14 Country Chart Worksheet 1 (continued) COUNTRYCOUNTRY’S GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE TYPE OF GOVERNMENT EXPLAIN YOUR CHOICE W/ EVIDENCE Myanmar North Korea Myanmar’s constitution has been suspended since 1988. There is currently no parliament. The State Peace and Development Council (military leaders) has unlimited powers. The council members are not elected by the people. Opposition to most government policies is severely punished. The president, Chairman of the National Defense Commission, and General Secretary of North Korea’s communist party are all held by one person. The country’s parliament is popularly elected from a list of candidates approved by the communist party. Opposition to the government is severely suppressed.

15. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 15 Country Chart Worksheet 1 (continued) COUNTRYCOUNTRY’S GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE TYPE OF GOVERNMENT EXPLAIN YOUR CHOICE W/ EVIDENCE Philippines Singapore The president is elected by the people and is both chief of state and head of government. The legislative branch is made up of two houses, the House of Representatives and the Senate, and is freely elected by the people. This country has both a president who serves as chief of state, and a prime minister who serves as head of government. A cabinet appointed by the president is responsible to a freely elected parliament.

16. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 16 Country Chart Worksheet 1 (continued) COUNTRYCOUNTRY’S GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE TYPE OF GOVERNMENT EXPLAIN YOUR CHOICE W/ EVIDENCE South Korea Taiwan South Korea has a president (chief of state) and a prime minister (head of government). The Cabinet is appointed by the president on the prime minister's recommendation. The parliament, called the National Assembly, is elected by the people. There is a popularly elected president (chief of state), and he appoints a prime minister (head of government). The president and prime minister share executive powers. There is a popularly elected legislature which passes the country’s laws.

17. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 17 Country Chart Worksheet 1 (continued) COUNTRYCOUNTRY’S GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE TYPE OF GOVERNMENT EXPLAIN YOUR CHOICE W/ EVIDENCE Thailand Vietnam This country has a hereditary monarch. The leader of the majority party in the freely elected parliament is appointed the prime minister by the king. The president (chief of state) is elected by the parliament. The prime minister (head of government) is appointed by the president. The National Assembly or parliament is popularly elected. The government is subordinate to the Communist Party of Vietnam. Opposition to the government is often suppressed.

18. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 18 Country Chart Worksheet 1 COUNTRYCOUNTRY’S GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE TYPE OF GOVERNMENT EXPLAIN YOUR CHOICE W/ EVIDENCE Constitutional Monarchy Brunei Cambodia Hereditary monarch (sultan), is chief of state and head of government. He appoints the parliament which advises him. The country’s constitution defines the monarch’s authority. The monarch is chosen by a royal council. Following freely elected parliamentary elections, a member of the majority party becomes prime minister.

19. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 19 Country Chart Worksheet 1 (continued) COUNTRYCOUNTRY’S GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE TYPE OF GOVERNMENT EXPLAIN YOUR CHOICE W/ EVIDENCE Authoritarian Republic China Indonesia The president (head of state) is elected by the Chinese Communist Party.The premier (head of government) is nominated by the president. All government is subordinate to the Chinese Communist Party. Opposition to the government is suppressed. The president is elected by the people and is both chief of state and head of government. The legislative branch includes a house of representatives, which is freely elected by the people to pass laws.

20. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 20 Country Chart Worksheet 1 (continued) COUNTRYCOUNTRY’S GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE TYPE OF GOVERNMENT EXPLAIN YOUR CHOICE W/ EVIDENCE Constitutional Monarchy Authoritarian Japan Laos A hereditary emperor serves mainly as a ceremonial chief of state. The diet or parliament elects a prime minister who is the head of government. The prime minister’s powers are defined by the constitution. A parliament, the National Assembly, is selected by the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, the country’s only legal political party. A president (chief of state) is elected by the National Assembly. A prime minister (head of government) is nominated by the president. Opposition to the government is suppressed.

21. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 21 Country Chart Worksheet 1 (continued) COUNTRYCOUNTRY’S GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE TYPE OF GOVERNMENT EXPLAIN YOUR CHOICE W/ EVIDENCE Constitutional Monarchy Republic (parliamentary system) Malaysia Mongolia The paramount ruler (chief of state) is like a king and is elected by the hereditary rulers or sultans of the country’s 9 states. Powers of the paramount ruler are limited by the constitution. The prime minister (head of government) is picked by the parliament which is freely elected by the people. The president, freely elected by the people, serves as chief of state. The prime minister, selected by the parliament, serves as head of the government. The prime minister selects a cabinet with help from the president. The parliament, freely elected by the people, proposes and passes the laws.

22. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 22 Country Chart Worksheet 1 (continued) COUNTRYCOUNTRY’S GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE TYPE OF GOVERNMENT EXPLAIN YOUR CHOICE W/ EVIDENCE Military Junta Authoritarian Myanmar North Korea Myanmar’s constitution has been suspended since 1988. There is currently no parliament. The State Peace and Development Council (military leaders) has unlimited powers. The council members are not elected by the people. Opposition to most government policies is severely punished. The president, Chairman of the National Defense Commission, and General Secretary of North Korea’s communist party are all held by one person. The country’s parliament is popularly elected from a list of candidates approved by the communist party. Opposition to the government is severely suppressed.

23. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 23 Country Chart Worksheet 1 (continued) COUNTRYCOUNTRY’S GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE TYPE OF GOVERNMENT EXPLAIN YOUR CHOICE W/ EVIDENCE Republic (presidential system) Republic (parliamentary system) Philippines Singapore The president is elected by the people and is both chief of state and head of government. The legislative branch is made up of two houses, the House of Representatives and the Senate, and is freely elected by the people. This country has both a president who serves as chief of state, and a prime minister who serves as head of government. A cabinet appointed by the president is responsible to a freely elected parliament.

24. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 24 Country Chart Worksheet 1 (continued) COUNTRYCOUNTRY’S GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE TYPE OF GOVERNMENT EXPLAIN YOUR CHOICE W/ EVIDENCE Republic (parliamentary system) Republic (presidential system) South Korea Taiwan South Korea has a president (chief of state) and a prime minister (head of government). The Cabinet is appointed by the president on the prime minister's recommendation. The parliament, called the National Assembly, is elected by the people. There is a popularly elected president (chief of state), and he appoints a prime minister (head of government). The president and prime minister share executive powers. There is a popularly elected legislature which passes the country’s laws.

25. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 25 Country Chart Worksheet 1 (continued) COUNTRYCOUNTRY’S GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE TYPE OF GOVERNMENT EXPLAIN YOUR CHOICE W/ EVIDENCE Constitutional monarchy Authoritarian Thailand Vietnam This country has a hereditary monarch. The leader of the majority party in the freely elected parliament is appointed the prime minister by the king. The president (chief of state) is elected by the parliament. The prime minister (head of government) is appointed by the president. The National Assembly or parliament is popularly elected. The government is subordinate to the Communist Party of Vietnam. Opposition to the government is often suppressed.

26. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 26 Governmental Structures and Countries What is the most popular governmental structure in East Asia? The second most popular? The third most popular? And the least popular?

27. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 27 Governmental Structures and Countries What is the most popular governmental structure in East Asia? –Constitutional monarchies Brunei, Cambodia, Japan, Thailand, and Malaysia The second most popular? –Authoritarian governments China, Laos, Vietnam, and North Korea The third most popular? –Republics/presidential systems Indonesia, Taiwan, and the Philippines –Republics/parliamentary systems Mongolia, Singapore, and South Korea And the least popular? –Military junta Myanmar

28. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 28 Lesson 2 Politics in East Asia Activity 2 How do the countries of East Asia compare in government leadership, voting rights, and personal freedoms?

29. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 29 Democracy and Human Rights Discussion What political freedoms do people in the United States enjoy? Why are these freedoms important? What are some of the negative aspects of these freedoms?

30. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 30 Democracy and Human Rights Discussion (continued) Why do you think some people would be willing to give up some of these freedoms? Would you give up certain freedoms to eliminate their negative aspects? Which freedoms would you be willing to give up? Why?

31. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 31 Group Activity Philippines Taiwan South Korea Vietnam Cambodia Myanmar China Singapore Why are some of these countries moving toward democracy while others are not? Why aren’t the leaders of less democratic countries willing to grant their citizens more freedoms?

32. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 32 Country Ratings Chart Cambodia

33. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 33 Country Ratings Chart China

34. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 34 Country Ratings Chart Japan

35. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 35 Country Ratings Chart Myanmar

36. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 36 Country Ratings Chart Philippines

37. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 37 Country Ratings Chart Singapore

38. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 38 Country Ratings Chart South Korea

39. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 39 Country Ratings Chart Taiwan

40. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 40 Country Ratings Chart Vietnam

41. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 41 Discussion Questions Worksheet 1 How free is your country today? In which direction – free or not free – is your country heading? Were you surprised by the ratings given to your country? Why or why not? How would you rate East Asia as a whole?

42. East Asia in Transition, Lesson 2: Politics in East Asia, Activity 1 42 Group Activity Japan, Singapore, Myanmar Cambodia, South Korea, Vietnam Philippines, Taiwan, China Review each country’s government description, classification, and freedom and voting rights ratings. Write a paragraph, or create a Venn diagram, that compares and contrasts the three countries’ forms of leadership and the role of the citizen in terms of voting rights and personal freedoms.