Structure and Function of Government Role of Citizens

Comparing Government Systems Placard 1

China

These are the nine members of China’s Politburo, the main decision- making body in China. In the center of the front row is President Hu Jintao, who is not only the president of China, but also the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party. The person in this position is also head of the committee that controls the armed forces. The Politburo holds most of the power in China.

Structure and Function of Government • The Chinese Communist Party has controlled the government of China since 1949. • The nine-member Politburo (political bureau) of the Chinese Communist Party is the main decision-making body. President Hu Jintao is a member of the Politburo. • The legislature, called the National People’s Congress, usually approves all legislation proposed by the Chinese Communist Party. • Any formal opposition to the Chinese Communist Party is illegal.

Role of Citizens • National elections are held every five years, but only members of the Chinese Communist Party are on the ballot.

Germany

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Here are the directly elected representatives of the German people assembled in the Bundestag, the lower house of the German legislature. These representatives not only make the laws in Germany, but they also elect the federal chancellor, who is the head of the executive branch.

Structure and Function of Government • The German legislature has two houses. Members of the lower house (the Bundestag) are directly elected by the people. The upper house (the Bundesrat) consists of representatives selected by the 16 state governments. • The lower house of the legislature elects the head of the executive branch. The head of the executive branch is called the federal chancellor. • Germany has many political parties. The major political parties currently represented in the German legislature include the Christian Democratic Union, the Christian Social Union, the Free Democratic Party, the Social Democratic Party, the Left Party, and the Green Party.

Role of Citizens • National elections are held about every four years. German citizens do not vote directly for the federal chancellor. Instead, they vote for their representatives in the Bundestag. The Bundestag then votes for the federal chancellor.

India

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This man is voting for his representative in the House of the People, the lower house of the Indian legislature. National elections in India are held over a period of several days to allow India’s millions of voters enough time to cast their ballots.

Structure and Function of Government • The prime minister is the head of government. The prime minister and a Council of Ministers have the power in the executive branch. The president of India is a member of the executive branch but has mostly ceremonial duties. • India has a legislature with two houses. State and local legislatures elect members of the upper house, called the Council of States. The lower house, called the House of the People, is directly elected by the people. • India has many political parties. The oldest continuous political party is the Indian National Congress. • The majority party in the House of the People elects the prime minister. • The prime minister then selects the Council of Ministers.

Role of Citizens • National elections are held in India at least every five years. Indian citizens vote for their representatives in the House of the People in the district where they live.

Iran

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This is a meeting between Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the commanders of the Iranian Army and Revolutionary Guards. The Supreme Leader is the man sitting in the chair on the right.

Structure and Function of Government • The Supreme Leader is the highest ranking political and religious power in Iran. A high-ranking Shi’a Muslim religious leader, he sets the tone of Iran’s policies, leads the armed forces, and holds the power to declare war. The current Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been in office since 1989. • The Assembly of Experts is a body of 83 religious figures whose sole purpose is to choose a new Supreme Leader upon the death of the previous leader. • Iran has a president who is elected by the people and who heads the executive branch. A one-house legislature is responsible for making laws. • The Council of Guardians is a body of 12 legal scholars, six of whom are appointed by the Supreme Leader. The Council’s role is to review all laws passed by the legislature to determine if they are constitutional and consistent with Islamic religious law. All political candidates must be approved by the Council of Guardians in order to run for office.

Role of Citizens • Every four years, all Iranian citizens ages 16 and older may vote for representatives in Iran’s legislature.

Libya

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Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi gave a speech during a celebration on the 40th anniversary of the closing of U.S. military bases in Libya. Less than a year after seizing power in late 1969, Qadhafi forced the U.S. military bases to close.

Structure and Function of Government • Libya’s leader, Muammar Qadhafi, came to power in 1969 after overthrowing the previous government. He held all real political power in Libya and was supreme leader of the country. • The government of Libya government consisted of a complex system of committees and congresses. The General People’s Congress functioned as a parliament, but in reality, all power rested in the hands of Muammar Qadhafi. • All adult citizens were members of local Basic People’s Congresses, which dealt with local issues and select delegates to district congresses and the General People’s Congress. • The Basic People’s Congresses were supervised by Revolutionary Committees whose leaders were chosen personally by Qadhafi.

Role of Citizens • Under Qadhafi, there were no democratic elections held in Libya, nor were there any recognized political parties.

Russia

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The man on the left is Russian president Dmitry Medvedev. He is meeting with prime minister Vladimir Putin. In Russia’s system of government, the prime minister must work very closely with the president. He must make sure that government policy aligns with presidential orders.

Structure and Function of Government • Russia’s head of state is the president, who is elected by the people. The head of the government is the prime minister. • The president appoints the prime minister. The prime minister sets government priorities for new laws. These priorities must be in line with official orders from the president. • Russia has a legislature made up of two houses. Members of the upper house, the Federation Council, are appointed by top executive and legislative officials of the 83 federal administrative units in Russia. Members of the lower house, the State Duma, are elected by popular vote.

Role of Citizens • All Russians ages 18 and older may vote for representatives in the State Duma.

Saudi Arabia

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Here we see King Abdullah and a young member of the royal family of Saudi Arabia. King Abdullah has ruled Saudi Arabia since 2005, when his half-brother King Fahd died. Every king since 1953 has been a son of the first king of Saudi Arabia, Abdul Aziz Al Saud.

Structure and Function of Government • The government of Saudi Arabia is led by the king, who has almost unlimited power. The only limit on his power is that all laws must agree with Islamic law and the Qur’an, the holy book of Islam. • The king serves for life. Upon his death, the new king must be chosen from among the sons and grandsons of Saudi Arabia’s first king. • Saudi Arabia has no elected legislature. • No political parties or national elections are permitted. There is no elected legislature, nor a written constitution.

Role of Citizens • Citizens have no voice in their national government. Since 2005, adult men have been allowed to vote for representatives who serve on local governments. Women do not have the right to vote.

Switzerland

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Here we see young Swiss citizens participating directly in their government. They are carrying boxes of petitions calling for a referendum on immigration. A referendum is a direct vote by the people to approve or reject a proposed law.

Structure and Function of Government • In Switzerland, the executive and legislative branches of government are combined. • The executive branch is led by a seven-member Federal Council. Each member of the Federal Council is also the head of a governmental department. Members of the Fed- eral Council are elected by the Swiss legislature for terms of four years. • Switzerland has a two-house legislature. The lower house is called the National Coun- cil. The upper house is the Council of States. Representatives in both houses are elected by the people for terms of four years each.

Role of Citizens • Citizens vote for representatives in the legislature. • Citizens also vote to approve or reject laws proposed by the legislature. • Citizens may also propose laws.

United States

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This picture shows President Barack Obama delivering the State of the Union address. Every January, the president of the United States gives a speech before the full Congress—meaning the House of Representatives and the Senate. In this speech, the president reports on the condition of the nation and outlines priorities for legislation.

Structure and Function of Government • Power in the national government is divided among three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. • Each branch of government can limit the power of the other branches. This is called the system of checks and balances. • The president heads the executive branch. The president is elected by popular vote through an electoral college of 538 members. The president’s term of office is four years. A president may serve two four-year terms. • The United States has a two-house legislature. Members of the House of Representatives are elected for two-year terms. Members of the Senate are elected for six-year terms. In the House, the number of representatives from each state is based on state population. Each state has two senators.

Role of Citizens • Citizens 18 and older may vote for the president and vice president, as well as representatives in both houses of Congress. • Voters may also vote for representatives in state and local levels of government.

Venezuela

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Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, seen in the framed photograph, campaigned for the removal of term limits, which would allow him unlimited opportunities to run for reelection. His supporters turned out in large numbers and approved the measure in 2009. Now there are no limits to the number of times the president of Venezuela can be reelected to office.

Structure and Function of Government • The president is the head of the executive branch of government. Since becoming president in 1999, Hugo Chávez has increased the power of the president. He now holds more power than the legislative or judicial branches. The president is elected for a six-year term. There are no limits to the number of terms a president may serve. • Venezuela has a one-house legislature called the National Assembly, which is headed by the president. Members elected by the people serve five-year terms. • Historically, Venezuela had two major political parties, but since 1998, it has had a multi-party system.

Role of Citizens • Elections for president are held every six years. Elections for the National Assembly are held every five years. All adults, ages 21 and older, may vote.