Contemporary Political Systems Elżbieta Kużelewska Contemporary Political Systems Białystok 2008 Reviewer: Stanisław Bożyk Advisory Board: Leonard Etel, Marian Grzybowski, Adam Jamróz, Dariusz Kijowski, Cezary Kosikowski, Adam Lityński, Emil Pływaczewski, Stanisław Prutis, Eugeniusz Ruśkowski, Walerian Sanetra, Halina Święczkowska, Bogdan Wierz bicki Editor-in-Chief: Jerzy Banasiuk Cover design: Jerzy Banasiuk Publisher: Temida 2, Faculty of Law, University of Białystok Series Editors: Izabela Kraśnicka, Halina Sierocka English language consultants: Katarzyna Szczerbińska–Speakman, Dorian Speakman Copyright © 2008 by Elżbieta Kużelewska, Poland. All rights reserved. Printed in Poland. This publication is protected by Copyright and per- mission should be obtained from the publisher prior to any reproduc- tion, sortage in a retrieval system, or transmission in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or likewise. ISBN: 987–83–89620–47–7 Temida 2 Mickiewicza 1 15–213 Białystok, POLAND Voice: (+48) 085 7457168 • Fax: (+48) 085 7406089 E–mail: [email protected] Website: www.temida2.pl Table of contents 1. The Political System of the United States of America .................9 Basic Defi nitions ...................................................................................9 Introduction ...........................................................................................9 1.1. The Constitution of 1787 .......................................................10 1.2.The President of USA ............................................................10 1.3. The Congress .........................................................................11 1.3.1. The House of Representatives .........................................12 1.3.2. The Senate .......................................................................12 1.4. The Supreme Court ................................................................13 Useful links .........................................................................................13 2. The Political System of Great Britain .........................................14 Basic Defi nitions .................................................................................14 Introduction .........................................................................................14 2.1. The Constitution of Great Britain ..........................................15 2.2. The Parliament .......................................................................15 2.2.1. The House of Commons..................................................15 2.2.2. The House of Lords .........................................................15 2.2.3. Parliamentary control measures ......................................16 2.3. The Monarch ..........................................................................16 2.4. The Government ....................................................................17 Useful links .........................................................................................17 3. The Political System of France ....................................................18 Basic Defi nitions .................................................................................18 5 Introduction .........................................................................................18 3.1. The Constitution of the V French Republic ...........................19 3.2. The President of France .........................................................20 3.2.1. General remarks ..............................................................20 3.2.2. Presidential jurisdiction towards the Parliament .............20 3.2.3. Presidential jurisdiction towards the Government ..........20 3.2.4. Taking over the entire authority by the President ...........21 3.3. The Government ....................................................................21 3.4. The Parliament .......................................................................21 3.4.1. The National Assembly ...................................................22 3.4.2. The Senate .......................................................................22 3.4.3. Functions of the Parliament ............................................22 3.5. Cohabitation ...........................................................................22 Useful links .........................................................................................23 4. The Political System of Germany ................................................24 Basic Defi nitions .................................................................................24 Introduction .........................................................................................24 4.1. The Constitution of 1949 .......................................................25 4.2. The Parliament .......................................................................25 4.2.1. The Bundestag .................................................................25 4.2.2. The Bundesrat .................................................................26 4.3. The President .........................................................................26 4.4. The Government ....................................................................27 Useful links .........................................................................................27 5. The Political System of Switzerland ............................................28 Basic Defi nitions .................................................................................28 Introduction .........................................................................................28 6 5.1. The Constitution of 1999 .......................................................29 5.2. The Parliament .......................................................................29 5.2.1. Functions of the Parliament ............................................29 5.2.2. The National Council ......................................................30 5.2.3. The Council of States ......................................................30 5.3. The Federal Government .......................................................30 5.4. The President .........................................................................31 Useful links .........................................................................................31 6. The Political System of Italy ........................................................32 Basic Defi nitions .................................................................................32 Introduction .........................................................................................32 6.1. The Constitution of 1947 .......................................................32 6.2. The Parliament .......................................................................32 6.2.1. The House of Deputies ....................................................33 6.2.2. The Senate .......................................................................33 6.3. The Government ....................................................................33 6.3.1. The President of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister) ..............................................................33 6.4. The President .........................................................................34 Useful links .........................................................................................34 7. The Political System of Sweden ...................................................35 Basic Defi nitions .................................................................................35 Introduction .........................................................................................35 7.1. The Constitution of Sweden ..................................................35 7.2. The Parliament of Sweden .....................................................36 7.2.1. The Speaker of Riksdag ..................................................36 7.3. The Government ....................................................................37 7 7.4. The Monarch ..........................................................................38 Useful links .........................................................................................38 8. The Political System of Russia .....................................................39 Basic Defi nitions .................................................................................39 Introduction .........................................................................................39 8.1. The Constitution of Russia ....................................................39 8.2. The Parliament .......................................................................40 8.2.1. The State Duma ...............................................................40 8.2.2. The Council of Federation ..............................................41 8.3. The President .........................................................................42 8.4. The Government ....................................................................42 Useful links .........................................................................................43 9. Bibliography ...................................................................................44 10. Glossary ........................................................................................45 11. Quiz ...............................................................................................46