Political SystemsPolitical Systems

USA, UK, Australia

ConstitutionsConstitutions

A constitution is the system of rules about how a country is governed

– America’s constitution was written in 1787– Australia’s constitution was written in 1901

British ConstitutionBritish Constitution

The constitution is not a single document:

– laws (passed by parliament)– Common Law– conventions (unwritten rules)

QuestionsQuestions

What is a constitution?– structure of government?– criminal laws?– a single document?

What form does China’s constitution have?

Changing the ConstitutionChanging the Constitution

America: three quarters of states

Australia: public vote

Britain: no different to changing any other law

Branches of GovernmentBranches of Government

Legislative (“legislate” = make law)– two houses of parliament

Executive (“execute” = do something)– government departments, army

Judiciary (“judge” = make a court decision)– courts and judges

Legislative (all three countries)Legislative (all three countries)

Two houses: lower, upper

New laws need a majority vote in both houses

Laws may be first introduced in either house (but usually the lower house)

Lower HouseLower House

(House of Commons, House of Representatives)

Regions (with approximately equal populations) each elect one member

SenateSenate

Original reason: small American states were worried that the big states would have all the power

– America: each state elects 2 members– Australia: each state elects 7 memberss

House of LordsHouse of Lords

– nobles with inherited titles– nobles with non-inherited titles (appointed

by the Queen, on the advice of the Prime Minister)

No elections

Over 1000 Lords, but only about 250 attend regularly

ExecutiveExecutive

In Britain and Australia, the party with the most seats in the lower house becomes the government:

– Party leader becomes Prime Minister– Some members of parliament become mini

sters (control certain departments)

Queen has almost no real power (mainly symbolic)

ExecutiveExecutive

In America, the Executive is separate from the Legislative

– the people elect the president– the president appoints people to certain po

sitions (heads of departments, etc)

Presidential election every 4 years

QuestionsQuestions

Does China have a legislative, executive, and judiciary?

Compare China’s system to America and Britain:– what is similar?– what is different?

Checks and BalancesChecks and Balances

Creators of the American Constitution worried that one person (such as the President) might become too powerful

– They divided up the power

– They provided ways for one part of the government to stop another part’s activities: “checks and balances”

Checks and BalancesChecks and Balances

The legislative (Congress) makes laws, but…– the president must approve– the Supreme Court can decide the new law

is unconstitutional

The president can sign treaties, but…– the Senate must approve

Checks and BalancesChecks and Balances

Balance power between state and federal governments

Separate the branches (legislature, executive, judiciary)

Two houses of parliament

Britain: legislative is the most powerful– executive is chosen from members

Checks and BalancesChecks and Balances

New laws need the president’s approval But laws with a 2/3 majority in both hous

es of the legislative do not The Supreme Court can decide that a la

w is unconstitutional Treaties made by the president need th

e Senate’s approval The legislative can impeach (sack) the

president or a Supreme Court judge

Two Party SystemTwo Party System

(America, Britain, Australia)

Two major parties (plus smaller parties)

Therefore two choices for government/President/Prime Minister

Not imagined by the creators of the American Constitution