Politics of Japan and ChinaCaitlin Mundy

China China is a Communist country and is a single-party

republic ruled by the Communist Party. national policy is determined by a 20-member

Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and, more importantly, its 7-member Standing Committee.

The president (currently Hu Jintao) is chief of state, chosen by the 2,987 members of the National People's Congress.

Hu is also the general secretary of the CCP, considered the government's most powerful position

China The premier (currently Wen Jiabao) is

head of government and is nominated by the president and confirmed by Congress.

Members of Congress are indirectly elected at local levels.

In about half of all villages, local leaders are elected rather than appointed.

The voting age is 18.

Japan Japan is a constitutional monarchy Emperor Akihito is head of state but has no

governing power. The emperor is deeply respected by the Japanese people.

Traditionally, the emperor's line was allowed to pass only through men, but in recent years, there have been discussions about amending the succession laws to include women, because the number of men in line for the throne has drastically decreased.

Japan The prime minister (currently Yoshihiko Noda) is

head of government. (This can be compared to the English government, the Queen has no political power and the prime minister is the head of government)

The prime minister and a cabinet form the executive branch. Japan's legislature, called the Diet, consists of a 242-seat House of Councilors (the upper house) and a 480-seat House of Representatives (the lower house).

Councilors are elected to six-year terms; representatives are elected to four-year terms.

Japan More than one hundred seats in the Diet

are held by second or third generations of a family, as voter loyalty to a local political family is often stronger than a desire for qualified candidates.

The voting age is 20

Work Cited "China." CultureGrams Online Edition.

ProQuest, 2012. Web. 30 April 2012. "Japan." CultureGrams Online Edition.

ProQuest, 2012. Web. 2 May 2012.