TEST #8 COMPARATIVE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC SYSTEMS.
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Transcript of TEST #8 COMPARATIVE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC SYSTEMS.
US GOVERNMENTTEST #8
COMPARATIVE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC SYSTEMS
Unwritten Constitution – most done by custom that has developed over centuries◦writ
Historic documents monarchy
GREAT BRITAIN
Parliament –holds legislative and executive powers◦ Legislative – lawmaking◦ Executive – chooses administrative departments
and runs nation’s affairs◦ Bi-cameral
House of Lords House of Commons
House of Lords – until 1999, members were appointed by the queen or inherited noble titles, life peers (those honored for achievements in science, literature, politics or business.◦ 682 members◦ Most are chosen by committee now◦ Reviews bills made by the House of Commons – if
opposed, it will have to be reapproved Can delay a bill or improve details of a bill
◦ Serves as the final court of appeals in criminal and civil cases
House of Commons – 659 members elected by single member districts of similar populations◦ Elections are held every 5 years◦ Opposing parties sit across from each other◦ Majority party does most of the work but any
member of Parliament can introduce a bill
Prime Minister◦ Chosen by the majority party, approved by the
queen◦ No majority, a coalition – temporary alliance of
parties – will choose the Prime Minister The Cabinet
◦ Selected by the Prime Minister from the House of Commons or House of Lords
◦ Carries out public policy
Calling elections◦ Held usually every 5 years◦ Sometimes the Prime Minister chooses to hold
elections when he thinks his party will win◦ If the majority loses votes and is judged
ineffective, the Prime Minister must ask the Monarch to dissolve Parliament and hold new elections – therefore the Prime Minister can be removed at anytime
◦ No checks and balances as in the US
Political Parties◦ Conservative party (tories)
Middle and upper class – private economic initiatives over government, less government involvement and support the class structure
◦ Labour Party Working class and poor – redistribution of wealth,
nationalization of certain industries, public welfare programs
◦ Parties have more loyalty from voters than in the US
The Courts – Northern Ireland, England and Wales◦ Crown court – criminal cases heard by judges and juries◦ Magistrate court – hears less serious cases◦ Appellate courts – hears appeals – final appeal goes to the
House of Lords Scotland – different system Decisions are based on parliamentary legislation,
common law or judicial precedent◦ Not bound to uphold a constitution or bill of rights◦ No right of judicial review – cannot overrule
Parliament
Monarchy until 1917◦ Began to decline after the Russo-Japanese War of
1905◦ Was unable to stay together during WWI
Bolshevik Revolution◦ March 1917 – Czar Nicholas II abdicates and a
provisional government under Alexander Kerensky is created and continues to support WWI
◦ Nov. 1917 – Lenin leads a coup against the provisional government.
◦ Lenin – transforms Russia into a modern yet communist nation
RUSSIA – SOVIET UNION
Lenin – transforms Russia into a modern yet communist nation
Stalin◦ “Great Purges” – purifies the party by executing
his political and military threats◦ Forced collectivization of agriculture◦ Placed emphasis on industry and military
growth◦ Rules during WWII and the beginning of the
Cold War
Government Structure◦ Soviets (councils) ◦ 15 republics
Soviet Constitution◦ Established the structure and powers of the
government◦ No limits to government power – does not guarantee
basic rights but does provide for some civil rights Legislature
◦ Rubber stamps decrees of the communist party of the Soviet Union (CPSU)usually one candidate for each members seat
Communist Party◦ pyramid structure – 400,000 primary
organizations representing 9% of the people – each headed by a party committee
◦ Top Committee – Central Committee or Politburo – head is the General Secretary
◦ Politburo was the decision making body Gorbachev
◦ Perestroika – political and economic reforms◦ Glasnost – openness of the society reducing
government censorship
Fall of the Soviet Union◦ Baltic states declared independence◦ 1991 – elections were held and Boris Yeltsin
became the President of the Russian Republic and withdrew from the communist party
◦ Gorbachev and his wife are put under arrest in a failed coup by the communist to gain back control
◦ Gorbachev resigns – Soviet Union is dissolved
1993 Constitution – establishes a republic and guarantees individual freedoms
40 political parties including the Communist Separation of Powers
◦ President – most power – appoints the Prime Minister (2nd in Command) and the ministers of the executive departments 4 yr. term, 2 term limit, 35 yrs. old, citizens, 10 year
resident◦ Legislative Branch – Federal Assembly
Bicameral – Council of Federation and the State Duma (more powerful)
Override presidential veto by 2/3’s vote◦ Constitutional Court – 19 members, 12 year terms
Power of “judicial review’
Russian Government Today
Regional and Local Governments◦49 provinces with governors◦The Federation contains 21 republics of
which 10 are autonomous areas◦Constant pressure by some republics to
break away
1949 – becomes communist nation under Mao Ze-Dong ◦ Support from the peasants◦ Great Leap Forward – plan to collectivize to increase
agricultural production and to place emphasis on heavy industry
1960’s – Cultural Revolution (1966)◦ “Red Guard” – young patriots◦ “Little Red Book” – Thoughts of Chairman Mao
1976 – Deng Xia Ping ◦ Reforms encouraging private enterprise◦ No right to political dissent◦ 1989 – Tiananmen Square demonstration
CHINA
The Constitution reflects current governmental policies – 4 have been written 1954, 1975, 1978, and 1982
Communist Party (58 million) – hold all major positions, thus they control the government◦ Similar to Soviet Union with a politburo and
Secretariat National Government
◦ National Peoples Congress – 3000 deputies elected to 5 year terms
◦ State council – Executive Branch with Premier chosen by the Communist Party
Judiciary◦ Supreme People’s Court – appointed by the National
Peoples Congress
Capitalism – economic system that rewards individuals through free enterprise and profit◦ Factors of Production
Land, Labor, capital and entrepreneurship◦ Market Economy
Free enterprise where the factors are owned by private individuals
Profits – gains from business dealings◦ Competition
Law of Supply and Demand – these forces will set prices in the market
Monopoly – one seller of a good or service within an industry Laissez-faire – business activity free of government
regulations
COMPARATIVE ECONOMIC SYSTEMS
Socialism – an economic and political philosophy based on the idea that the benefits of economic activity-wealth should be equitably distributed throughout society.◦ Collective ownership of the factors of production
The government can be democratic but must have centralized planning
◦ Rejection of individualism and competition for profit
◦ Public controls to insure equitable distribution◦ Rose out of the abuses by owners during the
Industrial Revolution.
Karl Marx – Communist Manifesto ◦ Condemned the misery of industrialism and
capitalist enslavement◦ Proletariat - workers◦ Bourgeoisie – capitalists –owners of the factors of
production◦ Socialist vs. Communist – socialist favor change
through peaceful means while communist believe change will occur through a violent revolution.
Nationalization – government take over of industries◦ Compensating owners – usually utilities and transportation◦ Giving workers some say in running the companies
(Sweden) Public Welfare – emphasis on housing, food and
medical◦ Welfare state – countries that pay extensive social services
Taxation – high taxes to pay for government services (50-60%)
Central Planned or Command Economy – determines how the resources are used and what products will be produced
Collectivist ideology which calls for the collective or state ownership of land and other productive property.
Karl Marx – Das Capital◦ View of history – class struggle◦ Theory of Labor – product should be valued based on the
labor put into making it. Workers should get the money from his labor
◦ Nature of the State – Government was used by the capitalist to keep power. Religion is used to make people tolerate the abuse in return for a better life after death
◦ Dictatorship of the Proletariat – transition phase between capitalism and classless society. Authoritarian to do the will of the masses.
COMMUNISM
Marx had believed the revolution would occur in an industrialized nations but didn’t
Both Russia and China were backward agrarian cultures
CAPITALISM VS. COMMUNISM Characteristics of communist economies
◦ Role of the Party◦ Central Planning◦ Collectivization◦ State ownership