GOVERNMENT OF EUROPE

GOVERNMENT OF EUROPE SS6CG4 - The student will compare and contrast various forms of government SS6CG5 – The student will explain the structures of modern European government

ELEMENTS • Describe the waysgovernmentsystemsdistribute power: unitary, confederation, and federal • Explain how governmentsdeterminecitizen participation: autocratic, oligarchic, anddemocratic • Describe the twopredominantforms of democraticgovernments: parliamentary andpresidential • Compare the parliamentary system of the United Kingdom, the federal system of the FederalRepublic of Germany, and federation of the RussianFederation, distinguishing the form ofleadership and the role of the citizen in terms of votingrights and personalfreedoms. • Describe the purpose of the European Union and the relationshipbetweenmembernations

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS • How do the unitary, confederation, and federal government systems distribute power? • How do autocratic, oligarchic, and democratic governments determine citizen participation? • What are the components of parliamentary and presidential government? • How are the governments of the United Kingdom, Germany, and Russia different and how are these governments similar? • What is the purpose of the European Union? • What is the relationship of the member nations of the European Union?

DISTRIBUTION OF POWER • Governments have three basic ways they can distribute power • Unitary System • In this system, one central government has all the power and makes the laws, while also giving smaller units like cities and towns other forms of power. • The central government has the final say on all decision making • Federal System • In this system, the central government divides the power with smaller units, like a state • Power is given to the regional and local governments, but the central government deals with issues that affect the entire country • Confederation System • In this system, each smaller unit has the final say on all decision making and laws • Central government only makes decisions when they affect the entire confederation • Rarest system in the world

EXAMPLES OF GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS UNITARY FEDERAL CONFEDERATION

CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNMENT • Autocracy • “Rule by one” • One leader holds all the power • Citizens do not participate in any government choices (voting, taxes) • Oligarchy • “Rule by few” • Small group holds all the power • Usually the wealthy • Only the powerful people have citizenship participation • Democracy • “Rule by the people” • Citizens hold the power • Citizens participate in the government (voting, taxes) • Citizens are all equal

EXAMPLES OF CITIZEN PARTICIPATION Autocracy – Nazi Germany Oligarchy – U.S.S.R. Democracy – United States

TYPES OF DEMOCRACY: PARLIAMENTARY VS PRESIDENTIAL Parliamentary Democracy Presidential Democracy • Power controlled by legislature • Called Parliament • Headed by prime minister • Has a cabinet • Answers to the legislature • Government stays in power indefinitely • Only way to lose power is if prime minster loses support of the majority party, which causes him to resign • Three branches of government with equal powers • Executive, Legislative, Judicial • Checks and balances allows each branch to keep the other from having too much power • People elect the president, and he answers to his voters

EXAMPLE OF PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM

EXAMPLE OF PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM

GERMANY – FEDERAL REPUBLIC Germany has a federal system and is led by a president and a chancellor. The president is a figurehead with no real power, while the chancellor holds power. He is chosen by Parliament. Germany has a bicameral, or two house, law making body. The houses are the Bundestag and the Bundesrat. Germany’s citizens have basic rights and freedoms, such as voting, free speech and free religion.

RUSSIA - FEDERATION Russia has a federation where power is divided. The leader is the president, and second is the prime minister. Russia’s law makers are the Federal Assembly, and their two houses are the Federation Council and State Duma. Since Communism is now gone, Russia’s citizens have basic rights and freedoms, such as freedom of speech, religion and freedom of movement

U.K. – PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY The United Kingdom has a parliamentary system, with a king or queen as its figurehead. They have no real power, and the power is held by a prime minister. The laws are made by Parliament, which has two houses, the House of Commons and the House of Lords. U.K citizens have most of the same rights as U.S. citizens, such as freedom of religion, freedom of press, freedom of speech, and voting rights.

THE EUROPEAN UNION • The European Union is a group of 28 European countries who work together for the good of Europe • Their goal is to promote trade, assist in social issues, provide protection for each other and to create peace • The Union has established its own court, it provides money to poorer nations, helping the environment with strict standards and improving trade between its member nations • Some member countries include the United Kingdom, Poland, France, Greece, Finland, Hungary, Sweden and Germany

GOVERNMENT OF EUROPE