Presented by Professor Tim O'Loughlin

1. Comparative systems of democratic
government

3. Comparative Systems of
Government

5. US Constitutional Government
 Originally 13 English colonies
 War of Independence 1775-1783
 1776: Thomas Jefferson writes United States
Declaration of Independence approved by
Congress
 1788 Constitution: outcome of debate over strong
national government versus federalists
 Constitution established:
 elected president
 national courts
 a bicameral Congress that represented both states
in the Senate and population in the House of
Representatives

6. US Declaration of Independence
 all men are created equal
 with certain inalienable rights - life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness
 governments derive their just powers from the
consent of the governed
 it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it,
and to institute new government, whenever any
form of government becomes destructive of these
ends

7. United States Bill of Rights of
1791
 first ten amendments to the Constitution
 guaranteeing many natural rights
 attempted to balance a strong national
government with strong state governments and
broad personal liberties

8. US Federalism

9. United States

11. US Separation of Powers

16. US Congress
Senate
 100 members. The vice president of the United States is president of
the Senate, the only example of a U.S. governmental official serving in
two branches of government. The vice president's leadership role in the
Senate largely is ceremonial. The vice president, in his role as Senate
president, votes only in the event of a tie.
House of Representatives
 The House is made up of 435 voting members and six non-voting
members. The Speaker of the House is the leader of the House of
Representatives, elected by the majority party.
Voting Rules
 In the House, legislation passes upon a majority vote of members
present. The Senate, being a smaller body, requires a supermajority of
at least 60 members to end debate and move legislation to a vote.
Committees
 A great deal of the work of both the Senate and the House of
Representatives is done through committees and subcommittees.
Through committees and subcommittees, proposed legislation initially is
considered, including hearings on bills

18. 58 Democrats, 40 Republicans, 2 Independents

20. Elections Tuesday, November 8 for:
• the President of the United States and Vice President
• all 435 voting-member seats in the House of Representatives
• 34 of the 100 seats in the Senate

24. United Kingdom

25. UK Parliament

26. TOTAL: 649

35. Northcote Treveleyan

36. Australian Parliament

38. First past the post
Candidate Votes
Jones 40
Smith 35
Taylor 25
TOTAL 100
Jones is the most liked candidate
Jones wins

40. Proportional representation
Candidate Votes Taylors
second
preference
TOTAL
Jones 40 5 45
Smith 35 20 55
Taylor 25
TOTAL 100
Smith is the least disliked candidate
Smith wins

41. China

46. Assembly standing in relation to the
executive
Submissive
assembly
Inhibited
assembly
Adversary
assembly
Autonomous
assembly
Dominant
assembly
Former USSR Kenyan
Parliament
British House
of Commons
United States
Congress
French
National
assembly (4th
Republic)
Tanzanian
Assembly
French
National
Assembly (5th
Republic)
Australian
Parliament
Swedish
Riksdag
Italian
Parliament