The Political System

THE POLITICAL SYSTEM
UNITED STATES VS GREAT BRITAIN

 The USA is a Democracy -
ideology which allows people
freedom of speech,right to
vote for different political
parties if over 18.
 The Constitution set out 3
different branches of
government –
President,Congress&Supreme
Court.
 Separation of powers
designed to stop any one
branch or part of government
becoming too powerful.
The executive
Government
(The President)– 3 branches
The Judiciary The Legislature

(Supreme Court) (Congress)
Separation of Powers
 Americans feel that there  The President must be a

are dangers for the born American & be aged
people if the 3 branches 35+.
of government are  The President is elected
concentrated in the by direct vote of the
hands of one person. people in each store.
 In the US Constitution  The job of the President is
each branch of to suggest ways to run
government was kept the country (i.e.
separate from the others. suggesting tax
levels,immigration etc).
Congress has 2 houses:
1. The Senate House of Representatives

 100 members(X2  435 members
senators per state)  Number depends on the
 Senators are elected size o the population in
for a term of 6 years. each state.
 States with large
populations have more
representatives.
 Congressmen elected
for 2-years term.
 The job of Congress is to decide on which of
the President’s suggestions for running the
country should go ahead.
Sometimes called the “watchdog
of the Constitution”
 Highest Judicial Power in the
land and consists of judges.
 Main task - to overlook the
political system to see that all
laws operate in the interests of
the American people and not
harm their rights and freedoms
as guaranteed by the
Constitution.
 Has full weight of law and can
“throw out” any measures
contrary to the American
Constitution.
To make sure that no single branch of
government becomes too powerful, a system of
‘checks and balances’is built in.
 President suggests most laws but Congress

must pass them.
 Congress can pass laws but the Supreme Court
must approve them.
 President can appoint new Supreme Court judge
but Congress must approve the appointment.
 The timing of the elections was arranged so that
the electorate could quickly change the balance
of power should any group become dominant.
1. President proposes the
law.
2. The Congress must sign
the law.
3. The President must sign
law. It then
becomes law…But if it is
challenged…
4. The Supreme Court will
decide if it is
constitutional or
unconstituional.
Great Britain
 Britain is a constitutional monarchy.
That means it is a country governed by
a king or a queen who accepts the
advice of a parliament.
 It is also a parliamentary democracy.
That is, it is a country whose
government is controlled by a
parliament which has been elected by
the people.
 The highest positions in the
government are filled by the members
of the directy elected parliament.
 In Britain, as in many European
countries, the official head of state,
whether a monarch (as in Belgium, the
Netherlands or Denmark) or a
president (as in Germany, Greece or
Italy) has little power.
Separation of powers
 Legislature: supreme authority is Parliament

 The Executive consists of: the Government,
local authorities and public corporations
 The Judiciary: the court system (hierarchy of
courts)
The Monarchy
 The Queen is head of State and an important
symbol of national unity
 Head of the executive
 An integral part of the legislature
 Commander-in-chief of the armed forces
 The ‘supreme governor’ of the Church of
England
The Queen’s role in government
 Britain is governed by Her Majesty’s

Government in the name of the Queen
 The Queen’s role: summoning, proroguing
(discontinuing until the next session without
dissolution) and dissolving Parliament; giving
Royal Assent to Bills passed by Parliament
 Appointment of important office holders
International affairs
 As head of State, the Queen has the power to

declare war and make peace, to recognise
foreign states and governments, to conclude
treaties
The Legislature - Parliament
The Queen – formal powers
The House of Commons – the supreme legislative

body
The House of Lords
The Supreme Court

The functions:
 To pass laws
 To provide, by voting for taxation, the means
of carrying on the work of government
 To scrutinise government policy and
administration
 To debate major issues of the day
The House of Lords The House of Commons
 92 elected hereditary  An elected body

peers and peeresses  650 MPs directly elected
 Life peers by voters
 The Archbishops and  General elections and
Bishops of the Church by-elections
of England  Annual salary and travel
allowances
 The chief officer is the
Speaker elected by the
Members
The
Supreme
Court
The meeting of Parliament
 A maximum duration of five years

 Dissolved by the Queen
 The life of a parliament is divided into
sessions
 Each session lasts for one year (beginning and
ending in October or November) – 160 ‘sitting
days’
 Opens with the Queen’s speech, ends by
prorogation
The Government
 The Government consists of the ministers appointed by

the Crown on the recommendation of the Prime Minister.
The Cabinet
 The Cabinet consists of a small group of the most
important ministers selected by the Prime Minister
 Today the number is 23
 The Cabinet determines, controls and integrates the
policies of the government for submission to Parliament
The Prime Minister
 The Prime Minister is the head of the

government and presides over meetings of
the Cabinet
 He consults and advises the Monarch on
government business, supervises and co-
ordinates the work of various ministries and
departments
Bibliography
 THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – POLITICAL

STRUCTURE Adina PAICU Lect. Univ.dr. Universitatea
“Constantin Brancusi” Tg-Jiu, Romania.
 The political system of Great Britain
https://www.grin.com/document/98364
 The structure of the U.S. political system
https
://dk.usembassy.gov/da/youth-education-da/the-americ
an-political-system/the-political-system-in-the-u-s-struc
ture
/
 The Supreme Court of UK

The Political System

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THE POLITICAL SYSTEM

UNITED STATES VS GREAT BRITAIN

The Judiciary The Legislature

 Americans feel that there  The President must be a

1. The Senate House of Representatives

 President suggests most laws but Congress

 Legislature: supreme authority is Parliament

 Britain is governed by Her Majesty’s

 As head of State, the Queen has the power to

The Queen – formal powers

The House of Commons – the supreme legislative

The House of Lords

The Supreme Court

 92 elected hereditary  An elected body

 A maximum duration of five years

 The Government consists of the ministers appointed by

 The Prime Minister is the head of the

 THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – POLITICAL

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