Lesson 12 min 20 XP
Comparing Systems
US, UK, France, China, India side by side.
The best way to understand any government system is to compare it with others. Here are five major systems side by side.
The Comparison
| Feature | US | UK | France | India | China |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Presidential | Parliamentary | Semi-presidential | Parliamentary | One-party state |
| Head of State | President (elected) | Monarch (hereditary) | President (elected) | President (ceremonial) | President (CCP-selected) |
| Head of Gov't | President | Prime Minister | Prime Minister | Prime Minister | Premier (State Council) |
| Legislature | Congress (2 chambers) | Parliament (2 chambers) | Parliament (2 chambers) | Parliament (2 chambers) | National People's Congress |
| Power Structure | Federal | Devolved unitary | Unitary | Federal | Unitary (centralized) |
| Judiciary | Strong judicial review | Growing judicial review | Constitutional Council | Strong judicial review | Party-controlled |
| Constitution | Written (1788) | Unwritten (conventions) | Written (1958, 5th Republic) | Written (1950) | Written but CCP supreme |
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