BRITISH, AMERICAN, ITALIAN POLITICAL SYSTEMS

COMPARE AND CONTRAST:

AMERICAN, BRITISH and ITALIAN POLITICAL SYSTEMS and PARTIES

DIVISION OF POWERS

Legislative power

Judicial power

Executive power

HEADS OF STATE

Joe Biden

Sergio Mattarella

King Charles III

In UK, the monarch is the head os State and a symbol of unity. He chooses the Prime Minister and the members of the Government, who are actually elected by people. His reign usually lasts until his death.

In Italy, the president is the head of the Italian armed forces and chairs the High Council of the Judiciary. His office term lasts 7 years

In USA, the president is the head of State, the head of the federal government, the head of the armed forces. His term lasts 4 years.

THE LEGISLATIVE POWER: UK

The British Parliament makes laws and approves the decisions of the government. It is idvided in two houses:

1. House of Commons: there are 650 MPs (one for each constituency) elected by the people. They criticise or support actions of the government and approve or reject bills;
2. House of Lords: there are 750 peers. Some of them have inherited their titles, others are life peers. They can change bills, but they cannot reject them.

Palace of Westminster: home of the Parliament

THE LEGISLATIVE POWER: ITALY

Palazzo Montecitorio: home of the Chamber of Deputies

The Parliament is elected every five years and is divided in two assemblies:

1. Chamber of Deputies: there are 400 members, called deputati, elected by people;
2. Senate of the Republic: there are 200 members elected by people. There are also some "senators for life" elected by the President of the Republic.

The Italian system is called "perfect bicameralism" because the two assemblies have the same power. The Parliament approves the laws, directs and controls the activity of the Government, carries out investigations on matters of public interest, grants and revokes the confidence to the Government.

Palazzo Madama: home of the Senate

THE LEGISLATIVE POWER: USA

The Congress makes laws. It is divided in two houses:

1. Senate: there are 100 senators (two for each State) with a 6-year term. Every two years a third of the seats come up to election. It is more powerful than the House;
2. House of Representatives: there are 435 members, which number for each State is proportional to its population. They are elected every two years.

Every law must be approved by both the houses and the President. He can veto, but his veto can be overturned by a two-thirds majority in the Congress.

Capitol Hill: home of the Congress

THE EXECUTIVE POWER: UK

The Prime Minister (PM) is the leader of the party with most MPs in the Commons and he has to choose the other MPs from the party. The second party for number of MPs is the opposition. The Government can be formed by a coalition of parties too.The PM remains in charge for five years, if it has the support of a majority of MPs. Today the Prime Minister is Rushi Sunak (Conservative party).

10 Downing Street: it is the address of PM's house

THE EXECUTIVE POWER: ITALY

The Government of Italy is composed by the President of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister) and Ministers. The President of Italy appoints the Prime Minister, who is usually the leader of the party that obtained most votes during the elections, and, on his proposal, the Ministers that form its cabinet. The Government must have the confidence of both Houses. If the majority coalition no longer supports the Government, the Prime Minister can be revoked with a vote of no confidence and the President can either appoint a new Prime Minister capable of forming a government with the support of Parliament or dissolve Parliament and call for new elections. The current Italian PM is Giorgia Meloni.

Palazzo Chigi: home of the Italian Governmente

THE EXECUTIVE POWER: USA

The Cabinet holds the executive power in USA. It is formed by the vice president of the United States and the heads of the executive branch's departments in the federal government of the United States. The President chairs the meetings but is not formally a member of the Cabinet. The heads of departments are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate.

Joe Biden's Cabinet

THE EXECUTIVE POWER: UK

The two main parties are:

1. Labour party: it is a left-wing party born in 1900 to give voice to the workers. Its symbol is a rose. It is strong in Northern England and most of its votes come from ethnic minorities and working class;
2. Conservative party: called also the Tories. It is a right-wing party and its symbol is an oak. It is stronger in the rural South of England and the majority of its votes come from middle class.

The national parties of Scotland, Ireland and Wales (which demand for independence for their countries) are becoming stronger and stronger.

THE EXECUTIVE POWER: USA

The 2 main American parties are:

1. Republican Party: it is also called "Grand Old Party". Its symbols are the elephant and the colour red. It belongs to the right wing and wants a strong military defence and free markets. The majority of its voters are white, Protestant and wealthy people;
2. Democratic Party: it belongs to the left wing and its symbols are the donkey and the colour blue. It fights for social rights and investments in healthcare, education and infrastructures. Most of its voters are young people, women or people who belong to ethnic minorities.

THE JUDICIAL POWER: UK

It is held by the Supreme Court formed by 12 senior judges appointed as members of the House of Lords. It makes final decisions on difficult cases.

Middlesex Hall, home of the British Supreme Court

THE JUDICIAL POWER: USA

It is held by the Supreme Court formed by 9 judges appointed by the President with the Senate's approval. They serve for all of their lives. It defends the constitution, decides if actions by the President or Congress are constitutional and ensures the balance between the two of them and the federal government and the 50 State governments.

The U.S. Supreme Court Building

THE JUDICIAL POWER: ITALY

It is held by the Magistrature, which is formed by all the Italian judges and magistrates. It has to analyze the cases, announce verdicts and decide for a punishment.

The courthouse of Turin, one of the homes of the Magistrature

THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

the 20 regions have very little freedom in some fields. Only the 5 "regioni a statuto speciale" have more autonomy.

ITALY: REGIONS

each of the 50 States have its own government that holds legislative, executive and judicial power. It acts on a lower level than the one of the Federal Government

USA: STATES

they have some freedom in fields such as healthcare and education

UK: COUNTIES

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