Comparative Government

The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy under a democratic parliamentary regime. The United Kingdom reached its greatest global influence in the Victorian era and then endured the strains of the two world wars without impairment to its political institutions but with a reduction in relative economic strength and military power. The constitutional monarchy operates without a written constitution on the basis of long-standing but flexible traditions. The British constitution is formed partly by statute, partly by common law, and partly by convention, and it can be altered by Act of Parliament or by general agreement to make a change. The organs of government are distinguishable but have functions that often overlap. The supreme authority is the legislature, Parliament. The executive branch consists of the Government, or the Cabinet and other ministers who are responsible for initiating and directing national policy; gov

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, including a series of constitutional amendments. The constitution of 1958 retained many features of France's previous governmental structure while also enhancing the powers of the presidency. The presidency was also expanded by de Gaulle's broad interpretation of executive prerogative. There are two national legislative houses, the National Assembly and the Senate. Most members of the Senate are elected indirectly by an electoral college, while deputies to the National Assembly are elected under a single-member constituency (Banks, 1990, 213-215). Under the Fifth Republic, the Senate has been reduced to a limiting and delaying role. It has 321 members selected by thirds every three years for nine-year terms. The National Assembly consists of 577 deputies elected by two-round majority voting for five-year terms, subject to dissolution (Banks, 1990, 220). France has a multiparty system that has changed greatly since World War II. The major elements of the system still show themselves within a continually changing pattern of electoral and parliamentary alliances. Different parties have been formed, and changing coalitions have resulted in new organizations around specific issues and concepts. In 1981, the Socialist vict
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Approximate Word count = 1852
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)

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