Unitary Governments - UK and China

Unitary Governments - UK and China

Multiple Choice

In the previous lesson, we learned about governments that are described as both federal and presidential. Which two nations were the examples we learned about?

• US and UK

• US and Mexico

• UK and China

• UK and Mexico

Multiple Choice

When comparing governments, a system described as federal has both

• a Congress and a prime minister.

• levels of government and a prime minister.

• levels of government and separation of powers.

• separation of powers and a Congress.

Multiple Choice

The US House of Representatives is similar to the Mexican

• Chamber of Deputies.

• Senate.

• Parliament.

• House of Delegates.

Multiple Choice

Which judicial body has more members?

• US Supreme Court

• Supreme Court of Justice

​A unitary system of government places power in one central authority. There are no levels of government unless the central authority chooses to create them. The examples for this type of government are the United Kingdom and the People's Republic of China.

Multiple Choice

The image at the left is a map of

• the United Kingdom.

• the People's Republic of China.

• the United States.

• Mexico.

​Legislative Branch of UK

bicameral system called Parliament

​

• ​upper house is House of Lords

• ​lower house is House of Commons (only this body is elected by the people)

• ​Parliament also contains the monarch (king or queen)

​The UK's system is also parliamentary in nature. The leader of Parliament (the prime minister) is chosen from among the members of the House of Commons to perform duties similar to those of the president in the

US. The current prime minister is Keir
Starmer, who has been serving in that

role since July 2024.

​So the major difference between parliamentary and presidential systems is that, in a presidential system, the head of the executive branch is elected separately to do that job. In a parliamentary system, the head of the executive branch is chosen from among the members of the legislature.

​People's Republic of China

​Another nation with a unitary system of government is the People's Republic of China.

​China is not a limited government. It is an authoritarian government, where one person or small group holds all the power. Therefore, decisions are made by the person or small group, not by the voters.

​In China's authoritarian government, power is held by the members of the Chinese Communist Party. It is a one-political party system.

The constitution under

which China is currently

governed was adopted in

1982. It grants power to the

Chinese Communist Party

over elections, the military, the media, and all national concerns.

​In simplest terms, if you are not a member of the Chinese Communist Party, you have no say in government.

​China's legislature is called the National People's Congress. The NPC meets in Beijing, China's capital. It is unicameral (one house) and has almost 3000 members. Members serve for 5 years.

​The executive branch is headed by the president, who also holds the position of General Secretary of the

CCP. Currently, Xi Jinping

is the president. He has

held that title since 2013.

​China's executive branch also contains the office of premier. The premier heads the State Council, which is made up of department and agency heads. The current

premier is Li Qiang. He has

held the position since March

2023.

​China's judicial branch is headed by the Supreme People's Court. It has about 400 judges. They are appointed by the NPC.