Malcolm Rivera
The United States is often described as a constitutional federal republic, with a hybrid government that is simultaneously a constitutional republic, a representative democracy, and a democratic republic. The US is a federal system, with power shared between a national government and regional and local governments. The US Constitution provides the framework for how the federal and state governments are structured and places limits on their powers. While the US is a republic, other countries also share this system of government, including Germany, which is a parliamentary republic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Government | Constitutional federal republic |
| Source of Authority | Constitution |
| Legitimacy of Officials | Consent of the people |
| Power | People hold power but elect representatives to exercise it |
| Election | Every four years |
| Federal System | Power shared between national government and governments of 50 states |
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What You'll Learn
The United States is a constitutional federal republic
While the United States is often categorized as a democracy, it is more accurately defined as a constitutional federal republic. The US system of government is considered constitutional because the power exercised by the people and their representatives is bound by the Constitution and the broader rule of law. The Constitution is the supreme law of the United States, providing the framework for how the federal and state governments are structured and placing limits on their powers. It carefully limits government, for example by separating power into three branches.
The US is also a federal system, with power shared between a national government and the governments of the 50 states. The national government represents the entire populace, while the regional and local governments also hold power. This federal system is unique to the US, with no other country operating a similar system.
The US is a republic because the people hold the ultimate political power, but elect representatives to exercise that power. This is in contrast to a direct democracy, where the people directly make political decisions. The US is a representative democracy, or a representative republic.
The Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution are the two most important documents in the United States. The Declaration lays out the core ideals and political philosophy of the country, while the Constitution creates practical structures and rules for the federal and state governments. The Constitution begins with "We the People", emphasizing that the government remains bound to its principles and promises.
The US has been described as being in a late republican phase, with some arguing that the two-party system and polarization along partisan lines are characteristic of this stage.
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Germany is a federal democratic constitutional republic
The United States is a constitutional federal republic, where the government is based on a Constitution, which acts as the supreme law of the land. The Constitution provides a framework for the structure of the federal and state governments, while also limiting their powers. The US is a republic because its citizens hold power but elect representatives to exercise that power.
Similarly, Germany is a federal democratic constitutional republic. The Federal Republic of Germany was founded in 1949, and its government authority is derived from its constitution, the Grundgesetz (Basic Law), which is the most important legal foundation of the country. The Basic Law establishes Germany as a constitutional state, where government authority is bound by laws and divided into the legislative, executive, and judicial branches to prevent the abuse of power.
Germany's Basic Law also establishes the country as a federal state, with authority divided between 16 federal states and the central state. This federal system grants considerable autonomy to the states, a reaction to the centralization of power during the Nazi era. The Basic Law has two other features similar to the US Constitution: a formal declaration of human rights and a strong emphasis on the independence of the courts.
In terms of government structure, Germany's Basic Law established a parliamentary system, incorporating features of the British system, as well as models from the United States and other federal governments. The Federal Chancellor is the only member of the Federal Government to be elected, and they personally choose their ministers. Germany's parliament belongs to the legislative branch, while the government belongs to the executive branch. The judicial branch, with independent judges at both state and federal levels, plays a crucial role in ensuring that decisions are made solely based on the law.
Both the United States and Germany share similarities in their systems of government, with both being classified as constitutional federal republics. Germany's system, established after World War II, incorporates lessons from history and aims to prevent the abuse of power through checks and balances and a division of authority.
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Italy has a written democratic constitution
The United States is categorised as a constitutional federal republic. This means that the government is based on a constitution, which provides a framework for the federal and state governments' structure and limits their powers. The US is also considered a democracy, as the people hold the ultimate political power, electing representatives to exercise that power.
Italy, like the US, has a written democratic constitution. The Italian Constitution was created by a Constituent Assembly of 556 members, encompassing a wide range of political and social views, including Christian democrats, liberals, leftists, socialists, communists, and the Common Man's group. The Assembly was deeply anti-fascist, emphasising legislative power over executive power and shaping the Constitution's fundamental principles.
The Italian Constitution, established on 22 December 1947, declares the democratic nature of the Italian Republic, with sovereignty belonging to the people. It outlines the defence of the homeland as a sacred duty for every citizen and establishes a progressive form of taxation, requiring citizens to contribute to public expenditure according to their capability.
The Constitution also recognises free enterprise, provided it does not harm the common good, safety, liberty, human dignity, health, or the environment. It allows for the free establishment of trade unions and grants them legal personality, enabling them to enter into collective labour agreements.
The Italian Constitution, like many written constitutions, requires enabling legislation to accomplish its provisions fully. This process has been ongoing, and some argue that it is still not complete due to various political considerations. Amendments are made as needed, with the latest amendment included as of 26 September 2023, amending Article 33.
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France is a semi-presidential republic
The United States is a constitutional federal republic, with federal referring to the shared power between a national government and regional governments. A republic is a form of government in which the people hold power but elect representatives to exercise that power.
France's semi-presidential system has evolved over time, with the current French constitution, known as the Fifth Republic, established in 1958 with contributions from the first president, General De Gaulle, and the first prime minister, Michel Debre. The Fifth Republic has been modified 17 times, including amendments in 2000 that reduced the length of the French president's term to five years, lowering the chances of cohabitation between a president and prime minister from different parties. The French Parliament is bicameral, consisting of the Assemblee Nationale (National Assembly) as the primary house, and the Senate as the higher chamber.
While France's semi-presidential system provides advantages by incorporating elements from both presidential and parliamentary republics, it also creates disadvantages related to confusion over mixed authority patterns. Additionally, some argue that semi-presidential republics are more prone to democratic backsliding and power struggles, especially those with a president-parliamentary system.
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The UK, Canada, and Australia are constitutional monarchies
The United States is a constitutional federal republic, where the government is based on a constitution, which is the supreme law of the country. While the US is often categorized as a democracy, it is more accurately defined as a republic, where the people hold power but elect representatives to exercise that power.
Now, while the UK, Canada, and Australia are not republics, they are constitutional monarchies. This means that they have a monarch as their head of state, but this monarch is bound by the constitution and democratic principles.
In the UK, the current monarch is King Charles III, who possesses the ultimate legal responsibility for a variety of functions, such as appointing ministers or other important posts and representing the country internationally. However, in practice, many of these functions are delegated to or advised by the Prime Minister and other ministers. For example, the Prime Minister chooses who to appoint to ministerial posts, and decisions about armed combat are made by politicians.
Canada is also a constitutional monarchy, with the monarch as the head of state and the prime minister as the head of government. The monarch's powers and responsibilities are established and limited by the Canadian Constitution and other laws, and they are carried out by the Governor General, who is the monarch's representative in Canada. The Governor General has responsibilities in areas such as constitutional duties, honours presentation, military duties, and ceremonies, which they perform in a non-partisan manner.
Similarly, Australia is a constitutional monarchy, where the person who is the monarch of the United Kingdom is also the monarch of Australia. The monarch appoints the governor-general on the advice of the prime minister, and this is one of the monarch's mandatory constitutional functions. The governor-general then publicly proclaims the accession of a new monarch upon the death or abdication of the previous one.
So, while the UK, Canada, and Australia are not the same as a constitutional republic like the US, they have all implemented democratic principles within their monarchical systems of government.
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Frequently asked questions
A constitutional republic is a system of government in which the source of authority is a constitution, and the power and authority come from the people, not a supreme authority like a king. The constitution protects the rights of the people and places limits on the powers of the governments.
The United States, Germany, Italy, France, and South Korea are some examples of constitutional republics.
In a constitutional monarchy, a monarch acts as the head of the state, while in a constitutional republic, the people hold the power and elect representatives to exercise that power.
