Running Head: COMPROMISE 1

Why Cant We Just Compromise: A Look into Comparative Government

Nicholas Amelang

University of Mississippi
Why Cant We Just Compromise 2

Abstract

Looking into the different governments of Greece, Russia, England, and Italy one can understand

how compromising can be difficult. Every country has a unique style of government and some

can be very similar. The politics behind each country has proven to be beneficial and can surly

be used very easily to describe if the countries governments are causing internal and external

problems with the rest of the world. One similarity that all four countries have is the office of a

Prime Minister. Having a Prime Minister implies that all four countries are bicameral house

system. The Prime Ministers of England and Greece hold more power than the actual Heads of

State. In Russia, President Vladimir Putin has held power in Russia since 1999 as both Prime

Minister and President. Italys Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, has just recently come into power

and is also Italys youngest Prime Minister. These factors show how easily these four countries

can be compared.
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Why Cant We Just Compromise: A Look into Comparative Government

Comparative politics opens many doors to look into different countries and different

styles of government. Greece, Russia, England, and Italy have government styles that are both

different and similar. Knowing about their styles of government and how these countries use

their powers to govern themselves. The ideals of these governments shall reveal the aspects of

world relations. The governments of Greece, Russia, England, and Italy have similarities and

differences, but taking a closer look the evidence falls into place.

Greece is officially known as the Hellenic Republic and is a Parliamentary Republic. The

President is elected every five years by Parliament and is the Head of State. The current

President of Greece is Karolos Papoulias (Southeast European Times, 2005). His political party

affiliations belong to the Panhellenic Socialist Movement and was also a founding member of the

party (Southeast European Times, 2005). The current Prime Minister of Greece is Antonis

Samaras and his political party affiliations belong to the New Democracy Party (About Greece,

2009). Greeces government style strictly revolves around Parliament.

Parliament and the President of the Republic strongly exercise legislative power (About

Greece, 2009). Executive power is exercised by the government and the President of the

Republic (About Greece, 2009). Courts of law execute judicial power (About Greece, 2009).

The decision-making body that constitutes the Greek government is the Ministerial Council

which consists of the Prime Minister, Ministers, and Deputy Ministers (About Greece, 2009).

The Presidents first major duty is to formally appoint the Prime Minister, but his political power

is limited. He may also appoint and dismiss other members of government, as well as

representing the State in relations to other States (About Greece, 2009). As being Head of State
Why Cant We Just Compromise 4

one would believe the President would have more political power, but unfortunately the powers

are limited to those stated.

The current Hellenic Republic of Greece is in the Third Republic (About Greece, 2009).

The Third Republic has been in place since July 1974 (About Greece, 2009). The third republic

signaled a turning point in Modern Greek political history beginning with the collapse of the

military regime that had been in power since 1967 (About Greece, 2009). The national unity

government served in power during a seven year transitional period (About Greece, 2009). The

first stage of the national unity government was to organize free parliamentary elections for the

constitutional assembly (About Greece, 2009). The second stage was to organize a referendum

on the question of the monarchy, and the third stage was the legalization of the Communist Party

that was once illegal (About Greece, 2009). Greek politics seems to be very complicated, but if

you peel back the layers of the metaphorical onion that is Greeces political system one would be

amazed at what they could learn.

Russias government could be considered one of great complication. Ever since 1999

when Vladimir Putin became the first successor to the first President of Russia. Vladimir is the

current President of Russia and basically gets what he wants when it comes to political policy.

The current Prime Minister of Russia is Dmitry Medvedev (Infoplease, 2010). Medvedev was

elected president in 2008 and then appointed Prime Minister in 2012 (Infoplease, 2010). Even as

president Medvedev was practically taking orders from the Prime Minister, Putin. The Russian

government has basically decided that if Putin wants it then he gets it.

Some would say that the Russian government would be corrupt, but others would say that

Putin rules Russian government with fear. The Russian Federation is governed under the

constitution of 1993 (Infoplease, 2010). The president after being popularly elected is eligible to
Why Cant We Just Compromise 5

serve two consecutive terms (Infoplease, 2010). The terms of course were extended from four to

six years terms in 2012 thanks to Putins reelection to President (Infoplease, 2010). The Federal

Assembly of Russia is divided into two houses, upper house being the Federal Council and the

lower house is the State Duma (Infoplease, 2010). The Federation Council consists of 166

members with two representatives from the governments of each republic (Infoplease, 2010).

The State Duma has 450 members and it is proportionally represented by each of its members

(Infoplease, 2010).

Russias government is one of great mystery as to why they would allow Putin to have as

much power, but if that style of government works for Russia who is to argue. Putin is a man

that runs his country through fear and fear alone. Russia has great faith in Putin otherwise the

government would not let him have the amount of power that he does. Now of course there

should be more checks and balances with Putins power, but whatever Putin wants happens and

what he does not want does not happen.

England is known by many as the mother country of the United States, but they do have a

very strong standing democracy. The Head of State in the UK is Queen Elizabeth and the Head

of Government is Prime Minister David Cameron. The Prime Minister is ultimately responsible

for all policy and decision making. The two houses that make up British Parliament are the

House of Lords, the upper house, and the House of Commons, the lower house. Now Parliament

works rather interesting as Robin Williams would say, Parliament is like Congress, but with a

two drink minimum. Needless to say that he is not entirely wrong since Parliament is a lot of

bad mouthing back and forth between the members.

Now most would think that the Queen would have more power diplomatically than the

Prime Minister, but the Queen is a Parliamentary monarch. The Prime Minister holds all of the
Why Cant We Just Compromise 6

diplomatic power with the Queen being more of a figure-head. Now the Prime Minister is also

known as the Minister for the Civil Service (How Government Works, 2012). The law making

process however can take some time to complete since both the House of Commons and House

of Lords have to work together to solve this matter. It makes sense that both houses must work

together to form laws, but since both houses rarely agree it makes the process a little more

complicated. Of course the big thing to remember is that Parliament and government are

separate (How Government Works, 2012).

Britain has one of the oldest governments in the world (How Government Works, 2012).

Even in the days of the British Empire government still existed and that was during a time when

the crown in England had more power than it does now. Both Houses must look at what the

government is doing, debate issues and pass new laws, and lastly set taxes (How Government

Works, 2012). Now the current Prime Minister comes from the House of Commons which of

course means the everyday people. His duties are as follows: oversee the operation of the Civil

Service and government agencies, appoints members of the government, and is the principal

government figure in the House of Commons (How Government Work, 2012).

Italy has been through some rises and falls throughout its history. Its government is the

same way almost. Matteo Renzi is Italys youngest Prime Minister and was appointed this year

of 2014 (Infoplease, 2014). Italys current president, Giorgio Napolitano, has been in power

since 2006 (Infoplease, 2014). Matteo Renzi at the age of 39 was sworn in on February 22, 2014

to succeed his predecessor Berlusconi (Infoplease, 2014). Now this can either be troubling or a

blessing when it comes to Italian government with Renzi being so young. Apparently Italy finds

this a blessing since Matteo Renzi is often referred to as Demolition Man (Infoplease, 2014).
Why Cant We Just Compromise 7

Now of course these governments have their difference, but they do have one key

similarity. Each of the four countries selected for this paper have a Prime Minister. Now this

being one the key similarities does not mean that the office of Prime Minister is held the same in

each country. Although each Prime Minister is held with high regard in the political world, but

each one of the four Prime Ministers holds a different amount of power. For example when

Putin was the Prime Minister of Russia he was the true person running the country.

Each country in the world has a different type of political system, but each country does

have a good deal of respect for their politicians. Greece, Russia, England, and Italy have similar

governments but they are mostly different when it comes to the balance of power and where it

comes from. By taking a closer look into comparative politics we can see the differences and

similarities between these four countries. All countries seem to follow certain guidelines when it

comes to government. Some of their policies may be different, but in actuality they are a lot

alike.
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Sources

Antonis Samaras. (2009). Retrieved April 14, 2014, from

http://www.primeminister.gov.gr/english/primeminister/

Government and Politics. (n.d.). Retrieved April 14, 2014, from http://www.mfa.gr/usa/en/about-

greece/government-and-politics/

How Government Works. (2010, May). Retrieved April 14, 2014, from

https://www.gov.uk/government/how-government-works

Italy: History, Geography, Etc. (n.d.). Retrieved April 14, 2014, from

http://www.infoplease.com/country/italy.html

Russia. (n.d.). Retrieved April 14, 2014, from

http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/world/russia-government.html