Preview

Cultural Differences: American and British Governmental an Dpolitical Structures

Best Essays
Open Document
Open Document
3212 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Cultural Differences: American and British Governmental an Dpolitical Structures
Cultural Differences: American and British Governmental and Political Structures
Mark H. Barbieri
ANT 101: Cultural Anthropology
Daniel Beteta Jr.
February 16, 2009

Abstract
The objective of this paper is to contrast the governmental structures of two very similar, but different, cultures, the American and British cultures. This paper contends that although the cultures have many similarities, their governmental structures are quite different. This paper concludes that there are major differences between a culture with a bicameral legislative branch of government and a bicameral parliamentary form of government. Although both governments are very different in makeup, both cultures incorporate an effective means of governing and share some of the most basic forms of governmental structure.

British and American Governments
Government, what does it mean to you? Depending on your culture, the term government may hold many different meanings. In many modern societies and cultures, the term government refers to a governing body or official who has the power and authority to generate and enforce laws with a given organization, culture, or group. This paper will highlight the differences between the governments of the American and British cultures and will compare some of the similarities between these two similar, but very different, cultures.
The Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the ruling authority is typically a king or queen. The monarch is also known as the Crown. In traditional monarchies, the monarch holds true and absolute power and control over a land or kingdom.
The United Kingdom has what is called a constitutional monarchy. A constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which the king or queen fulfills certain roles within the government and doesn’t have absolute and sole authority over the government. A constitutional monarchy has a democratic government which limits the monarch’s power and control. “The



References: England 's Government. (n.d.). Retrieved February 14, 2009, from http://library.thinkquest.org/J0112187/england_government.htm | | The Royal Household. (2008). History of the Monarchy. Retrieved February 11, 2009, from http://www.royal.gov.uk/HistoryoftheMonarchy/HistoryoftheMonarchy.aspx | The United Kingdom Parliament The White House. (n.d.). Our Government. Retrieved February 14, 2009, from http://www.whitehouse.gov/our_government/ | U.S

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    * Constitutional Monarchy: Powers of the monarch reduced by laws. Governor General represents the Monarch. E.G. Australia operates as a democracy.…

    • 1478 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    A monarchy is a governmental system in which the head of state is a single person. The first ruler of Rome and the founder of Rome is Romulus. During this time period Rome’s power was passed down by blood. This is one of the reasons why monarchies fell. Slaves, and other lower class citizens revolted at the fact that they couldn’t…

    • 849 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The central government of the UK is based in London at Westminster. It contains the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Together with the monarch these three government organizations are known as Parliament. Government is made aware of new ideas from the media, the public and mp’s discussions in meetings, and also from new issues such as civil disobedience which triggers discussion in parliament.…

    • 735 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    SGPP300A Exam 1 Notes

    • 541 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Monarchy: single person is sovereign, vested with complete authority -- executive, legislative, and judicial powers…

    • 541 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Module 13 Vocabulary

    • 743 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Monarchy- A desired form of government by the Framers in which supreme power is given to an individual for life or until he resigns.…

    • 743 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Paleolithic vs. Neolithic

    • 1437 Words
    • 6 Pages

    At this time, all governments are monarchies. The king usually had divine and unquestionable power until the area over which he rules starts failing. Then people rebel.…

    • 1437 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Elizabethan Government

    • 803 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Elizabethan government was a monarchy. Cities and towns had various officials to control matters (Thomas). The prince could do anything within his guidelines. Natural law was morals and natural sins. Personal ruler ship is power in war and enforcing laws. Humanism was the main form of government for hundreds of years in England (Collins). The Nobility and Gentry aided the monarch in ruling parts of Europe…

    • 803 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Socials 10 notes

    • 1141 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Constitutional Democracy – recognition of a monarch (king/queen) as head of state, government in which monarch has only the powers laid out in the nation’s constitution and laws…

    • 1141 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Study Guide

    • 744 Words
    • 3 Pages

    -Extended their rule by expanding their lands and territories. A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy, a form of government in which a country or entity is usually ruled or controlled by an individual.…

    • 744 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    1. “Government” is the term that describes the formal institutions and procedures through which a territory and its people are ruled. Governments vary in their structure, in their size, and in the way they operate.…

    • 951 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Canada is a constitutional monarchy; this means that the powers of the monarchy in Canada are limited by the Constitution. Our monarch is now Elizabeth II, who is also the Queen of the United Kingdom. As our Queen does not live in Canada, she appoints, under the advice of our Prime Minister, a Governor General to represent her authority in Canada. There is a great debate among Canadians, on if they really need a constitutional monarchy. The fact is Canada does need a monarch.…

    • 712 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The United States of America’s government has progressed significantly since the Mayflower landed in 1620. What was once dominated by an unjust monarch once dominated is now governed under a fair and democratic republic. Despite this progress, it is important that one takes the time to step back and analyze our roots and the environment in which we live now. By doing this, one gains insight into how different governments function and how their country is affected by the government. The contents of this paper will be devoted to contrasting and comparing the US government to the government of Belize.…

    • 817 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Joseph, J., 2010. Governmentality and its Limits [pdf] University of Sussex. Available at:<https://www.sussex.ac.uk/webteam/gateway/file.php?name=governmentality.pdf&site=12> [Accessed 29 December 2013]…

    • 2664 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The American Government plays a large role in life each and every day. There are multiple pieces to the puzzle of government. However, it started with the founding fathers, they laid down the road of our government today. Each level of the government does something different for the functioning of society. When it comes to the government and every day they play a bigger role then one might think. While there are many important actions of government there are also some unnecessary which will be discussed. It is important to American’s understand the government, all of its branches and federalism.…

    • 982 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    England of Elizabeth I was a very complicated system of government. First there were the national bodies of government such as Privy Council and Parliament, and the regional bodies such as the Council of the Marches and the North. The monarch was the head ruler and determined issues of national religion, What Parliament would discuss about, matters of education, welfare of the people, and the clothes they were able to wear. She believed that she had divine…

    • 821 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays