Sample Essay On Three Governments Compared:america, Spain, And Portugal

The three nations of the United States, Spain, and Portugal have had a long and winding history as independent states often entangled in their desire for territorial expansion. These clashes may be traced to their governmental and political differences – determined by the way they elect their leaders, legislate, and govern amongst themselves. These differences mostly relate to their form of government, as well as the means by which their citizens can participate in the election process.
The structure of the government of the United States is divided into three distinct divisions: the judicial, executive, and legislative branches. All three are empowered by the United States Constitution. Spain, likewise, has a Congress of Deputies, which forms an executive government and proposes legislation, an assembly of Senators, and the courts. The executive branch of Portugal, however, differs in that it is divided into the Government of the Republic headed by the Prime Minister, and the Presidency. Like the United States and Spain, Portugal also has a legislative and judicial branch.
The form of government of the United States is essentially a constitution-based federal republic, composed of fifty states, one capital district, and numerous other territories. Spain, on the other hand, is a constitutional monarchy as well as a parliamentary democracy whose seventeen autonomous communities and two autonomous cities are governed by their own regional governments, with the central government retaining full sovereignty. Portugal, lastly, is a semi-presidential constitutional republic, divided into three-hundred eight municipalities agglomerated into eighteen districts within mainland Portugal.
The head of state of the United States is the President, who is indirectly elected by citizens through an Electoral College, composed of popularly-elected “electors”. On the other hand, Spain’s head of government is the President of the Government, elected by a Congress of Deputies, and who acts as a prime minister. The head of state of Spain is the Spanish king, who is also the commander in chief of the armed forces. Likewise, Portugal also has a President of the Government as head of government, and a king as a head of state.
The political party system in the United States is composed of two major parties: the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. Since the formation of the nation in the 1850s, these two parties have dominated the American political landscape. Political parties in Spain are also dominated by two major parties, although the system is essentially multi-party. The Portuguese political party system has been dominated by the Socialist Party and the Social Democratic Party since the 1970s.
The political history of the United States centers mainly upon the division between the Republican and Democratic Parties, as well as the ensuing battle for the presidency every four years. Spanish political history, however, has lingered on the more recent transition to democracy, only in 1975, after the demise of the dictator Francisco Franco. Portuguese political history also followed the same route as Spain, with dictatorships puncturing revolutions and political turmoil over democracy and republicanism.