China's government explained simply

[DawnM]

We are making a chart of the differences in government between the US and China (and will eventually need Mexico too) and are looking for something simple. Just a general overview.

 

I am hoping to keep it somewhat non-biased as well. The site from the Chinese perspective paints China as being the same as the US, while some US sites seem to demonize Chinese government.

 

I just need something that gives some facts without getting too detailed AND is somewhat subjective. I will need about 5 or so facts total.

 

Thanks,

 

Dawn

[Arcadia]

I can't even think of a difference right now but I know there are plenty of similarities. The only difference I can think of right now is activist but that is not unique to China. Asia countries tend to clamp down harder on activist because civil war has traditionally harm the economy without having a better govt replacing.

 

BBC international is relatively neutral to both countries. Also after the era of the last emperor, the world war II and the civil war, style of governance has change a few times slightly. In the here and now, the two government are almost the same.

 

ETA:

China one child's policy has exceptions and the fine is not that high if someone has a second child.

[DawnM]

I really need more of an Encyclopedia explanation, not current news stories.

 

I can't even think of a difference right now but I know there are plenty of similarities. The only difference I can think of right now is activist but that is not unique to China. Asia countries tend to clamp down harder on activist because civil war has traditionally harm the economy without having a better govt replacing.

 

BBC international is relatively neutral to both countries. Also after the era of the last emperor, the world war II and the civil war, style of governance has change a few times slightly. In the here and now, the two government are almost the same.

 

[Arcadia]

"China has 33 administrative units directly under the central government; these consist of 22 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 municipalities (Chongqing, Beijing, Shanghai, and Tianjin), and 2 special administrative regions (Hong Kong and Macau)." from Encyclopaedia Britannica

 

One difference, the president is elected by the party and not the people. That is not unique to China though, just a difference compare to US presidential elections.

[DawnM]

thanks. that isn't really what I am looking for. I disagree that the US and China have the same form of government, but explaining it to children/even teens is more difficult. I will continue to research.

[Arcadia]

There is the ideology of democracy vs communist which you can compare. However China's communist government is very different from North Korea's communist government.

[DawnM]

Right, which is why I would like a bit more info to explain it to children. I can look it all up myself and figure it out, I just thought if there is a place that has already done the legwork for me, I could use that info for my kids to read.

 

 

 

There is the ideology of democracy vs communist which you can compare. However China's communist government is very different from North Korea's communist government.

 

[ElizabethB]

We have The Book of Rule, it is a good resource for this. It classifies China as a "Single Party Government." Also in that category is Vietnam. The only party allowed to rule is the Communist Party.

[stripe]

I don't see Chinese government as a clone of the US govt -- that seems a rather odd claim, but that in itself doesn't mean China is awful. (That is a different set of evaluations.)

 

BBC News has an interesting structural chart at

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/in_depth/china_politics/government/html/1.stm

You can click on each component to learn more

I am not sure how or if this differs from

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13904437

[Lori D.]

What about using a picture atlas, and a children's non-fiction book on each country and charting things like the things below. To understand where the government comes from, it helps to have a broad picture of the country itself, to understand why the government makes the kinds of decisions it does.

 

 

- look at each country's flag -- what is on the flag often symbolizes what is a key value to the government of that country

- form of government -- who makes the decisions for the country? how do those people/that person get to be in the decision-making role?

- what are the "branches" of the government and what do they oversee?

- look at the words of the national anthem for each; does that reveal what values the government upholds?

- what types of civic duties does the government expect of its people?

- how easy/hard is it to leave or become a citizen of that country?

- what does the government oversee/not oversee, and why -- utilities? postal service? certain industries? transportation?

- size of military, and how does the government use the military?

- how long has each been a country? or had that form of government? has it changed? why?

- size -- how you are able to govern a large landmass nation vs. a small landmass nation is going to look different

 

 

Here are some cultural things that help help to understand the people, culture and history of a country, and thus, why it has the government it does:

 

- major language(s) spoken -- if a country has only one language, the people tend to be a bit more united, or at least can understand each other; a country with a number of official languages (I think India has something like 17!) it is harder for people to communicate,

 

- major resources -- shows what kinds of businesses the country is strong/weak in; for example highly agricultural, vs. mining and oil and steel which allow for more industry

 

- nature -- what kinds of plants and animals are the same? are there any that are special/unique to just that country?

 

- major religion -- can show what values are important to the culture; can better see why cultures make the choices they do

 

- special geographical features -- if a large part of your nation is desert or water, it influences how the people live, grow crops, travel, etc.

 

- what kinds of recreation, sports, or other activities do the people of each nation like?

 

- what kinds of special myths, legends, stories does each country have? -- sometimes you'll see similar kinds of characters or storylines; other times, very unique

[DawnM]

This assignment is a very small portion of a very large assignment, not an assignment in and of itself. I don't need to go into great detail or need to add more info at this time. We ONLY need government at this time, not language, religion, sports, etc....unless it relates directly to government and even then, we don't need a full report.

 

I think I have found a good resource though.

 

https://www.cia.gov/...ok/geos/ch.html

 

Thank you,

 

Dawn

 

 

What about using a picture atlas, and a children's non-fiction book on each country and charting things like the things below. To understand where the government comes from, it helps to have a broad picture of the country itself, to understand why the government makes the kinds of decisions it does.

 

 

- look at each country's flag -- what is on the flag often symbolizes what is a key value to the government of that country

- form of government -- who makes the decisions for the country? how do those people/that person get to be in the decision-making role?

- what are the "branches" of the government and what do they oversee?

- look at the words of the national anthem for each; does that reveal what values the government upholds?

- what types of civic duties does the government expect of its people?

- how easy/hard is it to leave or become a citizen of that country?

- what does the government oversee/not oversee, and why -- utilities? postal service? certain industries? transportation?

- size of military, and how does the government use the military?

- how long has each been a country? or had that form of government? has it changed? why?

- size -- how you are able to govern a large landmass nation vs. a small landmass nation is going to look different

 

 

Here are some cultural things that help help to understand the people, culture and history of a country, and thus, why it has the government it does:

 

- major language(s) spoken -- if a country has only one language, the people tend to be a bit more united, or at least can understand each other; a country with a number of official languages (I think India has something like 17!) it is harder for people to communicate,

 

- major resources -- shows what kinds of businesses the country is strong/weak in; for example highly agricultural, vs. mining and oil and steel which allow for more industry

 

- nature -- what kinds of plants and animals are the same? are there any that are special/unique to just that country?

 

- major religion -- can show what values are important to the culture; can better see why cultures make the choices they do

 

- special geographical features -- if a large part of your nation is desert or water, it influences how the people live, grow crops, travel, etc.

 

- what kinds of recreation, sports, or other activities do the people of each nation like?

 

- what kinds of special myths, legends, stories does each country have? -- sometimes you'll see similar kinds of characters or storylines; other times, very unique

[DawnM]

Thank you all.

 

I really wanted an online resource. We need this done in the next few days. This isn't a major assignment. I don't have time to order books. I just wanted something that was an overview of the government and some simple comparisons with the US government.

 

Sorry I wasn't more clear.

 

I think we got it now.

[jennynd]

other than US government is elected and China is appointed by the party (president, congress, legistration)

another thing is you do not own land in China, you lease. For resident it is 70 years and renwable. but business it is 50 years with no renewal. Note that the land the house build on consider business.

 

http://en.wikipedia....se_property_law

 

And how can I forget this. the government also control how many kids you can have.

 

Right... it is very similar to US government, isn't it.

[Laura Corin]

We have The Book of Rule, it is a good resource for this. It classifies China as a "Single Party Government." Also in that category is Vietnam. The only party allowed to rule is the Communist Party.

 

 

Just to get the detail: other political parties do exist in China, but have been brought under Communist Party control, so they exist in name alone. I taught English at a KMT (Nationalist) school in Beijing. It existed just to show that other parties were allowed to continue and to do good works.

 

Laura

[ElizabethB]

Just to get the detail: other political parties do exist in China, but have been brought under Communist Party control, so they exist in name alone. I taught English at a KMT (Nationalist) school in Beijing. It existed just to show that other parties were allowed to continue and to do good works.

 

Laura

 

Interesting, thanks!