United States Government Vs. North Korean Government
United States Government Vs. North Korean Government
The United States has a complex government that builds on democracy whereas North Korea has communism centered on totalitarian rule. Both had their conflicts during the past and still are struggling in the future. Even though their government has two different sides to tell about they too have some similarities. One country having majority rule and the other having “political authority [whom] exercises absolute and centralized control over all aspects of life” (definition: totalitarianism at dictionary.com). Going through the growth of their economy, the citizens are opening their eyes each and every day to a government that has different branches with their checks and balances, exposure to several political parties, having their civil liberties and rights, and are surrounded by media/propaganda that is playing into effect with their lives.
The popular branch of government for both countries is the executive branch, determining who is the head leader who is changing their lives every second in time. The U.S. executive branch is responsible to enforce laws. Since the duty may be too powerful for one individual, the President, the constitution divided the job with in creation of having a Vice President and the members of the Cabinet. President George W. Bush is our leader of the country and Commander in Chief of the military. If he fails to serve his country, in replacement would be Vice President Richard Cheney. For the communist North Korea, their Chief of State is Kim Jong Il, who is their highest administrative authority and their head of government is Pak Pong Ju. The Supreme People’s Assembly appoints the members of the cabinet. The legislative branch consists of a bicameral congress having 100 members in the Senate and 435 members from the House of Representatives. Members of the Congress are elected by direct vote of people of the state that they represent in. In North Korea, their legislative branch is unicameral having the Supreme People’s Assembly or the “Cho’oego Inmin Hoeui” with 687 members and is elected by popular votes. The last branch of government, the judicial branch from the U.S. is the Supreme Court with nine justices who are appointed by the President and are confirmed by the Senate. The Supreme Court decides how the laws are applied in the country and if they violate the Constitution or not, which their power is called judicial review. The North Korean government has a Central Court where the Supreme People’s Assembly elects the judges. Both may have the same branches of government, their contents under the skin are diverse.
Centered on the government is the exposure of political parties where the citizens side by their own opinion of whom to vote for. Our country, the U.S. has four different political parties, the Democrats, the Republics, the Libertarian, or the Green party. The democrats are for political or social equality for all people whereas the republics are for moral values and abide by the Constitution from our fathers. The Democratic and Republican parties are the two most popular political parties that battle out during election year for the title of leading our country for four years or able to serve more years if is reelected. The libertarian party is committed to “America’s heritage of freedom” where they are for free-market economy, peace, and individual liberty and personal responsibility. The Green party is committed to environmentalism, non-violence, and social justice. They campaign and try to renew “democracy without support of corporate donors.” In North Korea, they have three political parties, the Chondoist Chongu party, Social Democratic Party, and the Korean Workers’ Party (KWP). The most significant party is the Korean Workers’ Party tries to achieve a more independent and unifying country. It is divided into the Central Committee and the Central Auditing Committee. The national party congress approves reports from the other parties and “adopts basic party policies and tactics”, and elects members to the KWP committees. There are opportunities to take part as a member in the organization, either regular or probationary. Membership is open for those who are 18 years of age or older but are granted to those who pass the qualifications. The last political party is the Chondoist Chongo party, where they strive for a patriotic struggle against foreign aggression. Even though North Korea has different types of parties from the United States due to their isolated territory they are keeping unifying society in mind.
The most important thing to keep in mind in each individual is of their fundamental rights, or also known as their civil liberties and rights. This is how government is connected to society, almost like the social security system