[Back to American Government Main Page]

Comparative Government Research Project

[Directions]   [Presentation]    [Grading]   [Sources]

This project is designed to have you research and report on the basic governmental system of an existing foreign nation. The information will be used by you and the class to compare and contrast governmental systems worldwide, and to draw conclusions about the purpose of government in general.  We will relate your findings to the history and function of American government as this course progresses.

Directions:
1.  Form a two person group (maximum) & pick up an assignment packet, including
     Comparative Government Project Cover Sheet and Individual Task Sheet.
2.  Pick a foreign country.  Get Teacher approval.
3   Identify the type of government your country has. 

• Find out if it has a constitution. If it does not, find out how it functions without one.

• Identify the structure of the government based on its constitution (or other framework):

  • Does it have one or several branches? 

  • What are they? 

  • What are they called?

  • What are their functions?

4.  Identify political parties:

•   How many are there?

•   What are they called (translate into English)?

•   What do the major ones represent (i.e., business, farming, military, socialism,
     communism, etc.)?

• How do these parties shape government outcomes?

• Do they have seats in a congress (or a representative body) & how many?
  

5.  Gather any related information about your country -- its population, economic
     productivity, social structures, etc., that would help to explain your country's
     government, its governmental functions and its parties.
6.  Based on the information in your text (pages 26-32) identify the type of government
     your country has -- is it a democracy or a dictatorship? Is it unitary, federal,
     parliamentary, presidential, or what?
7.  Lastly, find an article that indicates how this government works in actual practice.
     Many governments look good on paper, but are different in practice.

Presentation:

Prepare a short (10-15 minute per group) oral report based on your research and present to the class.  Your job is to teach the class.  Your presentation should include a Display Poster (or optional PowerPoint presentation) that includes: map of country, diagram of governmental structure, number of political parties, list of main parties and what they represent, basic population structure of country, main industries and occupations, plus a current event exhibit or document that demonstrates some aspect of government in action.  Make your display and oral report clear (and large) enough so that the rest of the class can take notes easily and use your information on a future test.

Grading:

Your grade will be based on the quality of your information, your understanding of the information, the clarity of your presentation, as well as sother hand-in requirements.  Each member of the group will be graded separately.  Extra-credit will be given for a good group effort.   See Comparative Government Project Cover Sheet for grading details.

Sources

(Note: This assignment is posted on the TP Social Science Web Site under Am. Government, Evans at:
http://tphs.net >Departments >Government > Evans

You must use at least one source from each of the following categories and a total of 5 sources overall per person identified only in an MLA formatted “works cited bibliography” – a copy due to teacher before report on day of presentation.   MLA standards apply to both print and Internet sources.  The print source bibliography must identify pages used in a parenthesis. One secondary source must be the text

:

Print Sources:
1.  Text:: Chapter 1
2.  Countries of the World 909.82.  This, plus other reference books in the library - definitely recommended..

Suggested Internet Sources:
Reference:
3. Britannia On-line: see On-line Resources on the TP Web
4. CIA: World Fact Book 1996:  www.odci.gov/cia/publications/nsolo/wfb-all.htm
       (economic, political, social information on every country in the world)
5. Government, Economy, Defense, Maps, Flags, etc:  www.theodora.com/maps
6. Governments of the World:  www.worldworld.com  
7. Big Chalk: see On-Line Resources on the TP Web

Suggested News Sources:
8. .Big Chalk: &  Proquest Direct: see On-Line Resources on the TP Web
9. CNN:  http://cnn.com
10. C-SPAN:  http://www.c-span.org/
11. Yahoo News:  http://www.yahoo.com

Other: see Social Science Web Site.

Other:  see Social Science Web Sites

[Top of Page]

[Back to American Government Main Page]