By Halee JacksonItaly & The United States

Leaders/ President

UNITED STATES

The head of the state is the president.

Current President: Barack Obama.

Elected Four year terms *At least 35 years of

age * Natural born citizen * Live in the US for 14 years

ITALY

The head of the state is the president.

Current President: Giorgio Napolitano

Elected Seven year terms * Italian citizenship

* At least 50 years old

* Not barred from holding political or civil rights

Lawmaking body

UNITED STATES The United States works

under Federal Republic Government.

The United States uses a bicameral system, which means there are two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives.

In the United States Congress there are 100 seats on the Senate, and 435 seats in the House of Representatives.

ITALY Italy has carried a

Democratic- Republic government since June 2, 1946, when the monarchy was abolished.

Italy works under a bicameral system, meaning there are two houses, the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.

Currently today there are 315 seats on the Senate, and 630 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.

Bill of Rights

UNITED STATES

In the United States Bill of Rights, one has the right to freedom of speech, the right to freedom of religion, and the right to bare arms.

ITALY

Freedoms of speech and the press in Italy are constitutionally guaranteed and respected in practice.

Political Parties

UNITED STATES Two party system, the

Democrats and Republicans. The Democratic Party believes

that the nation is better together rather than on their own, that the country succeeds when everyone gets a fair shot. They focus on building an economy that lasts.

The Republican Party believe in individual rights, they think everyone is better off on their own rather than working together.

ITALY Multi-party system with

nine major parties, one in particular is the Partito Democratico and another is the Forza Italia.

The Partito Democratico focuses on national and social cohesions, and they strongly believe in the need of balancing budgets in Italy.

Elections/ Voting

UNITED STATES To vote on election day in the

United States one must be at least 18 years of age, a US citizen, and a resident of your precinct for at least 30 days prior to that election.

An election to vote for the president is held every four years.

The United States holds several different elections, the most important elections are the primaries.

ITALY In order to qualify to vote

during elections in Italy one must be at least 18 years of age and be a citizen of Italy.

An election for the head of state, otherwise known as the President, is held every seven years.

Italy only has primary elections every seven years.

Taxes/Government FinancesUNITED STATES In the United States the federal

income tax rate can be anywhere from 10% to 39.6%.

The United States government makes it’s money by individual income taxes, payroll taxes, corporate taxes, and other little ways.

Military Spending: 682 billion Education Spending: 136

billion Healthcare Spending: 961

billion.

ITALY In Italy the personal income

tax rate can reach as high as 43%.

Italy’s government makes it’s money mostly on taxes. Their country as a high income tax rate, and they have to pay taxes on just about everything.

Military Spending: 34 billion Education Spending: 27 billion Healthcare Spending: 546

billion

Law

UNITED STATES United States crime rate:

53.44% United States prison

population: 2.4 million Punishments: The capital

punishment, also known as the death penalty is still used in the United State but is very limited.

Court System: investigation, charging, initial hearing, discovery, plea bargaining.

ITALY Italy’s crime rate: 49.46% Italy’s prison population: 61,721

people and was declared overcrowded and was ordered to pay 10,000 Euros to seven of the inmates.

Punishments: Italy used to use capital punishment, or the death penalty to punish someone for a crime. However that’s not the case anymore. The death penalty has since been removed.

Court system: Courts of First Instance - Courts of Second Instance – Court of Cassation

Current relationships with the United States The United States and Italy have a

friendly relationship. The US has had a representation of Italy since 1840. Italy has stood as a strong active partner to the US and has worked together on several foreign affairs and many civil conflicts. Overall, and even still to this day the two countries have a good relationship.