How Other Countries Are Governed
Why Compare How Countries Are Governed?
Understanding how other countries govern themselves helps citizens evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of their own political system. It also reveals that representative democracy — the system used in the UK, where citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf — is not the only way a state can organise its political life. Comparing a democratic system with a non-democratic one illustrates what is at stake when governments do or do not allow citizens to participate freely.
Example of a Democratic System: The United States of America
The United States operates a federal system of government, meaning political power is divided between the national (federal) government in Washington DC and the fifty individual state governments. At the federal level, law-making power rests with Congress, which is bicameral — it has two chambers, the Senate and the House of Representatives. Executive power is held by the President, who is both head of state and head of government, elected separately from Congress through a system involving an Electoral College.
Citizens in the USA can vote in presidential elections, congressional elections, senate elections, and many state and local elections. They also have constitutional protections for individual rights through the Bill of Rights, which includes freedoms of speech, the press, religion and assembly. The judiciary is independent of the executive and legislature, with the Supreme Court able to strike down laws that violate the Constitution.
However, the USA’s democratic system has also faced challenges. Voter turnout in many elections is lower than in comparable democracies. The Electoral College system has on several occasions produced a President who received fewer total votes than their main opponent — a feature that some critics argue undermines equal representation, while supporters argue it protects the interests of smaller states and maintains the federal balance of power.
In the USA, political power is divided between a federal government and fifty state governments. Congress (the legislature) is bicameral: the Senate and the House of Representatives. The President holds executive power and is elected separately, not as leader of the largest party in Congress. Citizens have constitutional rights protected by the Bill of Rights and enforced by an independent Supreme Court.
Both the UK and the USA hold regular free elections, have independent judiciaries, protect civil liberties, and operate bicameral legislatures. However, there are significant structural differences. The UK has a constitutional monarchy with a Prime Minister who leads the party (or coalition) with the most seats in the House of Commons and can therefore be removed by Parliament. The USA has an elected President who serves a fixed four-year term regardless of congressional support. The UK constitution is uncodified (not written in a single document), while the US Constitution is a single written document with formal amendment procedures. The UK’s House of Lords is unelected; both chambers of the US Congress are elected.
Example of a Non-Democratic System: The People’s Republic of China
The People’s Republic of China is governed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which has been the sole governing party since 1949. China’s political system does not allow for multi-party elections at a national level: citizens cannot vote to remove the governing party or choose between competing parties for national leadership. The National People’s Congress formally enacts laws, but political authority in practice flows from the CCP’s leadership structure rather than from elected representatives chosen through free competition.
Freedoms of speech, the press, and assembly that are protected in democratic systems are significantly restricted in China. Independent journalism, opposition political activity, and online expression on politically sensitive topics are subject to legal restrictions and censorship. This means that citizens have limited formal mechanisms to challenge government decisions, hold leaders to account, or advocate for change through channels outside the party structure.
It is important to note that there are different perspectives on how to evaluate China’s political system. The government of China argues that its system delivers stability, long-term economic planning, and the rapid lifting of hundreds of millions of people out of poverty. It contends that Western democratic models are not universally superior and that different cultures and histories lead to different legitimate forms of governance. Critics — including international human rights organisations and many democratic governments — argue that without free elections and independent media, citizens cannot hold their government accountable, and that political rights are fundamental to human dignity.
China is governed by one political party (the Chinese Communist Party) without multi-party national elections. Political freedoms including free speech, a free press, and political opposition are significantly restricted. In contrast, citizens in democratic systems such as the USA or UK can vote in competitive elections, form and join opposition parties, and access independent media.
One viewpoint holds that democratic systems, despite their imperfections, are fundamentally superior because they allow citizens to remove governments they disagree with, protect minority rights through an independent judiciary, and ensure accountability through a free press. Organisations such as Freedom House, which monitors civil and political rights internationally, classify democratic participation as a core human right.
A contrasting viewpoint holds that different societies have different political traditions, needs and priorities, and that a government that delivers economic development, security and social stability may command genuine popular support without fitting the Western democratic template. Some political scientists argue that democratic forms alone do not guarantee justice or equality, pointing to examples of democratic states that have nonetheless failed to protect minorities or address economic inequality effectively.
Students should be aware that comparing political systems is a contested academic and political exercise, and that terms like “democracy” are themselves sometimes disputed. For exam purposes, the key is to present both viewpoints fairly and use specific evidence from both systems.