“The German Federal Republic is classified as a parliamentary democracy … [where] the principle portion of executive power is vested in a … chancellor and his cabinet who are responsible to a parliament and removable by the latter. By contrast, the presidential system … in the United States vests executive power in a president who is both head of state and head of government.”
Regarding this quoted statement, the purpose of my paper shall be a comparison between the United States’ executive and the German counterpart. According to this, especially the functions, roles, and powers of the respective chief executives shall be described and compared. In addition, I would like to portray the reciprocal relationship between the United States’ president, the Executive Office of the President, and the bureaucracy on the one hand, and the reciprocal relationship between the German chancellor, his chancellor’s office (Bundeskanzleramt), the cabinet, his governmental coalition (Regierungskoalition), and the federal ministers. In general, I want to achieve a comparison between both systems regarding their executive powers by pointing out the differences as well as the correspondences between them. Because of this general approach, it is not possible to describe everything in detail to avoid exceeding the framework of my paper. In cases when it will be not possible to provide detailed information, I will recommend for further readings in the footnotes.
Although, this paper shall mainly deal with the respective executive power and although the separation of power between the governmental branches in the United States is stricter than in the federal Republic of Germany, it is unavoidable to draw some conclusions regarding the role of the executive in the interplay with the legislative (the United States’ Congress and the German Bundestag). These references within the examination of the executive power shall be made because in carrying out their roles the branches are bound on each other in their interaction within the political system. Furthermore, these references serve for a better understanding of the whole role of the executive in the respective country.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Constitutional Developments
- 2.1 The United States
- 2.2 The Federal Republic of Germany
- 3. The Executive Power of the American President and the German Chancellor
- 3.1 The United States' President
- 3.1.1 The Election and Powers of the American President
- 3.1.2 The Cabinet, the Executive Office of the President, and the Bureaucracy
- 3.2 The Federal Chancellor of Germany
- 3.2.1 The Election and Powers of the German Chancellor
- 3.2.2 The Cabinet, the Chancellor's Office, and the Ministerial Bureaucracy
- 3.1 The United States' President
- 4. Concluding Remarks
Objectives and Key Themes
The main objective of this paper is to compare the executive powers of the United States President and the German Federal Chancellor. This involves describing and comparing their functions, roles, and powers, as well as examining the relationships between each chief executive and their respective administrative structures. The comparison aims to highlight both similarities and differences between the presidential and parliamentary systems.
- Constitutional Development of the US and German Executive Branches
- Comparison of Powers and Functions of the US President and German Chancellor
- The Role of the Executive in Relation to the Legislative Branch in Both Countries
- Analysis of the respective executive apparatuses (Cabinet, Executive Office of the President, Chancellor's Office, etc.)
- Differences and Similarities between Presidential and Parliamentary Systems
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the paper's central aim: a comparative analysis of the executive branches in the United States and Germany. It highlights the fundamental difference between the presidential system of the US and the parliamentary system of Germany, emphasizing that despite these differences, both systems share core features like a powerful executive, a separate legislature, and an independent judiciary. The chapter also previews the key questions the paper seeks to answer, focusing on historical circumstances, constitutional developments, and the functions and powers of the chief executives.
2. Constitutional Developments: This chapter lays the groundwork for the comparison by exploring the constitutional history of both the US and Germany. The section on the United States emphasizes the Founding Fathers' fear of centralized power and their efforts to create a system of checks and balances, limiting the President's power through shared authority with Congress. The discussion of Germany touches on the post-World War II influence of the United States on the development of the German Basic Law and its impact on the structure of the executive branch. The chapter sets the stage for understanding how the respective systems evolved and why their structures differ.
3. The Executive Power of the American President and the German Chancellor: This chapter forms the core of the analysis, delving into a detailed comparison of the powers and functions of the US President and the German Chancellor. It examines the election processes, the powers vested in each office, and the relationship between each chief executive and their respective administrative structures (Cabinet, Executive Office of the President, Chancellor's Office, etc.). The chapter carefully contrasts the roles of each chief executive within their specific governmental systems, highlighting the distinctions arising from the differing structures of presidential and parliamentary democracies.
Keywords
US President, German Chancellor, Executive Power, Presidential System, Parliamentary System, Constitutional Development, Checks and Balances, Separation of Powers, Executive Office of the President, Chancellor's Office, Cabinet, Bureaucracy, Comparative Politics.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comparative Analysis of the Executive Powers of the US President and the German Chancellor
What is the main objective of this paper?
The paper's main objective is to compare the executive powers of the United States President and the German Federal Chancellor. This involves describing and comparing their functions, roles, and powers, as well as examining the relationships between each chief executive and their respective administrative structures. The comparison aims to highlight both similarities and differences between the presidential and parliamentary systems.
What are the key themes explored in this paper?
Key themes include the constitutional development of the US and German executive branches, a comparison of the powers and functions of the US President and German Chancellor, the role of the executive in relation to the legislative branch in both countries, an analysis of the respective executive apparatuses (Cabinet, Executive Office of the President, Chancellor's Office, etc.), and a discussion of the differences and similarities between presidential and parliamentary systems.
What topics are covered in each chapter?
Chapter 1 (Introduction): Introduces the paper's aim – a comparative analysis of the US and German executive branches – highlighting the differences and similarities between presidential and parliamentary systems and previewing key questions. Chapter 2 (Constitutional Developments): Explores the constitutional history of both the US and Germany, emphasizing the US Founding Fathers' fear of centralized power and the post-World War II influence on Germany's Basic Law. Chapter 3 (The Executive Power of the American President and the German Chancellor): Provides a detailed comparison of the powers and functions of the US President and German Chancellor, including their election processes, powers, and relationships with their respective administrative structures. Chapter 4 (Concluding Remarks): [Content not explicitly detailed in the provided summary]
What are the key differences between the US Presidential system and the German Parliamentary system highlighted in this paper?
The paper highlights the fundamental difference between the presidential system of the US (characterized by a separation of powers and checks and balances) and the parliamentary system of Germany (where the executive is drawn from and accountable to the legislature). Despite these differences, both systems share core features such as a powerful executive, a separate legislature, and an independent judiciary.
What are the key words associated with this paper?
Key words include: US President, German Chancellor, Executive Power, Presidential System, Parliamentary System, Constitutional Development, Checks and Balances, Separation of Powers, Executive Office of the President, Chancellor's Office, Cabinet, Bureaucracy, Comparative Politics.
What is the structure of the provided document preview?
The preview includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. It provides a comprehensive overview of the paper's content and methodology.
- Citation du texte
- Andrea Becker (Auteur), 2001, The United States´ President and the Federal Chancellor of Germany: A Comparison of the Executiv Power, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/4314
