Governments in Latin America

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Governments in Latin America

• Brazil, Mexico, Cuba
• GPS SS6CG2 The student will explain the
  structures of national governments in Latin
  America and the Caribbean
• a. Compare the Federal-republican systems of the
  Federative Republic of Brazil and the United
  Mexican States to the dictatorship of Republic of
  Cuba, distinguishing the form of leadership and
  the role of the citizens in terms of voting and
  personal freedoms.

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Essential Question

• How do the governments of Brazil, Mexico, and
  Cuba differ?
• How are their leaders chosen?
• What level of voting rights and personal freedoms
  do the citizens of these countries have?

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Federative Republic of Brazil

• Federal republic power is divided between the
  central government state governments
• Presidential democracy citizens elect president
  members of the legislature (Congress)

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Leader- Dilma Rouseff

• First woman president of Brazil
• Assumed (took) office January 1, 2011
• Serves a 4-year term
• Can be reelected once

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Personal Freedoms/ Voting Rights Brazil

• Citizens have many freedoms they also have the
  right to vote
• Men women who are 16 years of age may choose to
  vote, and citizens 18-70 are required by law to
  vote
• Citizens can choose representatives from many
  political parties

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Brazil

• Country enjoys average level of freedom compared
  to other countries in the world
• Level of Personal Freedom 59
• (1 most free, 159 least free World average
  is 57)
• Scale examines freedom to travel trade,
  protection of personal property rights, freedom
  to conduct business, taxation level
• US 8
• Personal property rights are not always
  protected, and the court system cannot be trusted
  to help people in all cases

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Personal Freedoms..

• Freedom to travel and trade,protection of
  personal property rights, freedom to conduct
  business, taxation level

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Government of the United Mexican States

• Federal republic power is divided between the
  central government state governments
• Presidential democracy citizens elect president
  who serves 1 six year term
• Also elect members of the legislature (Congress)

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LeaderEnrique Pena Nieto

• Assumed office December 1, 2012
• Serves 1 six-year term
• Cannot be reelected

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Personal Freedoms and VotingMexico

• Citizens of Mexico have many freedoms, and they
  also have the right to vote
• Citizens who are 18 or older may choose to vote
• There are many political parties

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Personal Freedoms Cont Mexico

• Country enjoys an average level of freedom
  compared to other countries in the world
• Level of Personal Freedom 52
• (1 most free, 159 least free World average
  is 57)
• Court system is managed by the central
  government, and is not totally independent of the
  president

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Government of the Republic of Cuba

• Unitary government power organized from a strong
  central government controls each of the smaller
  units in the country
• Communist dictatorship citizens do not elect the
  president

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Raul Castro

• Power transferred to Raul Castro in 2008 by Fidel
  Castro
• Serves for an unlimited number of terms

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Cuba

• President is appointed by the National Assembly
  of Peoples Power
• Citizens may vote for members of the National
  Assembly of Peoples Power, but only for
  candidates approved by the Communist Party of
  Cuba
• Communist Party controls the central government
  and all aspects of smaller units of government

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Cuba

• Citizens have few freedoms
• Men and women aged 16 and over may choose to
  vote, but have few choices
• Only one political party (Communist Party) is
  allowed it has been controlled by Fidel Castro
  and his brother Raul since 1959

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Cuba

• One of the least free countries in the world
• Level of Personal Freedom 157
• (1 most free, 159 least free World average
  is 57)
• Government controls nearly all aspects of life
• There is little opportunity to own personal
  property
• Government is large and controls all businesses,
  factories, farms

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Level of Personal Freedoms
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Credits

• www.slideshare.net
• Google images
• www.stateofworldliberty.org/report/rankings.html