United States Government and the

Government of Ireland
By: Hannah Formanek
Part I: Type of government/constitution
Leader vs. leader
United States Ireland
President Taoiseach (Prime minister)
Current leader is Donald Trump Current leader is Enda Kenny
Elected Appointed
4 year term No limit
Must be a born citizen, permanent resident Must be a born citizen.
for 14 years and must be at least 35 years
old.
Lawmaking Body
United States Ireland
Congress Parliament
Bicameral Bicameral
Senate has 100 seats and the House of Senate has 60 seats and the House of
Representatives has 435. Representatives has 166.
Comparing Bill of Rights
United States
Freedom of Speech/Press.
Freedom of Religion.
RIght to bear arms.
Protected by cruel and unusual
punishment.
Ireland
Equality before the law.
Right to life.
Freedom of expression.
Freedom of assembly.
Part II: Political Parties
Political parties
United States
Two party system.
Republicans: More
conservative, elephant.
Democrats: More liberal,
donkey.
Ireland
Multiparty system.
Fianna Fail: Republican
party, more conservative.
Fine Gael:
Liberal-conservative and
Christian democratic.
Largest party.
Part III: Elections and Voting
Election System
United States
Voting age: 18
Voting qualifications: Must be a citizen of
the U.S. for at least 1 month. Must be a
resident of your state and your election
district at least 30 days before the next
election.
Elections happen generally every 4 years.
Types of elections: Primary and General.
Ireland
Voting age: 18
Voting qualifications: Residents of Ireland,
allows British citizens to vote in local
European and Dail elections.
Elections happen every 5 years.
Types of elections: Dail, Seanad,
Presidential, European and local.
Part IV: Taxes and Government Finance
Finances
United States Ireland
Charge income tax. Charge income tax.
Tolls, Payroll taxes, custom duties and Rent tax, Stamp Duty, Property tax,
excise taxes. Capital Gains tax, Sales tax and
Spends the most money on: Corporation tax.
Military Spends the most money on:
Education Social Protection
Healthcare Healthcare
Education
Part V: Law
Comparing laws
United States
As of the year 2015 the crime rate in the
U.S. was 9,225,197.
Prison population as of 2013 was
2,220,300.
Punishments: Incarceration, probation,
fines, restitution, parole, and death
penalty.
Court system: District (trial) courts, circuit
courts, and the supreme court.
Ireland
As of the year 2015 the crime rate in
Ireland was 228,227.
There are 3,674 people in prison custody
in Ireland as of the 20th of December in
2016.
Punishments: Incarceration, suspended
sentences, community service orders,
fines, curfews and exclusion orders. No
death penalty.
Court system: The supreme court, the
court of appeal, the high court, the circuit
court, and the district court.
Part VI: Current Relations with the
United States
The U.S. and Ireland's relationship
The United States and Ireland have a relationship based on ancestral ties, similar
values, and emigration. They have official exchanges on in the areas education
and medical research. The U.S J-1 program is a popular program for Irish youths
to work temporarily in the United States. The U.S. priorities continue to support the
peace process and degenerate political institutions in Northern Ireland and
encouraging the implementation of the U.S.- brokered 1998 Belfast Agreement,
and the 2006 St.Andrews Agreement.