Politics and Political System in North America Essay

Introduction

Geopolitics is the study of how geography affects politics and international relations of nation states. In international relations, geopolitics is a technique of studying foreign policy to understand, discuss and predict the political behavior of nation-states through geographical changes. Some of the factors that affect politics of nation states are demography, climate, natural resources, and topography. Political science scholars argue that geopolitics is concerned with political power about a geographic area. It analyses history as well as social science focusing on geographical factors about politics. Therefore, the paper seeks to discuss politics and political system in North America states such as Canada, United States, and Mexico.

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North America is comprised of United States, Canada, and Mexico as the main states. Mackinder (45) argues that correct geopolitical framework of a country is very essential in understanding its political behavior and its potential for acquiring power. The geographical position of a country determines how it will be politically powerful. For instance, a country endowed with numerous natural resources tend to be very powerful in politics. Geography influences politics of states like Canada, Mexico and United States in some ways. For example, political culture depends on the region where the country is geographically situated. People in New England in the United States ventured into business because the geographical feature could not support agriculture. Research shows that the people involved in business supported the central government with high tariffs on imports to protect small companies in America. Geographical location profoundly influenced politics of North America. Countries with a good climate that supported agriculture led that particular country to enjoy economic power thus influencing its politics.

Arguably, comparative politics is a discipline in political science that helps political science analysts to compare domestic politics of nation states in a given continent or region. The comparative politics of North America will involve comparison of politics of Mexico, Canada, and the United States. In our contemporary world, globalization has influenced many things such as politics and political system of nation-states because of diffusion of ideologies. According to Mackinder (47) trade and economic connection, security and environment are some of domestic politics of the three nation states. Among the three nation-states, Mexico is the only developing state while the others are developed, and therefore comparative politics evaluation will mainly focus on Canada and United States. Mexico will represent an analysis of politics of developing countries in North America.

Politics of Canada

The politics of Canada are characterized by parliamentary democracy as well as the federal system of parliamentary government. The country is headed by the monarch since it is a constitutional monarchy. Besides, Canada practices multiparty system in which its practices of legislation is derived from unwritten precedents and conventions enacted by Westminster in United Kingdom parliament. Canada has stronger party discipline than in the United Kingdom, and votes in parliament are highly valued as confidence motions. Liberty party of Canada and conservative party of Canada are the main political parties that shape politics of Canada. Apart from the two dominant parties, there are other small parties such as Green Party of Canada and Quebec immensely influences domestic politics and political process of Canada. British Parliament initially established the government structure of Canada. The federal model of government, as well as separation of powers, were done by politicians of Canada.

Agnew (446) opines that prime minister has the power to choose cabinet ministers while governor general appoints them to chair various ministries and agencies. In Canada, the monarchy is inherited, and governor general is selected by the head of state, the monarch who is advised by the prime minister. After legislative elections, majority party leader in the House of Commons is appointed by the governor general to become prime minister. Further, monarch, House of Commons and Senate are the three dominant parts that make bicameral parliament of Canada.

Politics of United States

The United States is a federal republic whereby the federal courts, Congress and the president share powers of the national government as enshrined in the US constitution. Sovereignty is shared by shared by both the national and state governments. The US president is the head of the executive branch of the federal government while both legislature and judiciary branches are independent and have separate powers as preserved in the constitution. A set of cabinet ministers advises the president of United States. Congress has two chambers, Senate and the House of Representatives with legislative powers as found in the constitution of US. Finally, judicial powers are exercised by judiciary branch which comprises of Supreme Court and lower federal courts. The judiciary does interpretation of United States Constitution and federal law. Arguably, the judiciary is responsible for resolving conflicts between the legislature and executive arms of federal government.

Moreover, the politics of United States is dominated by two main political parties, Republican Party and Democratic Party which have shaped them since the American Civil War. There exist smaller parties like Green Party Constitution Party and Libertarian Party. Agnew (446) says that Democratic Party and Republican Party are referred to as left-wing and right-wing respectively. The political system of United States is very different from other developed democracies in that the upper house has greater power of the legislature; the Supreme Court exercises broader power, there is the separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches. Additionally, the are two main political parties which shape the united states politics since the other small parties have little or no influence. State governments have the authority to enact laws that are supported by the federal government which includes family laws, education, and contract laws. The state government has three branches, executive, judiciary and legislature just like in the federal government. Unlike the head of national government who is president, the head of state government is known as governor. Citizens of United States typically vote for a specific candidate instead of selecting one from a particular political party. In the US, officials are elected at the national or rather federal and local levels. The president of US indirectly elected by the citizen through Electoral College. Notably, Congress members, state and local officials are directly elected by the people in a general election.

Politics of Mexico

Mexico politics are unique because the government is a congressional system with a federal presidential representative democratic republic. The president is the head of state just like in the US. Rowntree (251) asserts that the federal government of Mexico is organized like that of US in that it has the judiciary, executive, and legislature as established by the Mexico constitution. A multiparty system characterizes politics of Mexico. The constituent states in Mexico have a republican form of government characterized by a congressional system as opined in their respective constitutions. In Mexico, the Congress of the union has the power to enact laws or legislative powers, and it has two chambers, Senate, and chambers of deputies. Further, Mexico politics are dominated by only three political parties which are very influential during elections. The parties are Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), National Action Party (NAP) and Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD). Presidential elections are held after every six years together with senate house while chamber of deputies happens after every three years. Elections in each state in Mexico is conducted at different times depending on its rules and regulations. Mexico has experienced a lot of electoral reforms after 1989 which assisted it to open political systems. Electoral reforms have made Mexico conduct free, fair and transparent elections. New political systems in Mexico has led to good leadership and governance.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the discussion of politics in three main states in North America, US, Canada, and Mexico has depicted that each state has its politics and political systems that ought to be studied and compared with one another. Some politics and political systems in North America has ensured good governance while others have led to exploitation of citizens since they do not provide good leadership. From the discussion, US is the only country with good politics and political system that supports the development of a nation-state. The three states have political systems that encourage separation of powers. Good governance is facilitated by good politics and political system of a country which consequently leads to its development in social, economic and political perspectives. Therefore, politics and political system is essential in our contemporary world.

Works Cited

Agnew, John A. Place and Politics (Routledge Library Editions: Political Geography): The Geographical Mediation of State and Society. Vol. 1. Routledge, 2014.

Mackinder, Halford J. "The geographical pivot of history." Geopolitics. Routledge, 2014. 44-48.

Rowntree, Lester, et al. Diversity amid globalization. Pearson Education Limited, 2015.