After learning about different aspects of German politics, what are the main differences between the U.S. and German systems? Which system is better?

After studying the German system of politics for almost four weeks now, there are some similarities and many differences between the United States system of government and the German system. These similarities and differences are seen at all three major levels of government. There are also differences in accountability in government and voter turnout.

There are some similarities and differences in the legislative processes between the two countries. Both of these countries have a bicameral legislature, but what each of these chambers does is very different. The main goal for the House of Representatives in the United States is to write and pass law to the Senate. This is not the case for the lower house in Germany, or Bundestag. The main goal of the Bundestag is to appoint the main executive or chancellor of Germany. They do not write legislation, but vote, debate and amend it. Both of these lower houses are voted into office by the people.

There are some similarities and differences between the upper houses of the legislature for each country as well. One similarity is that each of the upper houses is not a proportional representation, but an equal representation; one state or Lander one vote or in the case of the Senate two votes. One of the major differences is that upper house, or Bundesrat, in Germany is not directly elected by the people, but appointed.

Accountability is very different between these two governments. The United States runs on a single member district system. This is very different from the hybrid proportional representation system that is used in Germany. It is similar that in each district there is going to be one person that is an outright winner, but on the German ballot you cast a second vote for the party of your choice and they also send members to the Bundestag based on proportion. This is much different from the United States because the percentage of the vote that you receive in Germany for a party is the percentage of seats in the Bundestag. The number of people in the House of Representatives will always be 435. This is not the case in the Bundestag with the hybrid proportional representation system and the number of seats changes almost every election.

Germany has much higher voter turnout than the United States because of this hybrid proportional representation system. People in Germany feel that they have more of a voice in government because if they know that their vote for their representative is in vain. At least they can cast a vote for there party and hopefully bolster seats in the Bundestag that way. This is one of the main reasons for me, why Germany was a better system than the United States. It does not feel like you are wasting your vote in Germany. In the United States if you candidate does not win in your district, sorry it will be another two or four years before you get another crack at it. In some districts in Wisconsin and across the United States they have always voted a Republican or Democrat into office and it is almost impossible for the opposition. This system feels like it would give voters more of a say in these areas. The only thing that I do not like about the German system is the upper house is appointed and not elected. For having one of the most democratic systems in the world, this seems like it should be changed in Germany.