Political Systems of India and South Korea

India

• India is officially called Republic of India
• New Delhi is the capital
• 17th largest country by area
• 1.2 billion people, most populous democracy in the world
• Bounded by the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, and Bay of Bengal
• Shares land borders with Pakistan, China, and Nepal
• Home to Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, and Sikhism
• Became independent in 1947 after a non-violent resistance led by Mahatma Gandhi

India's Political System

• A federal system, governed by the constitution
• Referred to as Sovereign, Secular, and Democratic
• Parliamentary form of government
• Union of 29 states and 7 union territories
• President is the head of the Executive union
• Prime Minister is the head of the council of ministers.
• Real political and social power rests with the Prime Minister

Indian Parliament

• The assembly of elected representatives, holding supreme political authority
• Parliament is a national assembly.
• The body of elected representatives at the state level is called Legislature, or Legislative assembly.
• India's Parliament consists of the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and Lok Sabha (House of the People).
• The president of India is part of Parliament, however, not a member of either house.

Lok Sabha

• The lower house of parliament directly elected by the people.
• Holds the real power.
• Maximum strength of 552 members - 530 from states and 20 from Union Territories
• Two members nominated by the President of India from the Anglo-Indian community.

Rajya Sabha

• The upper house of parliament
• Elected indirectly, has special functions.
• Looks after interests of the various states, regions, and federal units.
• Has no more than 250 members
• Twelve members nominated by the President for distinction in literature, art, science, or service.

Executive Branch

• Sole responsibility for daily administration of the bureaucracy
• The executive power rests mainly with the President of India
• The President acts in accordance with advice tendered by the Prime Minister and his council of ministers
• Council of ministers remain in office as long as they are approved.

Indian Judiciary

• Collectively called the Judiciary
• The independent and powerful institution essential for democracies.
• Consists of Supreme Court (entire nation), High Courts (states), and District Courts (local level).
• One of the most powerful judiciaries worldwide.
• Supreme Court of India consists of the Chief Justice and a maximum of 25 other judges appointed by the President.
• High Court judges retire at 62.

South Korea

• A vibrant democracy with a rich cultural heritage and a rapidly growing economy
• Situates in East Asia
• Presidential representative democratic republic, with a multi-party system

South Korea's Branches

• Executive: The President is the head of state and oversees the government's executive functions.
• Legislative: The National Assembly is responsible for enacting laws and representing the interests of the people.
• Judicial: The judiciary ensures fair interpretation and enforcement of laws.

South Korea Political Parties

• Democratic Party of Korea: The ruling party, advocating for progressive policies and social welfare
• United Future Party: Main conservative party promoting free market principles and strong national defense.

Role of the President

• Head of State: Represents South Korea domestically and internationally.
• Commander-in-Chief: Responsible for the country's military forces.
• Policy Making: Shapes the political agenda & leads the government's decision-making processes.

National Assembly Legislative Process

• Law Proposal (drafting by members)
• Committee Review (thorough examination and debate)
• Voting and Approval (by the whole assembly)

Elections and Electoral System

• Multi-party system where elections are held every four years.
• Candidates compete for seats in the National Assembly and presidency.
• Electoral system ensures proportional representation and fair allocation of seats.

Political System Challenges

• Cronyism: Political elites having too much influence.
• Regionalism: Regional differences hindering national cooperation.
• Gender Inequality: Efforts ongoing to enhance women's representation.
• Youth Engagement: Encouraging participation among the youth.

Republic of Korea (ROK)

• Directly elected by all voters
• 5-year term (no second term)
• Head of state
• Chief executive & commander
• Power to declare war
• Cannot dissolve the National Assembly

Presidential Power

• Appoint Prime Minister (subject to assembly approval)
• Propose legislation, appointing Chief Justice (subject to assembly approval).

National Assembly

• Unicameral legislature with 300 members serving 4-year terms.
• 253 members directly elected from districts.
• 47 members appointed by political parties.
• Law-making, national budget approval, and impeachment procedures.

Overview of South Korea

• Presidential representative democracy
• Multi-party system
• Executive power is exercised by the President
• Legislative power is vested in the National Assembly
• Judiciary independent of both executive and legislature (Supreme Court, Appellate Courts, & Constitutional court)
• Constitution revised five times since 1948

ASEAN

• ASEAN was established on August 8, 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand.
• Founded by five original countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.
• Primary goal of regional peace, stability, and cooperation amidst Cold War tensions.
• Aims to reduce external power influence, and foster economic, political, and cultural development.
• Grew to include all Southeast Asian nations, with Brunei (1984), Vietnam (1995), Myanmar (1997), and Cambodia (1999)
• Operates on principle of non-interference, consensus-building

ASEAN Structure

• Summit Level: Heads of state or government, highest decision-making body (twice a year for policy discussions)
• Ministerial Level: Foreign affairs, economy, and other portfolios convene (ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM), ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM)
• Secretariat: Based in Jakarta, Indonesia, and supports implementation, monitoring, and coordination of ASEAN programs.
• Committees and Working Groups: Specialized bodies work on specific areas (e.g., trade, environment, security).
• Dialogue Partners: ASEAN has partnerships with countries outside the region (e.g., US, EU, China, Japan) through various mechanisms (e.g., ASEAN Plus Three, East Asia Summit)

ASEAN's Foreign Policy

• Focuses on regional stability, economic integration, and neutrality in global politics.
• Regional Stability: Promotes peaceful dispute resolution, non-interference in member states' affairs, security cooperation (ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF))
• Economic Integration: Establishment of ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015. Encouragement of trade agreements with external partners.
• Balancing External Powers: Maintains balanced relations with global powers, avoids alignment with any one bloc. Engages with China, US, Japan, India, etc.

ASEAN Challenges

• Addressing disputes in the South China Sea
• Maintaining unity amidst diverse political systems and economic levels
• Balancing relations between the US and China in the Indo-Pacific region