FEATURE

INDIA

USA

UK

France

Russia

Canada

Germany

Japan

Australia

Type of legislature

Bicameral

Bicameral

Bicameral

Bicameral

Bicameral

Bicameral

Bicameral

Bicameral

Bicameral

Written constitution

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Federal structure

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

Bill of Rights

Part III of the Constitution

First Ten Amendments

Human Rights Act 1998

Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen

Constitution of Russia, Chapter 2

Charter of Rights and Freedoms of Canada

Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany

Japanese Constitution, Chapter III

Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986

Judicial review

Yes

– – – – – – – –

Yes, but limited

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

head of state

President

– – – – – – – –

King

– – – – – – – –

President

– – – – – – – 

President

King

King

head of government

Prime Minister

President

– – – – – – – 

Prime Minister

– – – – – – – –

– – – – – – – 

Chancellor

Prime Minister

Prime Minister

FEATURE

INDIA

UK

USA

Russia

Japan

France

Germany

Flexible/ Rigid Constitution

Both

Flexible

Rigid

Rigid

Rigid

Rigid

Unitary/ Federal

Federal with unitary bias

Union

Federal

Union

Union

Union

Federal

Parliamentary/ Presidential

Parliamentary

Parliamentary

Presidential

Semi-Presidential

Parliamentary

Semi-Presidential

Parliamentary

Sovereignty of Parliament

Supremacy of the Constitution

Supremacy of Parliament

Supremacy of the Constitution

Supremacy of the Constitution

Parliament with limited powers

Republic/ Monarch

Republic

Constitutional monarchy

– – – – – –

Republic

– – – – – –

– – – – – –

Republic

President

– – – – – –

Ceremonial

– – – – – –

Executive

Executive

Ceremonial

Fundamental Rights

Yes

– – – – – –

Yes

– – – – – –

Yes

Yes

Country 

Features Borrowed 

British

• Parliamentary form of Government
• Constitutional Head of the State
• Lower House more powerful than the Upper House of Parliament
• Accountability of the Council of Ministers toward Parliament
• Prevalence of the rule of law
• – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

US

• The Preamble
• Fundamental Rights
• Functions of the Vice-president
• Amendments of the Constitution
• Nature and Roles of the – – – – – – – – – – – –
• Independence of the – – – – – – – – – – – –
• – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Australia

• Concurrent Powers
• Process of clearing deadlocks over concurrent subjects among the – – – – – – – – – – – – –
• – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Ireland

• Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP)
• Process of selection of members to the Rajya Sabha
• – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Weimer Constitution of Germany

• Powers of the President
• – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Canada

• Provisions of a strong country
• The Name – Union of India
• Vesting of – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 
• – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

South Africa

• The procedure of implementing amendments with a two-thirds majority in Parliament
• Selection of the members of the Rajya Sabha on the basis of proportional representation by the– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 
• – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –