USA VS.

IRELAND

Sam Fetzer

LEADER
USA
Title: President
Barack Obama
Elected
Terms are 4 years
long
Must be an American
citizen and must be
35 years old.

Ireland
Title: President
Michael D. Higgins
Elected
Terms are 7 years
long
Must be an Irish
citizen and must be
35 years old.

LAWMAKING BRANCH
USA

Congress
Bicameral
535 members in
congress

Ireland

UK Parliament
Bicameral
650 members in the
UK Parliament

INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS
USA

Both freedom of
speech and press
Freedom of Religion
Right to bear arms

Ireland
Both freedom of
speech and press
Freedom to practice
whatever religion
they choose
In order to posses a
fi rearm, one must
acquire a licence

POLITICAL PARTIES
USA
Two party system
Republican and
Democrat
R-Donkey, Believe in
the right to bear arms
D-Elephante, Believe
American jobs should
stay in America

Ireland
Two party system
Fianna Fail, Fine Gael
FF-Republican, a harp?,
believe in all around
welfare of the people.
FG-Star, believe in
creating jobs

ELECTIONS AND VOTING

USA
Must be 18 to vote
and a US citizen
Presidential elections
are held every 4
years
Diff erent types
include primary,
general, and
presidential

Ireland
Must be 18 to vote
and must be an Irish
citizen
Presidential elections
are held every 7
years
Types include local,
general, European,
and Presidential

TAXES AND GOVERNMENT FINANCE

USA

Ireland

Charges an income tax

Charges an income tax

Sales tax, property tax,

gift tax, etc.
Military Spending:
$815.5 Billion
Education Spending:
$922.6 Billion
Healthcare Spending:
$1356.1 Billion

Pay-As-You-Earn tax, value

added tax, excise duties,
etc.
Military Spending:
$1.235 billion
Education Spending:
$13.1 Million
Healthcare Spending:
$42505.05

LAW
USA
Crime Rates:
1,163,146 Violent Crimes
8,632,512 Property Crimes
Prison Population:
1.57 million
Uses the death penalty
The Criminal Justice
System:
State
Local

Ireland
Crime Rates:
243,968 total criminal
off enses
Prison Population:
3,812
The death penalty is
forbidden
The Irish Criminal
Justice System

CURRENT RELATIONS
Relations are built on common ancestral ties and
shared values. Because of Irelands membership in the
European Union, discussions of trade and economic
policies are key topics in many discussions between
the US and Ireland. The US helps to fund projects in
Ireland that would generate cross-country engagement
and economic opportunity.