Essay/Term paper: Iraq constitution

Essay, term paper, research paper:  College Papers

Even though the countries of Iraq and the United States have much
friction between each other it is very surprising how much the
constitutions of both nations are alike. James Madison became the main
writer of the United States Constitution, which was adopted in 1789 .
The 13 states ratified the constitution, making it the basis of the
Government of the United States. In 1990 the Iraqi government adopted
their constitution. The Revolutionary Council wrote their constitution
as the framework for the government of Iraq. The United States
Government consists of three branches. The Legislative branch proposes
and enacts laws, and can impeach members of the other branches. The
Judiciary branch interprets the laws and makes sure they are
constitutional. The Executive branch enforces the laws, and can veto
bills passed by Congress. The highest level of power in Iraq belongs
to the Revolutionary Command Council. Its responsibilities are to
elect the president from its members, make up the laws, and elect a
vice president. The members of the Revolutionary Command Council assume
full immunity and nothing can be taken against any member without a
majority vote from the council. There is also a National Council made

up of representatives from different sectors, who ratify laws made by
the president. Iraq also has a judiciary branch. Our First Amendment
guarantees freedom of speech and freedom of the press. The Iraqi
Constitution guarantees freedom of opinion, political parties , press
and syndicate, within the law, only if it follows "the Revolutionary,
national and progressive trend." The First Amendment also guarantees
freedom of religion. In Iraq the national religion is Islam, however
they also have freedom of religion. In Iraq you are allowed to own a
limited amount of land, but in the United States you can own unlimited
land if you can pay for it. If you are accused of a crime in the
United States, you have the right to a trial by a jury of your peers,
the right to a lawyer, and you cannot be forced to testify against
yourself. The Iraqi constitution includes the rights of innocent until
proven guilty at a legal trial, and the right to defense. I have
learned that our government is different from other nations because the
power comes from the people, instead of the government having all the
power and granting the people certain rights.