In what ways are the nations of the European Union similar to and different from the states of the USA?
In what ways are the nations of the European Union similar to and different from the states of the USA? Provide an example.
Let us start with the most obvious similarity: in the USA, as in the good parts of Europe, citizens use a single currency, identical to the currency of their neighboring States. The borders between the States are also completely open inside the Union. Just as in Europe, in the USA, a number of decisions remain the responsibility of the States: such as highway code, certain taxes, social welfare, minimum wages, certain areas of justice (legislation on marriage, drugs or weapons for example), etc. Opt-out procedures also exist for certain legislation at federal level (for example, opt-out could exist for certain parts of the reform of the health system championed by Barack Obama). At the political level, some call for more independence of the States in relation to the federal government, while others wish for more control by the Union. The governors, senators, and other local representatives in the USA States keep indeed a great importance in daily life.
Differences
The historical differences are obvious: the United States of America was born more than 200 years ago, out of a will of the British colonies to release themselves from the Crown. Europe, on the contrary, has been built less than one century ago, little by little, block by block (first by coal and steel, then by an economic area, etc.). What Europe is still missing to unify all its citizens is the election by universal suffrage of a President. In 2008, the American President’s election brought together all Americans – and this even if the power remains de facto quite limited. On the other hand, in the European Union, the parliamentary elections are marked by a decreasing participation rate. Euro-enthousiasts call for political parties created out of transnational lists, and for proposals of a candidate to the presidency of the Commission at the time of the parliamentary campaign, in order to strongly politicise the debate. (Henning, 2010)
Answer 2
Differences:
The European Union has many parties. The Unites States have two parties.
No unified military in the EU unlike the US.
The US has one constitution, the EU has different ones between one country and another.
The EU does not have a universal standard for content and cost of education. The US has some differences between states but not as much as the EU between countries.
The US has federal police for national matters. The EU has police for each country separately.
The metric system in the EU. The US does not have that.
Similarities:
Free to move between countries and states and free trade between them.
No fixed borders, even though countries can have different laws same as states.
Same as the US, the EU has an international law as well as a separate law for each country, like the states also have some differences between one state and another.
