Country vs country: Government Stats: compare key data on Japan & United States and Government Stats: compare key data on Japan & United States compared Government

STAT Japan United States HISTORY
Administrative divisions 47 prefectures; Aichi, Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Ehime, Fukui, Fukuoka, Fukushima, Gifu, Gunma, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ibaraki, Ishikawa, Iwate, Kagawa, Kagoshima, Kanagawa, Kochi, Kumamoto, Kyoto, Mie, Miyagi, Miyazaki, Nagano, Nagasaki, Nara, Niigata, Oita, Okayama, Okinawa, Osaka, Saga, Saitama, Shiga, Shimane, Shizuoka, Tochigi, Tokushima, Tokyo, Tottori, Toyama, Wakayama, Yamagata, Yamaguchi, Yamanashi 50 states and 1 district*; Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia*, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Capital city > Geographic coordinates 35 41 N, 139 45 E 38 53 N, 77 02 W
Capital city > Name Tokyo Washington, DC
Constitution previous 1890; latest approved 6 October 1946, adopted 3 November 1946, effective 3 May 1947 previous 1781 (Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union); latest drafted July - September 1787, submitted to the Congress of the Confederation 20 September 1787, submitted for states' ratification 28 September 1787, ratification completed by nine sta
Executive branch > Cabinet Cabinet is appointed by the prime minister Cabinet appointed by the president with Senate approval
Executive branch > Chief of state Emperor AKIHITO (since 7 January 1989) President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)
Executive branch > Head of government Prime Minister Shinzo ABE (since 26 December 2012); Deputy Prime Minister Taro ASO (since 26 December 2012) President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)
Government type a parliamentary government with a constitutional monarchy Constitution-based federal republic; strong democratic tradition
International organization participation ADB, AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CICA (observer), CP, EAS, EBRD, EITI (implementing country), FAO, FATF, G-20, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), ANZUS, APEC, Arctic Council, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CICA (observer), CP, EAPC, EAS, EBRD, EITI (implementing country), FAO, FATF, G-20, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAFTA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNRWA, UNSC (permanent), UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Judicial branch Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the monarch after designation by the cabinet; all other justices are appointed by the cabinet) Supreme Court (nine justices; nominated by the president and confirmed with the advice and consent of the Senate; appointed to serve for life); United States Courts of Appeal; United States District Courts; State and County Courts
Legal system civil law system based on German model; system also reflects Anglo-American influence and Japanese traditions; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court common law system based on English common law at the federal level; state legal systems based on common law except Louisiana, which is based on Napoleonic civil code; judicial review of legislative acts
Legislative branch bicameral Diet or Kokkai consists of the House of Councillors or Sangi-in (242 seats - members elected for fixed six-year terms; half reelected every three years; 146 members in multi-seat constituencies and 96 by proportional representation) and the House of Representatives or Shugi-in (480 seats - members elected for maximum four-year terms; 300 in single-seat constituencies; 180 members by proportional representation in 11 regional blocs); the prime minister has the right to dissolve the House of Representatives at any time with the concurrence of the cabinet bicameral Congress consists of the Senate
Political parties and leaders Democratic Party of Japan or DPJ [Banri KAIEDA]<br />Japan Communist Party or JCP [Kazuo SHII]<br />Japan Restoration Party or JRP [Shintaro ISHIHARA]<br />Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Shinzo ABE]<br />New Komeito or NK [Natsuo YAMAGUCHI]<br />People's Life Party or PF [Ichiro OZAWA]<br />Social Democratic Party or SDP [Mizuho FUKUSHIMA]<br />Tomorrow Party of Japan or TPJ [Tomoko ABE]<br />Your Party or YP [Yoshimi WATANABE] Democratic Party [Debbie Wasserman SCHULTZ]<br />Green Party<br />Libertarian Party [Mark HINKLE]<br />Republican Party [Reince PRIEBUS]
Political pressure groups and leaders <strong>other: </strong>business groups; trade unions environmentalists; business groups; labor unions; churches; ethnic groups; political action committees or PACs; health groups; education groups; civic groups; youth groups; transportation groups; agricultural groups; veterans groups; women's groups; reform lobbies
Suffrage 20 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Country name > Conventional long form none United States of America
Executive branch > Elections Diet, the bicameral legislature, designates the prime minister; constitution requires that the prime minister commands parliamentary majority; following legislative elections, the leader of majority party or leader of majority coalition in House of Representatives usually becomes prime minister; the monarchy is hereditary president and vice president elected on the same ticket by a college of representatives who are elected directly from each state; president and vice president serve four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 6 November 2012 (next to be held on 8 November 2016)
National symbol(s) red sun disc; chrysanthemum bald eagle
Flag description white with a large red disk (representing the sun without rays) in the center 13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies; the blue stands for loyalty, devotion, truth, justice, and friendship; red symbolizes courage, zeal, and fervency, while white denotes purity and rectitude of conduct; commonly referred to by its nickname of Old Glory
Red tape > Time required to start a business > Days 22
Ranked 65th. 4 times more than United States 		5
Ranked 170th.
Country name > Conventional short form Japan United States
Constitutional form Constitutional monarchy Republic
Transnational Issues > Disputes > International the sovereignty dispute over the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, and Shikotan, and the Habomai group, known in Japan as the "Northern Territories" and in Russia as the "Southern Kuril Islands," occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, now administered by Russia and claimed by Japan, remains the primary sticking point to signing a peace treaty formally ending World War II hostilities; Japan and South Korea claim Liancourt Rocks (Take-shima/Tok-do) occupied by South Korea since 1954; China and Taiwan dispute both Japan's claims to the uninhabited islands of the Senkaku-shoto (Diaoyu Tai) and Japan's unilaterally declared exclusive economic zone in the East China Sea, the site of intensive hydrocarbon prospecting the US has intensified domestic security measures and is collaborating closely with its neighbors, Canada and Mexico, to monitor and control legal and illegal personnel, transport, and commodities across the international borders; abundant rainfall in recent years along much of the Mexico-US border region has ameliorated periodically strained water-sharing arrangements; 1990 Maritime Boundary Agreement in the Bering Sea still awaits Russian Duma ratification; Canada and the United States dispute how to divide the Beaufort Sea and the status of the Northwest Passage but continue to work cooperatively to survey the Arctic continental shelf; The Bahamas and US have not been able to agree on a maritime boundary; US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased from Cuba and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease; Haiti claims US-administered Navassa Island; US has made no territorial claim in Antarctica (but has reserved the right to do so) and does not recognize the claims of any other states; Marshall Islands claims Wake Island; Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island among the islands listed in its 2006 draft constitution
National anthem <strong>name: </strong>"Kimigayo" (The Emperor"s Reign)<br /><strong>lyrics/music:</strong> unknown/Hiromori HAYASHI <strong>name: </strong>"The Star-Spangled Banner"<br /><strong>lyrics/music:</strong> Francis Scott KEY/John Stafford SMITH
Legislative branch > Election results House of Councillors - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LPD 115, DPJ 59, New Komeito 20, Your Party 18, JCP 11, JRP 9, SDP 3, others 4, independents 3<br />House of Representatives - percent of vote by party (by proportional representation) - LDP 31.6%, DPJ 16.6%, JRP 22.2%, New Komeito 12.2%, Your Party 7.7%, JCP 4.4%, TRP 3.9%, others 1.4%; seats by party LDP 294, DPJ 57, JRP 54, New Komeito 31, Your Party 18, TPJ 9, JCP 8, others 4, independents 5 Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 54, Republican Party 45, independent 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 201, Republican Party 234
Legislative branch > Elections House of Councillors - last held on 21 July 2013 (next to be held in July 2016); House of Representatives - last held on 16 December 2012 (next to be held by 15 December 2016) Senate - last held on 6 November 2012 (next to be held on 4 November 2014); House of Representatives - last held on 6 November 2012 (next to be held on 4 November 2014)
Democracy and rights > Press freedom index 25.17
Ranked 8th. 38% more than United States 		18.22
Ranked 13th.
Parliament > Seats held by women > Percentage 7.92%
Ranked 161st. 		17.78%
Ranked 91st. 2 times more than Japan
Independence 3 May 1947 (current constitution adopted as amendment to Meiji Constitution); notable earlier dates: 660 B.C. (traditional date of the founding of the nation by Emperor JIMMU); 29 November 1890 (Meiji Constitution provides for constitutional monarchy) 4 July 1776 (declared); 3 September 1783 (recognized by Great Britain)
Executive branch > Election results FUKUDA elected prime minister with 338 of 477 votes cast in the House of Representatives; he received 106 of 240 votes cast in the House of Councillors; vote of House of Representatives prevailed Barack H. OBAMA reelected president; percent of popular vote - Barack H. OBAMA 50.6%, Mitt ROMNEY 47.9%, other 1.5%;
Judicial branch > Subordinate courts 8 Courts of Appeal (includes the US Court of Appeal for the Federal District and 12 regional appeals courts); 94 federal district courts in 50 states and territories
Basis of executive legitimacy Ministry is subject to parliamentary confidence Presidency is independent of legislature
Democracy and rights > Freedom of the press 22
Ranked 157th. 22% more than United States 		18
Ranked 171st.
Corruption > Bribe Payers Index 8.6
Ranked 5th. 6% more than United States 		8.1
Ranked 8th.
Proportion of seats held by women in national parliament 9.4%
Ranked 124th. 		15.2%
Ranked 79th. 62% more than Japan
Red tape > Start-up procedures to register a business > Number 8
Ranked 59th. 33% more than United States 		6
Ranked 103th.
Democracy > Civil and political liberties 5.5
Ranked 19th. 		6
Ranked 6th. 9% more than Japan
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ 823.3 billion$
Ranked 2nd. 		1.84 trillion$
Ranked 1st. 2 times more than Japan
National holiday Birthday of Emperor AKIHITO, 23 December Independence Day, 4 July (1776)
Capital > Geographic coordinates 35 41 N, 139 45 E 38 53 N, 77 02 W
Democracy > First female parliamentarian 1946 (elected) 1917 (elected)
Time required to start a business > Days 23 days
Ranked 125th. 5 times more than United States 		5 days
Ranked 167th.
Democracy > Gender Parity Index in primary level enrolment 1
Ranked 20th. 1% more than United States 		0.991
Ranked 52nd.
Judicial branch > Judge selection and term of office Supreme Court chief justice designated by the Cabinet and appointed by the monarch; associate justices appointed by the Cabinet and confirmed by the monarch; all justices are reviewed in a popular referendum at the first general election of the House of Representatives following each judge's appointment and every 10 years afterward president nominates, and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoints Supreme Court justices; justices appointed for life
Democracy and rights > Democracy Index 8.08
Ranked 19th. 		8.11
Ranked 18th. About the same as Japan
Red tape > Burden of customs procedure, WEF > 1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient 4.8
Ranked 31st. 7% more than United States 		4.5
Ranked 43th.
Red tape > Time required to register property > Days 13
Ranked 154th. 8% more than United States 		12
Ranked 158th.
Politics The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) was in power for much of the country&#039;s post-war history. It was ousted in 2009 by the Democratic Party, but returned to office with a landslide election win in 2012 Barack Obama, America&#039;s first black president, was re-elected in November 2012
International law organization participation accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction withdrew acceptance of compulsory ICJ jurisdiction in 2005; withdrew acceptance of ICCt jurisdiction in 2002
Parliament > Seats held by men 442
Ranked 10th. 24% more than United States 		356
Ranked 21st.
Red tape > Time to resolve insolvency > Years 0.6
Ranked 169th. 		1.5
Ranked 144th. 3 times more than Japan
Red tape > Start-up procedures to register a business > Number per million 0.0627
Ranked 176th. 3 times more than United States 		0.0191
Ranked 185th.
Parliament > Seats held by women 38
Ranked 60th. 		77
Ranked 27th. 2 times more than Japan
Foreign relations > Date of recognition of Israel None
None
Democracy > Democratic institutions rating 10
Ranked 6th. The same as United States 		10
Ranked 9th.
UN membership date 18 Dec. 1956 24 Oct. 1945
Democracy and rights > Democracy Index per million people 0.0633
Ranked 32nd. 2 times more than United States 		0.0258
Ranked 34th.
Red tape > Procedures to build a warehouse > Number 14
Ranked 85th. 		16
Ranked 60th. 14% more than Japan
Capital city Tokyo Washington, DC
Capital > Name Tokyo Washington, DC
Legal origin <a href=/country/gm>German</a> <a href=/encyclopedia/England>English</a>
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ > Per capita 6,443.96$ per capita
Ranked 12th. 3% more than United States 		6,281.51$ per capita
Ranked 14th.
Spending > Expense > Current LCU 63.87 trillion
Ranked 1st. 17 times more than United States 		3.7 trillion
Ranked 1st.
Red tape > Time required to get electricity > Days 105
Ranked 82nd. 75% more than United States 		60
Ranked 144th.
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Registered voter turnout 60.6%
Ranked 113th. 		63.8%
Ranked 101st. 5% more than Japan
Legislature (parliament) > People per member 176,648
Ranked 13th. 		575,019
Ranked 3rd. 3 times more than Japan
Democracy and rights > Year women first voted at national level 1947 1920
Capital > Time difference UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) UTC-5 (during Standard Time)
International relations There has been tension with China and South Korea over Japan&#039;s wartime past and territorial waters, and with North Korea over the latter&#039;s nuclear ambitions The US has a leading role on the world stage, militarily and diplomatically. Its combat troops are set to leave Afghanistan by late 2014
Red tape > Time required to get electricity > Days per million 0.823
Ranked 176th. 4 times more than United States 		0.191
Ranked 186th.
Legislature (parliament) > Lower house members 480
Ranked 18th. 10% more than United States 		435
Ranked 25th.
Legislature (parliament) > Upper house members 242
Ranked 8th. 2 times more than United States 		100
Ranked 24th.
Democracy > Female ministers 6.5%
Ranked 95th. 		7.1%
Ranked 92nd. 9% more than Japan
Red tape > Time required to enforce a contract > Days 360
Ranked 166th. 		370
Ranked 164th. 3% more than Japan
Democracy > Female parliamentarians 10%
Ranked 88th. 		13.8%
Ranked 60th. 38% more than Japan
Red tape > Procedures to register property > Number 6
Ranked 72nd. 50% more than United States 		4
Ranked 145th.
Role of head of state Ceremonial Executive
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ per capita 6,444.06$
Ranked 12th. 2% more than United States 		6,299.75$
Ranked 14th.
Start-up procedures to register a business > Number 8
Ranked 104th. 60% more than United States 		5
Ranked 154th.
Red tape > Burden of customs procedure, WEF > 1=extremely inefficient to 7=extremely efficient per million 0.0376
Ranked 131st. 3 times more than United States 		0.0143
Ranked 141st.
Strength of legal rights index > 0=weak to 10=strong 7
Ranked 47th. 		8
Ranked 27th. 14% more than Japan
Spending > Subsidies and other transfers > Current LCU 41.37 trillion
Ranked 1st. 16 times more than United States 		2.56 trillion
Ranked 1st.
Legislature (parliament) > Term of office for upper house members 6
Ranked 21st. The same as United States 		6
Ranked 17th.
Foreign relations > Comprehensive National Power 57.84
Ranked 7th. 		90.62
Ranked 1st. 57% more than Japan
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current US$ > Per $ GDP 0.18$ per $1 of GDP
Ranked 58th. 14% more than United States 		0.158$ per $1 of GDP
Ranked 76th.
Parliament > Seats held by women per million people 0.299
Ranked 174th. 23% more than United States 		0.243
Ranked 175th.
Foreign relations > Nepal > Date of Establishment July 28, 1956 April 25, 1947
Democracy > Female suffrage "1945 ,1947" "1920 ,1960"
Red tape > Time required to build a warehouse > Days 193
Ranked 52nd. 2 times more than United States 		91
Ranked 157th.
Foreign relations > Date of recognition of Syrian National Council Informal relations Recognised on 5 December 2011 (as legitimate representative)
Red tape > Time required to start a business > Days per million 0.172
Ranked 170th. 11 times more than United States 		0.0159
Ranked 188th.
Red tape > Procedures to enforce a contract > Number per million 0.243
Ranked 181st. 2 times more than United States 		0.102
Ranked 185th.
Red tape > Time required to register property > Days per million 0.102
Ranked 176th. 3 times more than United States 		0.0382
Ranked 181st.
Red tape > Time required to build a warehouse > Days per million 1.51
Ranked 169th. 5 times more than United States 		0.29
Ranked 183th.
Red tape > Procedures to build a warehouse > Number per million 0.11
Ranked 174th. 2 times more than United States 		0.051
Ranked 182nd.
Spending > Interest payments > Current LCU 13.08 trillion
Ranked 1st. 48 times more than United States 		270.49 billion
Ranked 1st.
Democracy and rights > Major left wing party Democratic Party Democratic Party
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 US$ > Per capita 6,782.1 constant 2000 US$ per c
Ranked 6th. 24% more than United States 		5,464.23 constant 2000 US$ per c
Ranked 8th.
Time required to build a warehouse > Days 96 days
Ranked 151st. 39% more than United States 		69 days
Ranked 164th.
Failed States Index 36.1
Ranked 12th. 8% more than United States 		33.5
Ranked 14th.
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voting age population 103.16 million
Ranked 5th. 		213.95 million
Ranked 2nd. 2 times more than Japan
Democracy > Female candidacy 1,945
Ranked 97th. 9% more than United States 		1,788
Ranked 161st.
Trademarks > Nonresidents per 1000 0.145
Ranked 25th. 58% more than United States 		0.0922
Ranked 35th.
Trademarks > Nonresidents > Per capita 0.145 per 1,000 people
Ranked 25th. 58% more than United States 		0.092 per 1,000 people
Ranked 35th.
Foreign relations > Croatia > Date of Establishment March 5, 1993 August 11, 1992
National anthem > Name "Kimigayo" (The Emperor"s Reign) "The Star-Spangled Banner"
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Turnout 59
Ranked 69th. 27% more than United States 		46.6
Ranked 93th.
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voter registration 100.43 million
Ranked 6th. 		156.42 million
Ranked 2nd. 56% more than Japan
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Total vote 60.88 million
Ranked 5th. 		99.74 million
Ranked 3rd. 64% more than Japan
Time required to enforce a contract > Days 242 days
Ranked 150th. 		300 days
Ranked 136th. 24% more than Japan
Start-up procedures to register a business > Number > Per capita 0.063 per 1 million people
Ranked 162nd. 4 times more than United States 		0.017 per 1 million people
Ranked 168th.
Democracy and rights > Electoral system Semi-PR FPTP
Procedures to register property > Number 6
Ranked 72nd. 50% more than United States 		4
Ranked 131st.
Procedures to build a warehouse > Number 11
Ranked 151st. 		18
Ranked 67th. 64% more than Japan
Democracy and rights > Party system Multi Two
Democracy and rights > Structure Parliamentary Presidential
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 US$ 866.5 billion constant 2000 US$
Ranked 2nd. 		1.6 trillion constant 2000 US$
Ranked 1st. 85% more than Japan
Procedures to register property > Number > Per capita 0.047 per 1 million people
Ranked 158th. 4 times more than United States 		0.013 per 1 million people
Ranked 164th.
Procedures to enforce a contract > Number > Per capita 0.157 per 1 million people
Ranked 165th. 3 times more than United States 		0.057 per 1 million people
Ranked 167th.
Capital city > Time difference UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) UTC-5 (during Standard Time)
Time to resolve insolvency > Years 0.6 years
Ranked 149th. 		1.5 years
Ranked 127th. 3 times more than Japan
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant LCU 93379000000000 1604600000000
Trademarks > Residents > Per capita 0.863 per 1,000 people
Ranked 12th. 19% more than United States 		0.727 per 1,000 people
Ranked 18th.
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Annual % growth 2.02%
Ranked 79th. 		2.5%
Ranked 70th. 24% more than Japan
Ruling party Liberal Democratic Democratic
Time required to register property > Days 14 days
Ranked 142nd. 17% more than United States 		12 days
Ranked 145th.
Trademarks > Nonresidents 18,573
Ranked 5th. 		26,988
Ranked 2nd. 45% more than Japan
Procedures to enforce a contract > Number per million 0.157
Ranked 164th. 3 times more than United States 		0.057
Ranked 166th.
Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments > % 8.1%
Ranked 159th. 		17.9%
Ranked 97th. 2 times more than Japan
Spending > Subsidies and other transfers > % of expense 64.76%
Ranked 1st. 		69.14%
Ranked 1st. 7% more than Japan
Democracy and rights > Next election December 2016 November 2016
Spending > Interest payments > % of revenue 21.06%
Ranked 9th. 77% more than United States 		11.93%
Ranked 1st.
Foreign relations > Date of establishment of relations with China September 29, 1972 January 1, 1979
Democracy and rights > Strong judicial review? No Yes
Democracy and rights > Strongly federal? No Yes
Start-up procedures to register a business > Number per million 0.0626
Ranked 162nd. 4 times more than United States 		0.0168
Ranked 167th.
Foreign relations > Recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia Yasuaki Tanizaki , director general of the Japanese Foreign Ministry's European bureau, said "Our country is gravely concerned about the move. Our country hopes that Russia ... will take responsible actions for the region's stability". President George W. Bush condemned the actions taken by Russia and called on them to "reconsider this irresponsible decision." Bush then stated that in "accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolutions that remain in force, Abkhazia and South Ossetia are within the internationally recognised borders of Georgia, and they must remain so." Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also said the decision made by Russia was "regrettable" and further stated that since "the United States is a permanent member of the Security Council this simply will be dead on arrival in the Security Council." United States President George W. Bush acknowledged the ceasefire accord brokered by the French President and President of the European Council , Nicolas Sarkozy . The accord was signed by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on 12 August 2008 Cite error: There are &lt;ref&gt; tags on this page, but the references will not show without a &#123;&#123;reflist&#125;&#125; template (see the help page ).
National anthem > Note adopted 1999; in use as unofficial national anthem since 1883; oldest anthem lyrics in the world, dating to the 10th century or earlier; there is some opposition to the anthem because of its association with militarism and worship of the emperor adopted 1931; during the War of 1812, after witnessing the successful American defense of Fort McHenry in Baltimore following British naval bombardment, Francis Scott KEY wrote the lyrics to what would become the national anthem; the lyrics were set to the tune of "The Anacreontic Song;" only the first verse is sung
Red tape > Procedures to enforce a contract > Number 31
Ranked 161st. 		32
Ranked 154th. 3% more than Japan
Red tape > Procedures to register property > Number per million 0.047
Ranked 175th. 4 times more than United States 		0.0127
Ranked 181st.
Time to prepare and pay taxes > Hours 350 hours
Ranked 48th. 8% more than United States 		325 hours
Ranked 54th.
Procedures to build a warehouse > Number > Per capita 0.086 per 1 million people
Ranked 162nd. 43% more than United States 		0.06 per 1 million people
Ranked 165th.
Spending > Expense > % of GDP 14.62%
Ranked 32nd. 		25.94%
Ranked 2nd. 77% more than Japan
Parliament > Seats held by men per million people 3.47
Ranked 172nd. 3 times more than United States 		1.12
Ranked 185th.
Democracy and rights > Last election December 2012 November 2012
Democracy > Parliamentary elections > Voting age population per 1000 807.68
Ranked 10th. 10% more than United States 		737.5
Ranked 40th.
Procedures to enforce a contract > Number 20
Ranked 157th. 18% more than United States 		17
Ranked 164th.
Foreign relations > International recognition of the Syrian National Council notes On 11 May 2012, a SNC Delegation visited the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and SNC President Burhan Ghalioun held discussions with Foreign Mninister Koichiro Gemba . Later, Ghalioun met with Parliamentary Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Ryuji Yamane and former UN Under Secretary General Yasushi Akashi . The US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton , deemed the Syrian National Council as a \u201cleading and legitimate representative of Syrians seeking a peaceful democratic transition,\u201d and that the United States was \u201ccommitted to helping... make this transition.\u201d
Foreign relations > Date of recognition of Kosovo None
None
Democracy and rights > Major right wing party Liberal Democratic Party Republican Party
Legislature (parliament) > Total members of parliament 722
Ranked 7th. 35% more than United States 		535
Ranked 25th.
Legislature (parliament) > Strongly bicameral? No Yes
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Current LCU 89074900000000 1844600000000
Legislature (parliament) > Term of office for lower house members 4
Ranked 123th. Twice as much as United States 		2
Ranked 183th.
Red tape > Time required to enforce a contract > Days per million 2.82
Ranked 181st. 2 times more than United States 		1.18
Ranked 185th.
Trademarks > Residents 110,270
Ranked 3rd. 		213,495
Ranked 2nd. 94% more than Japan
General government final > Consumption expenditure > Constant 2000 US$ per capita 6,782.21 constant 2000 US$
Ranked 6th. 24% more than United States 		5,480.09 constant 2000 US$
Ranked 8th.
Spending > Interest payments > % of expense 20.48%
Ranked 10th. 3 times more than United States 		7.31%
Ranked 3rd.
Trademarks > Residents per million 863.1
Ranked 12th. 18% more than United States 		729.14
Ranked 18th.
Procedures to register property > Number per million 0.047
Ranked 156th. 4 times more than United States 		0.0134
Ranked 163th.
Procedures to build a warehouse > Number per million 0.0861
Ranked 161st. 43% more than United States 		0.0603
Ranked 164th.

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