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The Empty ATM

Contries in Comparison:  The United States and Argentina
The United States and Argentina are the most advanced capitalist democracies in their respective halves of the Americas. See how they stack up across several statistical measures.

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UNITED STATES



Political System:
Liberal democracy

Administrative Divisions:
50 states and one federal district (Washington, D.C.)

Political Parties:
Democratic Party, liberal center; Republican Party, right of center; Reform Party, pro-democratic

Government Structure:
President and vice president elected by universal suffrage (but through an electoral college) for four-year terms, renewable once. Legislative branch consists of the House of Representatives with 435 members distributed proportionately among the states (where they are elected in congressional districts for two-year terms) and the Senate, comprised of two members per state, elected for six-year terms.

National Anthem:
"The Star-Spangled Banner"




ARGENTINE REPUBLIC



Political System:
Liberal democracy

Administrative Divisions:
23 provinces and one federal district (Buenos Aires)

Political Parties:
Radical Civic Union Party (UCR), moderate centrist; Justicialist Party (PJ), Peronist (right-wing); Movement for Dignity and Independence (Modin), right wing; Front for a Country in Solidarity (Frepaso), left of center.

Government Structure:
President and vice president elected by direct universal suffrage for four-year terms, renewable once. Legislature consists of a senate, with 69 members elected by provincial legislatures for nine-year terms, and a directly elected 259-member chamber of deputies. Each province has one governor and a legislature.

National Anthem:
"Here, O Mortals, the Sacred Cry of Liberty"

source: Facts on File (2001). photos: REUTERS
Additional Features
Argentina Photo Essay - From economic melt-down to political crisis

Argentina Timeline - Trace this resource-rich country's rocky road to modernity.

Globalization Photo Essay - Follow one telecom company's odyssey of global capitalism.

Profits & Principles - How six global companies balance profits and principles.

Interactive Atlas - Compare the world's haves and have-nots.

Economic Survey - Size up China's economic muscle.

Interactive Challenge - Test your knowledge of WTO-era China.

Debate - What will the WTO mean for China?


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