Compare and contrast the Russian and American presidencies

I originally wrote the bulk of the following work in 2010. Since then things have changed, meaning things have to be added and sometimes amended to ensure the comparison is still relevant . To begin with there is what Vladimir Putin has done to enhance his position within the Russian Federation. Then there is the impact that Donald J Trump has had upon American politics and beyond. That impact could be even greater for better or worse should he win a second presidential term.

The main purpose of the following evaluation is to fully compare and contrast the Russian and the American presidencies. The Russian presidency is a far more recent incarnation than its American counterpart, which came into existence shortly after independence from Great Britain was gained in 1783.