• Get out your syllabus slip and folder if you have them. • Write our weekly schedule in your planner

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Government

What words and ideas come to mind when you hear this term?

Topic: Systems of GovernmentEssential Question: How do different systems of government operate to

maintain order?

• Government is a tool that is used to protect rights and maintain order in society. • However, there are different ways to achieve this. Not

every country around the world organizes their government in the same way.

• There are 4 different systems of government we see in the world today. These are parliamentary, unitary, federal, and confederal. • Let’s take a look at each of these 4 systems of government.

Parliamentary System• In a parliamentary system of government, the power to

make and enforce laws is given to a parliament.• In most countries with a parliamentary system, the people

elect the members of parliament . This parliament makes the laws of the country.

• The members of parliament then chose a member of parliament to be the leader of the country. This person (sometimes called a prime minister) enforces the countries laws.

• What makes a parliamentary system unique is this link between the law-making (legislative) and law-enforcing (executive) branches of the government.

Here is a visual of a parliamentary system:

Parliament

Prime Minister

The people

The people elect the members of parliament and parliament chooses the prime minister.

Which countries have a parliamentary system?

CanadaUnited Kingdom (England)

Australia

India

South Africa

• Turn to your shoulder partner. If your birthday comes FIRST in the year, then you are a 1. If your birthday is second, you are a 2.

• 1’s- answer this question to your shoulder partner-

• Who is in charge in a parliamentary system of government?

•2’s- share out your partner’s answer

Unitary System• In a unitary system of government, the power to make and

enforce laws is held at only one level, usually the national (central) level.

• A unitary system can many forms. Some may be democratic (meaning the people have a say in their government) or non-democratic (meaning the people do not have a say in their government).

Here is a visual of a unitary system:

The people

National (Central) Government

The national government rules over the people directly.

Which countries have a unitary system?

China

Chile

Spain

Most of Africa

Unitary System of Government

• 2’s- answer this question to your shoulder partner-

• Who is in charge in a unitary system of government?

•1’s- share out your partner’s answer

Federal System• In a federal system of government, the power to make and

enforce laws is shared between two or more levels of government.

• The top level is the national (central) government. Below them are the states. Some countries have provinces instead of states.

• Even though the power is shared between levels, it is not shared equally. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS MORE POWER THAN THE STATE GOVERNMENTS.

Here is a visual of a federal system:

National Government

State Government State Government State Government

The people

The national government gives certain powers to the states, and the people are ruled by both levels.

Which countries have a federal system?

Federal System of Government

United States

MexicoAustralia

Russia

• 1’s- answer this question to your shoulder partner-

• Why is the United States considered a federal system of government?•2’s- share out your partner’s answer

Confederal System• In a confederal system of government, the power to make

and enforce laws is shared between two or more levels of government.

• There is a national (central) government, however, most of the power lies with the states. THE STATES HAVE THE POWER TO OVERRULE THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT.

Here is a visual of a confederal system:

The people

Central Government

StateGovernment

StateGovernment

StateGovernment

StateGovernment

There is a central government, but the individual states are more powerful.

Which countries have a confederal system?• The confederal system is government is not very common. However,

there are a few places around the world that have a form of confederal government. They are:

Belgium Switzerland The United Nations

• There is a also a famous example of a country that used to be a confederation:

The United States of America during the years 1777-1789. Why did we quit being a confederal system of government? More about this later!

• 2’s- answer this question to your shoulder partner-

• What make a confederal system different from a federal system?

•1’s- share out your partner’s answer