Forms of Government

Chapter 1, Section 2“For Forms of Government let fools contest; Whate’er is

best administer’d is best.” -Alexander Pope – Essay on Man

- What do you think Pope means?

Opening Questions

• Have you ever taken an informal vote with friends or family on something – which movie to see, game to play or activity to do in order to make the decision democratically?

• Have you ever called someone a dictator in anger or as a joke?

• These terms refer to two types of governments that are common throughout the world

Objectives• 1. Classify governments according to 3 sets

of characteristics• 2. Define systems of governments based on

who can participate• 3. Identify different ways that power can be

distributed, geographically within a state• 4. Compare, contrast, and give an example

of governments by structure, sovereignty, and diffusion of power.

3 Ways to Classify Governments

1. Who can participate in the governing process?

2. Who holds the governmental power?

3. What is the relationship between the legislative (lawmaking) and executive branches (law-executing?

Who Can Participate? A. DEMOCRACY = Political authority rests with the people.

• Direct Democracy – people make public policy (law) directly by participating in mass meetings. (does not exist at national level anywhere in the world).

• Representative Democracy – representatives are chosen by the people to express the public will. Representatives are held accountable by the people at elections. (REPUBLIC) (United States)

“government of the people, by the people, for the people.”

- Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address (1863

Who Can Participate?

B. DICTATORSHIP = those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will of the people. Two types…•Autocracy – a government in which a single person holds unlimited power. Can you think of an example of an Autocracy?•Oligarchy – a government in which the power to rule is held by a few (aristocracy, wealthy, religious, military)

Who Holds the Power/Where is it held?

• Unitary Government – centralized, all powers held by government belong to a single, central agency. (**Not necessarily a dictatorship… example=Great Britain)

• Federal Government – powers of government divided between a central government and local governments (USA, CAN, AU, MEX,GER, etc. – State and Fed. have powers that cannot be taken). (example?)

• Confederate Government – an alliance of independent states. The central government only has the power to handle matters that member states have assigned to it (EU, currency, defense and foreign affairs) (example?)

What is the Relationship between Executive and Legislative Branches?

• Presidential government – voters elect the Legislature and Chief Executive (president) who is part of Executive Branch. The legislature and executive are independent and coequal. (Invented by the USA)

• Parliamentary government – voters elect the Legislature. The Chief Executive (prime minister) is drawn from the legislature. The prime minister and cabinet are part of the legislature and must resign if they receive a “vote of no confidence.” (Most Democratic Gov’ts are parliamentary).

British Prime Minister David Cameron

Different Types of Government

• Monarchy – rule by a king (hereditary)• Aristocracy – rule by the best (social elite)• Oligarchy – rule by the few (aristocracy, wealthy)• Autocracy (Dictatorship) – rule by one individual,

authoritarian (absolute power over the people) and/or totalitarian (power over all affairs)

• Democracy – rule by the people• Theocracy – rule by religious leaders• Military Junta – rule by committee of military

leaders• Anarchy – no ruler

Different Types of Government

Monarchy

Anarchy

Aristocracy & Oligarchy

Autocracy (Dictatorship & Authoritarian) Democracy

Section 2 Review

1. In a democracy, (a) independent states form an alliance.

(b) supreme political authority rests with the people. (c) those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will of the

people.

(d) the rule by a few, select individuals regulates the will of the people.

2. The United States government has the following characteristics: (a) confederate, parliamentary, and dictatorship.

(b) unitary, presidential, and democracy.

(c) federal, presidential, and democracy.

(d) unitary, parliamentary, and dictatorship.

Assignment – Forms of Government Chart

• You are to compare and contrast the forms of government that are listed on the chart.

• Use your textbook pages 12 – 16 and your class notes to complete the chart.

• Chart and directions are provided in class.