Systems of Systems of GovernmentGovernment

11/13/13

How is the power divided?

Questions…Questions… Systems of government tell us

HOW, if at all, power is divided in a government.

1. Why would some governments choose to divide up the power?

2. Why would some governments choose NOT to divide up the power?

What Do You Know?What Do You Know?

Name the city, county, state, and country you live in. Beside the name of each place, what is the leader of each kind of government is called? City – County – State – Country –

What Do You Know?What Do You Know? City – Buford – Mayor County – Gwinnett – County

Commissioner State – Georgia – Governor Country – United States – President

Why are there different levels in our government?

How do European How do European countries distribute their countries distribute their power within their power within their governments?governments?

Why Do We Have Why Do We Have Governments?Governments?

Political systems are organized ways for creating laws/rules designed to protect the well-being of the general public and to help manage conflict.

Why Do We Have Why Do We Have Governments?Governments?

They determine the power structure (who has the power) within a country. In some countries, only one person or party maintains centralized control of the government, while in other countries power is shared between individuals and factions.

Why Do We Have Why Do We Have Governments?Governments?All countries require governments to function.

Governments provide laws, structure, public services, and national defense.

There are different types of governments:◦democracies◦republics◦monarchies◦dictatorships

How Is Power Shared?How Is Power Shared?

- Federal - Confederation -Unitary

Image from Center of Civic Education. 2008

Unitary GovernmentUnitary Government Unitary – a system in which the power is held by one central authority

All power is given to the one branch of government. There is NO division of power.

◦Examples:France, United Kingdom, Sweden, Spain, Former Soviet Union

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Unitary GovernmentUnitary Government

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Unitary Governments of the Unitary Governments of the WorldWorld(All countries in blue)(All countries in blue)

Federal GovernmentFederal Government Federal– a system in which the power is divided between one central, regional, and local governments

Examples: ◦United States◦Russian Federation◦Germany

Federal GovernmentFederal Government

Federal Governments of the Federal Governments of the WorldWorld(All countries in green)(All countries in green)

ConfederationConfederation• Confederation - a system in which

power is shared by an alliance or union of political organizations

• Independent states voluntarily work together for some common purpose and agree to certain limits on their freedom of action as a confederation.

• Examples:- European Union & Switzerland

ConfederationConfederation

Should the national government, Should the national government, state government, or both have state government, or both have these powers?these powers?

List of Powers Shared in a Federal Government

Issue driver’s licenses Make laws for the environment

Collect taxes Conduct elections

Create marriage laws Punish law breakers

Declare war Create standards for schools

Make agreements with other countries

Defend the country

Coin money Protect citizen rights

Written Summary: How is the Written Summary: How is the power distributed politically?power distributed politically?

Image from Center of Civic Education. 2008

Let’s Talk About IT!Let’s Talk About IT!• Let’s get in groups of three.• Number yourselves one, two, and

three.Ones explain to the twos and threes

how a unitary government system distributes power.

Twos explain to the ones and threes how a confederation government system distributes power.

Threes explain to the ones and twos how a federal government system distributes power.

BibliographyBibliography Image from

http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Image:Map-of-unitary-states.svg. NationMaster.Com

Image from “Constitution Day Across the Country” Center for Civic Education 2008.