TYPES OF GOVERNMENTDaily Cornell’s Notes & Activities

September 15, 2010

ANTICIPATORY SET

How well are the will of the majority and the rights of minorities being preserved in the United States? Ask your classmates their opinions.

Debrief.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION The U.S. has established a representative democracy

that serves as a model for government and inspires people around the world. March 1989, students in China marched for “government of the

people, by the people, and for the people.” However, other forms of government outnumber true

democracies. Over the centuries, people have organized their

government in many different ways.

Saudi Arabia: the ruling royal family controls the government and its resources. Family members choose the king from among themselves.

Burkina Baso, Africa: a small group of wealthy landowners and military officers governs the country.

Sweden: the people elect the Riksdag, the national legislature, which in turn selects the prime minister to carrry out the laws.

MAJOR TYPES OF GOVERNMENT

Government can be classified in many ways.

The most time-honored system comes from the ideas of the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle. It is based on the a key questions: who governs the state?

Under this system of classification, all governments belong to one of the three major groups: Autocracy – rule by one Oligarchy – rule a few Democracy – rule by many

CONTINUES… Autocracy

Oldest and most common Inheritance the ruthless use

of military or police power Totalitarian

dictatorship – control all aspects of social and economic life.

Monarchy – king, queen or emperor exercises the supreme powers of government. Absolute monarchy :

unlimited power to rule

Constitutional Monarch : monarchs share power with elected legislatures or serve as the ceremonials leaders

Oligarchy – group derives its power from wealth, military power, social position, or a combination of these elements. Claim that people power

to rule. Hold election but offer

only one candidate May have elected

legislatures but it approves only policies and decisions already made by the leaders.

Suppress all political opposition and may be ruthless

DEMOCRACY Greek demos meaning

“the people” and kratia meaning “rule.”

1 Direct democracy – the people govern themselves by voting on issues individually as citizens.

2 Representative democracy – elected representatives granted the responsibility and power to make laws and conduct government.

Characteristics

1 Individual Liberty

2 Majority Rule with Minority Rights

3 Free Election – “one person, one vote.”

4 Competing Political Parties

THE SOIL OF DEMOCRACY

1 Active Citizen Participation2 A Favorable Economy – “free enterprise”3 Widespread of Education4 Strong Civil Society – “interest groups”

independent of government.5 A Social Consensus – individual liberty

and equality for all.

SUPREME COURT – CASES TO DEBATEWARD V. ROCK AGAINST RACISM, 1989

Questions to Consider1 Was the regulation a proper exercise of the

government’s power to maintain social order, or was it a violation of the First Amendment?

2 If officials did not like the message in the music, could they use the regulation to control the content?

YOU BE THE JUDGE

The courts have established that governments may enforce regulations that incidentally limit speech if the regulation serves as a legitimate government interest. What was the city’s goal in drawing up the regulation? Was there another, less intrusive was the city could have handled this issue?

COOPERATIVE LEARNING

Working in your small group – imagine that it has been marooned and deserted island in the ocean and needs to set up a society and adopt rules and regulations. How would your government will distribute jobs,

build shelters, and gather food? What will it do about education and healthcare? Will there be any police and military? What freedoms and/or rights will you grant to the

citizens and non-citizens? You may add your own categories as

needed.

CLOSE

“Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”

• John F. Kennedy

Discuss the quotation with a partner and identify what you can do for your country now and in the future.