Unit 1 Foundations of American Government:

Unit 1 Foundations of American

Government:

Types of Governments

Types of Governments:Main Ideas:Major Types of Governments:

Notes:• Ancient Greek

philosopher, Aristotle, developed a system of classifying all forms of government. He proposed that all forms of government must answer the question: “Who governs the state?”

Types of Governments:Main Ideas:Major Types of Governments

(cont’d.):

Notes:• As a result, all

governments belong to one of 3 major groups of government types:1. Autocracy2. Oligarchy3. Democracy

Types of Governments:Main Ideas:Autocracy

Notes:• An Autocracy is a type of

government in which all control and authority rests with a single individual. This type of government, historically, is the most common as well as one of the oldest forms of government. There are differing levels/forms of an autocracy providing varying levels of freedom and input from the citizens of the autocratic nation.

Types of Governments:Main Ideas:Autocracy (cont’d.)

Notes:• One form, and perhaps the

most restrictive form, is the totalitarian dictatorship. In this form of government the individual ruler’s/dictator’s views are praised. The government aims to control all aspects of society including the nation’s economy.– EX: Germany under Hitler, Italy

under Mussolini, and the Soviet Union under Stalin.

Hitler

Mussolini

Stalin


Notes:• Another form of

autocracy is that of a monarchy. In a monarchy, the queen/king, or emperor exercises supreme rule. Most monarchs inherit their rule.


Notes:• There are primarily

2 types of monarchies: 1. Absolute Monarchs2. Constitutional

Monarchs


Notes:• Although rarely seen

today, absolute monarchs have complete and unlimited rule over their people.– EX: King of Saudi Arabia

King Abdullah


Notes:• In contrast, and

increasingly common, constitutional monarchs share governmental powers with elected legislatures or serve primarily as figure heads of the state for ceremonial purposes.– EX: Great Britain,

Sweden, Japan, the Netherlands

Types of Governments:Main Ideas:Oligarchy

Notes:• Oligarchies are

systems in which a small group of people with shared beliefs hold control and power. This group may have gained control through wealth, military strength, social/religious influence, etc.

Types of Governments:Main Ideas:Oligarchy (cont’d.)

Notes:• Like a dictatorship, and

oligarchy may hold elections, but only offer one select candidate, or manipulate election results. Also, like dictatorships, oligarchies tend to suppress the voice of its people and silence political opposition in an attempt to maintain control.

Types of Governments:Main Ideas:Democracy

Notes:• A democracy is any

system which is ruled by the people. The basic principle of democracy is that the citizens hold sovereign power over the state. There are 2 basic forms of democracy:1. Direct Democracy2. Representative

Democracy


(cont’d.)

Notes:• In a direct

democracy, people govern themselves by meeting and voting on all issues. Because of this, direct democracies are usually only found in small societies where this type of system is possible.


(cont’d.)

Notes:• A representative

democracy is where people rule indirectly by electing representatives. These representatives are then given the responsibility and power to make laws and conduct government.


(cont’d.)

Notes:• A representative

democracy is common in societies where the population is too large and spread out to meet and vote on all issues. The terms “representative democracy”, “republic”, and “constitutional republic” mean the same thing to most Americans and are usually used interchangeably

CP Summary Questions:• Directions: Respond to the

following questions (in complete sentences) in the summary section of your notes.1. Describe the two different forms of

democracy.2. What are the four characteristics of

democracy?

Unit 1 Foundations of American Government:

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