Download Formation of Governments Types of Governments

Formations of Governments
Types of Government
Democracy
Objectives
Be able to explain the difference between a
UNITARY system of government and a FEDERAL
system of government
Be able to identify and explain what a constitution
is
Be able to explain the difference between a nation
with a constitution and a nation that has a
constitutional government
Be able to identify major types of government
Be able to determine the difference between a
direct democracy and an indirect or representative
democracy
Unitary vs. Federal
Unitary Sytem
All key powers & authority given to a
national or central government
Federal System
Divides the powers of government
between the national (federal)
government and state or provinces
Each level of government has some
sovereignty
United States is has a federal system
Constitutions & Government
Constitution:
A plan that provides the rules for government
Organizes the structure of government and how
it operates
Sets goals and purposes of government and
the ideals of a Nation’s people
Provide the supreme law for states and their
governments
Constitutional governments are
governments that have the authority to limit
the power of the those who govern
(limited government)
Constitutions compared
United States vs. China
The U.S. has a constitutional
government in which the authority of
our government is limited by checks
and balances and separation of
powers
People’s Republic of China has a
constitution, but the central
government has complete control and
basically unlimited power
The U.S.
Constitution
organizes our
government into 3
branches of
government
Each of the
branches have
separate but
mostly equal
powers and
perform checks
and balances on
each other
China Tiananmen Square protests of 1989:
Students wanted more democracy
In a Unitary system of government who
maintains control?
Unitary system: all
powers and authority are
given to the central, or
national government
-North Korea
In a Federal system of government?
Federal system: power is divided between
national (federal) government and
state/provincial governments
-United States
Major Types of Government
Governments are classified according to
who governs the state.
Coming from ideas of ancient Greek
philosopher Aristotle
1) autocracy- rule by one
person
2) oligarchy- rule by a few
persons
3) democracy- rule by many people
www.constitutioncenter.org/timeline/flash/ass...
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1999
Autocracy
Gov’t is in the hands of a single person
Most have their position by inheritance or
ruthless use of military power.
Totalitarian dictatorship- the ideas of a
single leader are glorified & gov’t controls
all aspects of social and economic life.
Monarchy- king, queen or emperor
exercises the supreme powers of gov’t.
Autocracy
Absolute monarchs have complete and
unlimited power to rule their people
Constitutional monarchs- monarchs share
gov’t powers with elected legislators or are
mainly ceremonial leaders of their gov’t
Oligarchy
Oligarchy- a small group holds power,
usually gets power from wealth,
military power, social position or
combination
Today most communist gov’t are
oligarchies
Oligarchies usually suppress all
political opposition
Democracy
Democracy comes from Greek “demos” and
“kratia” or “kratos”
Demos = people
Kratia or kratos = rule
Direct democracy- the people govern themselves
by voting on issues individually as citizens. Exists
in small societies
Indirect or representative democracy consists of
representatives elected by the people to make
laws and run the government
Direct vs. Indirect or Representative
Democracy
Which type of democracy does the U.S.
have?
Indirect or Representative Democracy
Why isnt the U.S. a direct
democracy?
Characteristics of Democracy
Gov’t works to secure an equal opportunity for
people to develop their own abilities
Majority rule with minority rightsGov’t based on majority rule through the people’s
elected representatives, but respects the rights of
minorities
laws made usually represent the will of the majority,
but the rights of individuals in the minority should still
be protected
Gov’t based on free and open elections
Political parties choose candidates for office, and
once candidates are elected, should represent the
peoples’ wishes, or ideals
Quick Quiz
1. A government in which all powers
and authority are given to the
central, or national government is
known as:
Federal
b) Unitary
c) Democracy
d) None of the above
a)
1.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
A plan that provides the rules for
government and organizes the
structure of government and how it
operates is known as a:
constitution
monarchy
oligarchy
Autocracy
None of the above
3. All of the following are types of
governments EXCEPT:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
Democracy
Autocracy
Oligarchy
Constitution
None of the above
4. A government that has the authority
to limit the power of the those who
govern (limited government) is
known as:
China
b) North Korea
c) Constitutional government
d) Autocracy
a)
5. In a ____________ democracy the
people govern themselves by voting
on issues individually as citizens.
Exists in small societies
6. In a _____________ democracy
representatives elected by the
people to make laws and run the
government