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World of Governments
There are many different types of government across our world.
Limited Governments: type of government in which the powers of the leaders are limited.
This means that all laws apply to everyone, even the leaders of the country.
EX: United States
Unlimited Government: a type of government in which the leaders have almost absolute power.
This means that the leaders do not have to follow the laws that they set up for their people.
EX: Dictator such as Saddam Hussain
Monarchy: form of government in which ruling power is in the hands of one person
Etymology: Monos (single) and arkein (rule)
Example: Saudi Arabia
Oligarchy: form of government in which ruling power is in the hands of a few people
Etymology: Oligos (few) and arkein (rule)
Tyranny: government in which ruling power is in the hands of a person who has seized control
A tyrant gathers support by making promises to the poor and uneducated.
Etymology: tyrannos (usurper with supreme power)
(Direct) Democracy: power is in the hands of the people
The city of Athens, Greece was the birth place of democracy.
All male citizens could participate in the Athenian government.
Etymology: Demos (people) and kratos (power)
Republic (a type of democracy): nation or state in which the citizens elect representatives to manage
the government, which is usually headed by a president rather than a monarch.
The Romans were the first to create this form of government
Example: United States
Theocracy: government in which God, or a god, is recognized as the supreme ruler.
The state may be ruled by priests or other religious leaders acting in God’s name, by a king thought to have
divine power, or by authorities governing according to religious laws.
Etymology: theos (God) and kratein (rule).
EX. Current theocracies: Iran, Vatican City
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Communism: system in which most or all property (businesses and farms) is owned by the state and is
supposed to be shared by all so that no one has more than others.
It is a political and economic system that became one of the most powerful forces in the world.
It shaped much of history from the early 1900's to the 1990's.
Some people have considered Communism the greatest threat to world peace.
Others, as the world's greatest hope. The father of communism: Vladimir Lenin.
Fascism: government is headed, in most cases, by a dictator.
It involves total government control of political, economic, cultural, religious, and social activities.
Ex. Adolf Hitler
Fascism resembles Communism. Between 1936 and 1945 Germany and Italy were under fascist rule.
Dictatorship: this leader has complete control over a country’s government.
Ex: Fidel Castro of Cuba
Socialism: economic and government system in which some businesses and industries are owned
collectively or by the government.
The government provides many health and welfare benefits such as health care…housing… and
unemployment insurance. These are paid for by high taxes collected from the citizens.
Ex: China, France, Venezuela
Marxism: system of socialism developed by Karl Marx in which there is public ownership of the means
of production, distribution, and exchange of goods. Each person produces or works according to what he can
do and each person takes according to what he needs.
Parliament: council or congress that is the highest lawmaking body in some countries.
It is part of the legislative branch. Some parliaments are made up entirely of elected representatives.
Others have both elected and appointed or hereditary members.
EX: United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Japan
Constitutional Monarchy: there is a king or queen who is the official head of the government, but
there is a parliament that creates the laws and has the real power Example: United Kingdom (England)
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