Government/Civics DomainSeventh Grade Social Studies

Compare & Contrast Various Forms of Government

Describe the ways government systems

distribute power: unitary, confederation, and federal

SS6 - CG1a, CG4a, CG6aSS7 – CG1a, CG4a, CG6a

Federal (Federation)Ways Government Distributes Power

power is shared between central (national) and local (regional)

government.

Federation / FederalWays Government Distributes Power

Local Authority

Central Authority

LocalAuthority

LocalAuthority

LocalAuthority

List of countries with Federal Governments (24)

South AfricaUSAIndia

UnitaryWays Government Distributes Power

Power is held by one central authority.

Central Authority

UnitaryWays Government Distributes Power

LocalAuthority

Local Authority

LocalAuthority

Local Authority

ConfederationWays Government Distributes Power•power lies in independent, local authority.

Central Authority

ConfederationWays Government Distributes Power

LocalAuthority

LocalAuthority

LocalAuthority

LocalAuthority

Sample Test QuestionIn Nigeria’s government, power is divided between Central and regional authorities. This is an example of which government type? A. UnitaryB. ConfederationC. FederalD. Parliamentary

Corresponds to SS6- CG1a, CG4a, CG6aSS7- CG1a , CG4a, CG6a

Ways Government Distributes Power

FederalUnitary Confederation

All key powers are held by the

central government

Local(State/regional)

authorities hold most of

the power

Strong central government

Weaker central government

Compare & Contrast Various Forms of Government

Explain how governments determine citizen

participation: autocratic, oligarchic, and democratic.

SS6 - CG1b, CG4b, CG6bSS7 – CG1b, CG4b, CG6b

AutocraticHow Governments Determine Citizen

Participation

One person possesses unlimited power.

The citizen has limited, if any, role in government.

How Governments Determine Citizen Participation

Forms of Autocratic Govts.• Absolute or Totalitarian Dictatorship

• Ideas of a single leader glorified.• Government tries to control all aspects of

social and economic life.• Government is not responsible to the people.• People lack the power to limit their rulers.• Examples- Saddam Hussein, Muammar al-

Quaddafi, Mao Zedong, Kim Jong-Il

How Governments Determine Citizen Participation

Forms of Autocratic Govts.• Absolute Monarchy

• King, queen, or emperor exercises the supreme powers of government/unlimited power.

• Position is usually inherited.• People lack the power to limit their rulers.• Examples- King of Saudi Arabia.

OligarchyHow Governments Determine Citizen

Participation

.

small group of people have power, limited or no citizen participation.

• Example: Communist China

How Governments Determine Citizen Participation

Oligarchy• The group gets its power from military

power, social power, wealth, religion or a combination.

• Political opposition is usually suppressed- sometimes violently.• Examples- Communist countries such as China.• Leaders in the party and armed forces control

government.

Democracy• Democratic- power is held by the

citizens who vote for laws directly or who choose representatives to vote for them (called a Republic).–Example of Republics: Israel,

Turkey, India, Kenya, and South Africa

Sample Test QuestionWhat is a basic way citizens of a democratic nation can influence the government?A. votingB. workingC. obeying lawsD. consuming goods

OAS Database Question - Corresponds to SS6- CG1b, CG4b, CG6bSS7- CG1b , CG4b, CG6b

Compare & Contrast Various Forms of Government

Describe the two predominant forms of

democratic governments: Parliamentary & Presidential

SS6 - CG1c, CG4c, CG6cSS7 – CG1c, CG4c, CG6c

Describe the two predominant forms of democratic government: parliamentary and presidential

Parliamentary Democracyexecutive power is held by a cabinet (group of people) chosen from the legislature. Usually led by a Prime

Minister.

Citizen legislature cabinet Prime Minister

Example: Israel

Describe the two predominant forms of democratic government: parliamentary and presidential

Presidential DemocracyExecutive power is held by a President who is

chosen separately from the legislature.

Citizen votes for both legislature and President

Sample Test QuestionIn which system of government does the legislature elect the executive leader of the government?A. democraticB. communistC. parliamentaryD. totalitarian

OAS Database Question - Corresponds to SS6- CG1c, CG4c, CG6cSS7- CG1c , CG4c, CG6c

RepublicKenya and South Africa

A representative democracy in which the people's elected

representatives, not the people themselves, vote on legislation.

Federal RepublicIndia

A state in which the central government and the local governments both have their own

separate powers

The voters choose their government representatives.

Parliamentary DemocracyIsrael

A political system in which the citizens vote for political parties to work in the parliament

(legislature). The majority party of parliament then picks the cabinet and Prime Minister.

Absolute MonarchySaudi Arabia

A government in which the supreme power is held by a monarch who rules usually for life

and by hereditary right

Constitutional MonarchyJapan

monarch (King/Queen) is limited in power by a constitution. Usually citizens can vote for a legislature that works with

the monarch.• Example: Japan (Emperor, Diet)

TheocracyIran

God is the highest authority. All law and government workers are supposed to

follow God’s law.

CommunistChina

all property and wealth are owned equally by all members of a classless society. In

reality, the government controls the economy.