Types of Government

Division of Power:

UnitaryPower is held by central authorityExamples:

CubaEcuadorChinaNetherlandsSaudi Arabia

Division of Power

ConfederationOnly delegate a few powers to central gov’tSecure some common purposeAgree to certain limitationsStates retain considerable independenceExamples:

Iroquois ConfederationEuropean Union

Division of Power

Federal SystemPower is divided between one central and several

regional authoritiesExamples:

United StatesCanadaBrazilAustraliaMexicoGermany

Citizen Participation

AutocraticOne person has unlimited powerCitizens have very limited role in gov’tOldest, most common formMaintain power by inheritance or military powerForms:

Absolute or Totalitarian DictatorshipAbsolute Monarchy

Examples:Hitler, Stalin, King of Saudi Arabia

Citizen Participation

OligarchicGov’t by the fewSmall groups exercise controlCitizen has very limited roleGroup gets its power from the military, wealth, social

power, or religionPolitical opposition is usually suppressed sometimes

violentlyExamples:

Communist countries such as China

Citizen Participation

DemocracyCitizens share the power & civic responsibility

on how they are governed (voting, etc)Majority rules but not to exclude minority rightsUpholds basic human rightsSystem of checks and balances to ensure the

central power doesn’t have too much powerExamples:

United States

Two Forms of Democracies

Parliamentary PresidentialReal executive power vested in a Cabinet composed of members of the legislature who are individually & collectively responsible to the legislature

A system of gov’t in which the president is constitutionally independent of the legislature

Leader is PRIME MINISTER elected by the legislature

Leader is the PRESIDENT

Examples: Canada Examples: United States