Government in Africa Government in Africa (Part 1)(Part 1)

November 12, 2014November 12, 2014

Ways that Government systems Ways that Government systems distribute powerdistribute power

There are 3 different ways that There are 3 different ways that governments can distribute power:governments can distribute power:

UnitaryUnitary: : the central government the central government possesses most of the decision-possesses most of the decision-making powermaking power

ConfederationConfederation: : Local governments or Local governments or individual states possess more power individual states possess more power than a weak central governmentthan a weak central government

FederalFederal: : Power is split between a Power is split between a central government and individual central government and individual state governments. There is often a state governments. There is often a constitution that defines the powers of constitution that defines the powers of each governmenteach government..

Ways that Government Systems Ways that Government Systems Determine Citizen ParticipationDetermine Citizen Participation

AutocraticAutocratic: : Government in which one Government in which one person possesses unlimited power and person possesses unlimited power and the citizen has little, if any, role in the the citizen has little, if any, role in the governmentgovernment

OligarchicOligarchic: : Government by a few, and the Government by a few, and the citizen has a very limited rolecitizen has a very limited role

DemocraticDemocratic: : Government where the Government where the supreme power is held by the people, supreme power is held by the people, and usually exercised through a system and usually exercised through a system of periodically held free electionsof periodically held free elections

Two Types of Democratic Two Types of Democratic Governments Governments

Presidential DemocracyPresidential Democracy: : A system of A system of government where the president is the government where the president is the head of government and is constitutionally head of government and is constitutionally independent of the legislatureindependent of the legislature

Parliamentary DemocracyParliamentary Democracy: A system of : A system of government where the real power lies government where the real power lies with a cabinet made up of legislators. with a cabinet made up of legislators. This group is responsible to the This group is responsible to the legislature. There may be a prime legislature. There may be a prime minister that is elected by the legislatureminister that is elected by the legislature

KenyaKenya Kenya’s government is a republicKenya’s government is a republic Their government is ruled by a president and a Their government is ruled by a president and a

one-house legislature, called the National one-house legislature, called the National AssemblyAssembly

Since Kenya is a republic, they distribute power Since Kenya is a republic, they distribute power in the federal style and determine citizen in the federal style and determine citizen participation in the style of a presidential participation in the style of a presidential democracydemocracy

Role of the citizen in Kenya: all citizens over the Role of the citizen in Kenya: all citizens over the age of 18 can voteage of 18 can vote

They vote for the president and half of the They vote for the president and half of the National Assembly National Assembly

The other half of the National Assembly is The other half of the National Assembly is appointed by the presidentappointed by the president

South AfricaSouth Africa

South Africa’s government is a republicSouth Africa’s government is a republic They have a president and a two-house They have a president and a two-house

legislature, called the National Assemblylegislature, called the National Assembly South Africa distributes power in the federal South Africa distributes power in the federal

style and determine citizen participation in style and determine citizen participation in the style of a presidential democracythe style of a presidential democracy

All citizens over the age of 18 are allowed to All citizens over the age of 18 are allowed to votevote

They vote for most of the National AssemblyThey vote for most of the National Assembly The National Assembly then elects the The National Assembly then elects the

presidentpresident

Standard of Living in AfricaStandard of Living in Africa

The governments of various countries The governments of various countries play a part in how the people of that play a part in how the people of that country are able to livecountry are able to live

Remember, your standard of living is Remember, your standard of living is directly tied to your literacydirectly tied to your literacy The higher the literacy rate, the higher the The higher the literacy rate, the higher the

standard of living usually isstandard of living usually is The government can affect a citizen’s The government can affect a citizen’s

ability to be educated in many countries ability to be educated in many countries in Africain Africa

Kenya’s literacy and standard of Kenya’s literacy and standard of livingliving

Kenya has a literacy rate of about 87%Kenya has a literacy rate of about 87% The government has made the The government has made the

improvement of education a priority in the improvement of education a priority in the countrycountry

In larger cities, both boys and girls are In larger cities, both boys and girls are given access to an educationgiven access to an education

However, in rural areas, only boys are However, in rural areas, only boys are educatededucated Many parents still follow the traditional view Many parents still follow the traditional view

that girls only need to get ready for marriagethat girls only need to get ready for marriage The government is working to get parents The government is working to get parents

to realize the value of educating all childrento realize the value of educating all children

Sudan’s literacy and standard of Sudan’s literacy and standard of livingliving

Sudan has been involved in a 50 year civil Sudan has been involved in a 50 year civil war between the Muslim northern half of war between the Muslim northern half of they country and the non-Muslim southern they country and the non-Muslim southern half of the countryhalf of the country

This finally resulted in the creation of the This finally resulted in the creation of the country of South Sudan in 2011country of South Sudan in 2011

Sudan’s national literacy rate is about 61%Sudan’s national literacy rate is about 61% As with Kenya, children living in cities, both As with Kenya, children living in cities, both

boys and girls, have the best chance of boys and girls, have the best chance of getting an educationgetting an education

In rural areas, many girls are excluded In rural areas, many girls are excluded because they are seen as only needing to because they are seen as only needing to get ready for marriageget ready for marriage

South Sudan’s literacy and South Sudan’s literacy and standard of livingstandard of living

The 50 year civil war in Sudan did most of The 50 year civil war in Sudan did most of its damage to the southern part of the its damage to the southern part of the country – this is the part that became South country – this is the part that became South Sudan in 2011Sudan in 2011

Many schools were left in ruinsMany schools were left in ruins Even though South Sudan models its Even though South Sudan models its

educational programs like Sudan does, the educational programs like Sudan does, the national literacy rate is only 27%national literacy rate is only 27%

The literacy rate for females is the lowest in The literacy rate for females is the lowest in the world – 16%the world – 16%

South Sudan’s government recognizes South Sudan’s government recognizes these problems and is working to improve these problems and is working to improve the education systemthe education system

QuestionsQuestions 1. What type of government does Kenya 1. What type of government does Kenya

have?have? 2. Who is in charge of their government?2. Who is in charge of their government? 3. How does Kenya distribute power?3. How does Kenya distribute power? 4. How does Kenya determine citizen 4. How does Kenya determine citizen

participation?participation? 5. Who has the right to vote in Kenya?5. Who has the right to vote in Kenya? 6. Who are Kenyans voting for?6. Who are Kenyans voting for? 7. What type of government does South 7. What type of government does South

Africa have?Africa have? 8. Who is in charge of South Africa’s 8. Who is in charge of South Africa’s

government?government?

Questions Questions 9. How does South Africa distribute power?9. How does South Africa distribute power? 10. How does South Africa determine citizen 10. How does South Africa determine citizen

participation?participation? 11. Who has the right to vote in Kenya?11. Who has the right to vote in Kenya? 12. Who are South Africans voting for?12. Who are South Africans voting for? 13. How does literacy rate affect the standard of 13. How does literacy rate affect the standard of

living in many countries?living in many countries? 14. What is Kenya’s government trying to get 14. What is Kenya’s government trying to get

parents to realize about education?parents to realize about education? 15. Who was fighting a civil war in Sudan?15. Who was fighting a civil war in Sudan? 16. Why are girls excluded from education in 16. Why are girls excluded from education in

Sudan?Sudan? 17. Which country has the lowest literacy for girls? 17. Which country has the lowest literacy for girls?