GovernmentSixth Grade Social Studies

Compare & Contrast Various Forms of Government

Describe the ways government systems

distribute power: unitary, confederation, and federal

SS6 - CG1a, CG4a, CG6a

UnitaryWays Government Distributes Power

Gives all the power to one central government/authority.

• Central government has final authority over all decisions.

• Unitary central governments are stronger than federal central governments - why?

• Many countries have unitary governments, including: Great Britain, France, Italy, Cuba and Bolivia

Central Authority

UnitaryWays Government Distributes Power

Regional Authority

Regional Authority

Regional Authority

Regional Authority

Ways Government Distributes Power

• Often only delegate (give) a few powers to the central authority

• Secure some common purpose – but each unit has final control of its own laws/citizens

• Agree to certain limitations on their freedom of action• States retain considerable independence• Less binding than a federation • Why can a confederation be unstable?• Because members often want to do things their own way!

ConfederationVoluntary association of independent

states/countries

Central Authority

ConfederationWays Government Distributes Power

Regional Authority

Regional Authority

Regional Authority

Regional Authority

List of Confederations

• Iroquois Confederacy (1090–present)• European Union and OPEC

• Historic confederations • United States of America under the

Articles of Confederation (1781–1789) • Confederate States of America, (1861–1865)

Federal (Federation)Ways Government Distributes Power

Power is divided between one central government and the government of smaller political units like

states.• Most federal systems give a lot of power to lower

governments to handle local affairs• The central government handles issues that

concern the entire country (armed forces, negotiating treaties, etc)

• Countries with a federal government include the United States, Canada, Australia, Mexico, Venezuela and Brazil

Federation / FederalWays Government Distributes Power

Regional Authority

Central Authority

Regional Authority

Regional Authority

Regional Authority

Review!Match each phrase to the correct government system –

each system will have two phrases• Unitary System

• Confederation

• Federal System

A. France is an exampleB. Loose allianceC. Political units control

their own lawsD. Central govt divides

powerE. Central govt has all

powerF. United States is an

example

A. France is an exampleE. Central govt has all power

B. Loose allianceC. Political units control their

own laws

D. Central govt divides powerF. United States is an

example

Sample Test QuestionIn Mexico’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, CG6a

Sample Test Question - AnswerIn Mexico’s government, power is divided between central and regional authorities. This is an example of which government type? A. UnitaryB. ConfederationC. Federal*D. Parliamentary

Corresponds to SS6- CG1a, CG4a, CG6a

Compare & Contrast Various Forms of Government

Explain how governments determine citizen

participation: autocratic, oligarchic, and democratic.

SS6 - CG1b, CG4b, CG6b

How Governments Determine Citizen Participation

DemocracyOligarchicAutocratic

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High Participation High Participation

Low or No Participation Low or No Participation Low or No Participation

How Governments Determine Citizen Participation

• Oldest form of government• An autocracy is the opposite of a democracy• Maintain power through inheritance or

ruthless use of the military and police power• Examples –

– Dictatorship (Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Joseph Stalin) – Absolute Monarchy (king/queen/emperor…King of Saudi

Arabia)

AutocracyOne leader holds complete power – citizens have

limited, if any, role in government

How Governments Determine Citizen Participation

• The group gets its power from military power, social power, wealth, religion or a combination

• Citizen has a limited role.• Example: apartheid system in South Africa, where a

small group of whites held power over the black majority from 1948 to 1994 and Communist China where leaders in the communist party and armed forces control the government

OligarchyGovernment by the few - control rests with a small

group of people with power

How Governments Determine Citizen Participation

• Sometimes they claim they rule for the people• In reality, the people have very little say in both types

of government:– Example: May hold elections with only one candidate or

control the results in various ways– Example: Even when these governments have a legislature

or national assembly, they often only approve decisions made by the leaders

Autocracy & Oligarchy

How Governments Determine Citizen Participation

• Usually, people exercise their power by electing officials (voting!!)to represent them

• All citizens have equal rights to participate in government regardless of their position or wealth

• Examples: The United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Great Britain

DemocracyThe people hold supreme power

Review!!Read the statements by political leaders below. Write A if they head an autocratic

government, O if they head an oligarchy and D if they head a democracy.

• “I am proud to serve as president of a country where everyone has equal rights.”

• “My wealth and position will keep me in power in this society.”

• “I will imprison anyone who criticizes my government. I am in total control.”

• “There is no reason to explain our position to the people. We are in control here.”

• “Where can I register to vote for the presidential election?”

Review!!Read the statements by political leaders below. Write A if they head an autocratic

government, O if they head an oligarchy and D if they head a democracy.

• “I am proud to serve as president of a country where everyone has equal rights.” D

• “My wealth and position will keep me in power in this society.” A

• “I will imprison anyone who criticizes my government. I am in total control.” A

• “There is no reason to explain our position to the people. We are in control here.” O

• “Where can I register to vote for the presidential election?” D

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

SS6- CG1b, CG4b, CG6b

Sample Test Question - AnswerWhat is a basic way citizens of a democratic nation can influence the government?A. voting*B. workingC. obeying lawsD. consuming goods

SS6- CG1b, CG4b, CG6b

Compare & Contrast Various Forms of Government

Describe the two predominant forms of democratic governments: Parliamentary

& Presidential

SS6 - CG1c, CG4c, CG6c

The main difference between the two main forms of democracy is the relationship between the legislative and

executive branches of government.

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

• The majority party in the legislature forms a government headed by a prime minister, who is chosen by the legislature.

• The prime minister and his cabinet are members of the legislature, and the prime minister answers to the legislature (fusion of powers).

• The govt will stay in office for a specified period unless the prime minister loses support of the majority in the legislature on an important vote. If that happens, the prime minister must resign and elections are held immediately.

• Examples: Canada, Great Britain, Australia

Parliamentary DemocracyThe Legislature (Parliament) controls the power.

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

• The executive and legislative branches are separate bodies elected independently by the citizens (separation of powers).

• There are checks and balances where each branch can overrule the other.

• The president answers to the voters, not to the legislature.• The people elect the president and elections are held at set

intervals.• Examples: The United States, Brazil and Mexico

Presidential DemocracyThe President is constitutionally independent of the

legislature.

ReviewPlace check marks next to the items that fit each government system.

• Legislature controls power• Separation of powers• Prime minister• President• Leader answers to people• Leader answers to legislature• Checks and balances• Elections are held if leader

forced to resign• Leader elected by the people

• Legislature controls power• Separation of powers• Prime minister• President• Leader answers to people• Leader answers to

legislature• Checks and balances• Elections are held if leader

forced to resign• Leader elected by the

people

Parliamentary Presidential

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

SS6- CG1c, CG4c, CG6c

Sample Test Question - AnswerIn which system of government does the legislature elect the executive leader of the government?A. democraticB. communistC. parliamentary*D. totalitarian

SS6- CG1c, CG4c, CG6c

Sample Test QuestionWhich statement about Great Britain's parliamentary system of government today is true?A. Members of both houses of Parliament are elected for life.B. The queen decides which laws Parliament will debate.C. Members of Parliament do not belong to political parties.D. The prime minister is not directly chosen by voters.

SS6- CG1c, CG4c, CG6c

Sample Test Question - AnswerWhich statement about Great Britain's parliamentary system of government today is true?A. Members of both houses of Parliament are elected for life.B. The queen decides which laws Parliament will debate.C. Members of Parliament do not belong to political parties.D. The prime minister is not directly chosen by voters.*

SS6- CG1c, CG4c, CG6c

Sample Test QuestionIn most democratic countries, the government is divided into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. In Canada, the legislative branch is theA. ParliamentB. prime ministerC. Supreme CourtD. governor general

SS6- CG1b, CG4b, CG6b

Sample Test Question - AnswerIn most democratic countries, the government is divided into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. In Canada, the legislative branch is theA. Parliament*B. prime ministerC. Supreme CourtD. governor general

SS6- CG1b, CG4b, CG6b

Compare & Contrast Various Forms of Government

Compare the federal-republican systems of Brazil and Mexico to the dictatorship of

the Cuba, distinguishing the form of leadership and the role of the citizen in terms of voting and personal freedoms.

SS6CG2

Brazil – Federal Republic

• Federal = Government divides power between the national (federal) and local (state) governments

• Republic = Decisions are made by elected officials who represent the people

• Brazil’s leader is a president elected by the citizens• President serves a 4 year term• Voting is mandatory for citizens between 18 and 70

who can read• Brazil’s citizens enjoy personal freedoms like freedom

of speech and freedom of assembly

Mexico – Federal Republic• Federal = Government divides power between the

national (federal) and local (state) governments• Republic = Decisions are made by elected officials

who represent the people• Mexico’s leader is a president elected by the citizens• President serves a 6 year term and has more power

than the other branches of government• Mexico’s citizens enjoy personal freedoms like

freedom of speech and freedom of assembly

Cuba – Communist Dictatorship

• Communist = The government plans and controls the economy and a single party (the communist party) holds power

• Dictatorship = A ruler or small group have all the power

• Cuba has a president, but he is a dictator with absolute authority who was not originally elected by the Cuban citizens – he seized power in 1959

Cuba – Communist Dictatorship

• Cuba’s president controls all aspects of Cuban life through the Communist Party and the people he chooses to put in govt positions.

• Cuba’s citizens can “vote” BUT they can only vote for candidates selected by the only political party, the Communist Party.

• Cuban citizens do NOT have personal freedoms like freedom of speech.

• Cuba does not have free trade or enterprise.

Review!!Answer TRUE or FALSE for each question:

• Brazil’s government leader is an elected president.• Mexico’s leader is a prime minister.• Cuba’s leader is a dictator who seized power.• In Brazil, you don’t have to vote if you don’t want to.• Citizens have freedom of speech in Mexico and Brazil.• There are many political parties in Cuba.• Cuba has “free elections” where anyone can run for

office.• You can say anything you want about the government in

Cuba.

TRUE!

TRUE!

TRUE!

FALSE!

FALSE!

FALSE!

FALSE!

FALSE!

Sample Test QuestionWhich term describes how political power is distributed in Brazil?A. aristocraticB. confederationC. federalD. unitary

SS6CG2

Sample Test Question - AnswerWhich term describes how political power is distributed in Brazil?A. aristocraticB. confederationC. federal*D. unitary

SS6CG2

Sample Test QuestionWhat type of government does Mexico currently have?A. communistB. monarchyC. parliamentary democracyD. Presidential democracy

SS6CG2

Sample Test Question - AnswerWhat type of government does Mexico currently have?A. communistB. monarchyC. parliamentary democracyD. presidential democracy*

SS6CG2

Sample Test QuestionWhat statement about political parties is true about Cuba?A. There are many political parties.B. There is only one legal political party.C. The leader of the political party cannot be president.D. Those running for office many not be in the Communist Party.

SS6CG2

Sample Test Question - AnswerWhat statement about political parties is true about Cuba?A. There are many political parties.B. There is only one legal political party.*C. The leader of the political party cannot be president.D. Those running for office many not be in the Communist Party.

SS6CG2