Political Systems

Characteristics that define a country:

1. Territory

2. Population

3. Sovereignty

4. Government

Territory

A country’s territory includes the land, water, and natural resources within its boundaries.

Territory

• Def: a geographic area that is owned and controlled by a particular government or country.– Territory includes:

• Land, water, and natural resources.

– A country’s resources may be more important than it’s size• The earth’s natural resources are not evenly distributed.

• Several factors play an important role in how a country defines it’s boundaries:– Natural division (Rhine River)– Geographic factors (United Kingdom)– Political conflict (Poland & Austria)

Population• As citizens of a

nation, people are usually assured of protection by their government. In return citizens usually pay taxes, serve in the military, or carry out other obligations to the government.

Population

• Def: all of the people who inhabit an area, region, or country.– The size of a population does not determine the

existence of a country. • Netherlands

• Population deals with size AND with culture.– Based upon nationality, ethnicity, religion, or class.

Sovereignty• A nation’s

freedom from outside control.

Sovereignty

• Def: a country’s ability to rule itself.– Freedom from outside control– Establishes its own policies

• Geographic factors affects sovereignty.– Isolation:

• UK, Switzerland

– Vulnerability: • Poland & Belgium

Government

• Def: institutions or individuals who have power to make & enforce laws for a country.

– Purpose of government:• Protects society from outside threats• Provides services for citizens• Keeps order

• Governments classified according to it’s structure & basis of authority.

Government Structure

Unitary System Federal System(federation)

Confederation

Strong national government

Local governments at the mercy of national government

Examples: Great Britain, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Italy, Greece, Ukraine

Most governments in world are unitary!

Strong national government

Power is divided between national and local government

Examples: (USA), Germany, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland

Strong local government

National government is at mercy of local government (weak)

Example: Confederation of Independent States(former USSR) - Switzerland

Usually unsuccessful!

Unitary System• Type of government

where one central government runs the nation.

Federation• Some powers are given to the national government

and other powers are reserved for more local governments.

Confederation• Smaller political units keep their sovereignty and give

the central government only very limited powers.

Government Authority

• Democracy– Two forms:

• Direct Democracy– People make decisions themselves

• Representative Democracy (Republic)– People elect representatives to do the work of government for them.

– Government of the people• People participate in government

• Monarchy– Two forms

• Absolute Monarchy– King/Queen make all political decisions

• Representative Monarchy (most common today!)– King/Queen shares power with legislative branch– Mix between democracy & monarchy

– Divine Right (“royal family”)

Government Authority• Authoritarian

– Two forms

• Dictatorship– Leaders hold all political power

• Totalitarian

– Extreme form of dictatorship

– Government tries to control all aspects of citizen’s lives.

– Use of military force or terror to gain & exercise power.• Citizens have NO say in their government.

Authoritarianism • Leader or leaders of this style of government

hold all the power.

Dictatorship• The most common type of authoritarian

government. Power is usually held by a single person or very few.

Totalitarianism• The most extreme form of dictatorship.

Monarchy• Leaders of

monarchies are born into power because their family holds political control.

Democracy• Government where

people choose their leaders and have power to set government policy.