Systems of Government
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Transcript of Systems of Government
SYSTEMS OF GOVERNMENT
QUESTION FOR THOUGHT: Let’s pretend that your family has decided to
go out to dinner tonight. How would your family go about making the decision of where to go out to dinner? Please write at least three complete sentences. Possible answers:
Mom Decides (or Dad… but we all know who is really in charge) Parents Decide together Family Vote Other options?
THREE TYPES OF GOVERNMENT Autocracy – power is held by a single ruler
Rule of One Oligarchy – power is held by a small, elite
group of people in society Rule of Few
Democracy – power is held by the people Rule of Many Direct Democracy – all people vote on everything Indirect Democracy (REPUBLIC)– people elect
representatives who make decisions Which of these sounds most like our
government?
ASSIGNMENT Read pgs. 21-27 in We the People books Answer: What are the three characteristics of
republican government? Draw and complete the following chart in notes:
ADVANTAGESof republican government
DISADVANTAGESOf republican government
THREE CHARACTERISTICS OF A REPUBLICAN GOVT. Citizens have the power to govern
Citizens delegate their power to elected leaders who represent the people’s interests
Both citizens and their representatives work together toward the common good
REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENTADVANTAGES
of republican governmentDISADVANTAGES
Of republican government
1. Representatives serve the common good- How? - Self-Interest (re-election)
2. More efficient- Specialized law-makers
3. All people still have a voice in government- How?- Voting!
4. Representatives are responsible to be the voice of the people- What prevents them from
serving special interests only?- Self-Interest (re-election)
1. Works best in smaller settings where communication is easy- Do you know your U.S.
senators?- Do you know your state
representative?2. Diversity in population can be
problematic- What if you are the voice of a
district that has half republicans and half democrats?
- Half rich and half poor?3. Can create factions
- Special interests can have a big influence
ASSIGNMENT: Get into groups of 2-4 (no more than 4) Read pgs. 26-27 in WE THE PEOPLE Reflect on the story as you discuss and
create answers to the questions that follow the reading.
Have designated people within your group ready to answer each question.
FORMS OF AUTOCRACY Absolute Monarchy
Monarch has absolute power Does not include “Constitutional Monarchs” like the Queen of England
Dictatorship/Totalitarianism One leader who not only controls behavior, but
attempts to control thinking Fascism Communism
Theocracy Religious leader in charge People must follow laws of the religion
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia
Adolf Hitler
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini
Two Forms of Totalitarianism
Fascism Communism
Benito Mussolini-founded ItalianFascism (Italy 1922-1943)
Adolf Hitler- Nazi Germany
- extreme nationalism- warlike policies- persecution of minorities
- all property is owned by the government
- the government controls all publications, radio, and television, and restricts journalism
Kim Jong-il,North Korea
Examples: North Korea, Cuba, the former Soviet Union
Oligarchy - Power is held by a small, elite group of people in society.- Often controlled by a few powerful
families who raise their children to inherit the government
Autocracy - “Rule by a Single Person”Democracy - “Rule by the Many”
• wealth• political influence• military strength
• family ties to an aristocracy• ruthlessness
Examples: Ancient Sparta; South Africa under apartheid when the white minority ruled the black majority (1948-1994)
There really aren’t any true oligarchies in the world today.
Characteristics:
Types of Democracies/RepublicsDirect Democracy
Representative Democracy/RepublicLiberal Democracy
- All the citizens vote directly on the laws
- Representatives vote on the laws
- Representative Democracy that includes the protection of minorities, separation of powers, and protection of liberties
Full Presidential RepublicSemi-Presidential RepublicParliamentary Republic
Three Forms ofRepublics
Rule of One – Monarch or King
inherit
related
onerareAbsoluteConstitutional
aristocracy
military strength
political influencewealth
inherit
elite
weaktakeselected
inherit
dictatorforce
AllDirect
representatives
The people
ruthlessness
Rule of the many – People
Rule of the few – Small Group
Rule of One - Dictator
Liberal
representativesRepresentative
all
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia
Adolf Hitler
South Africa under apartheid U.S. and many other nations in various forms
Two Forms of Democratic GovernmentPresidential RepublicParliamentary Republic
- The President is both the Chief Executive and the Head of State - Powers of the President are usually balanced (or shared) with those of the legislature
- The President is elected independently by the people, not by the legislature
U.S. President Barack Obama
- Head of State and Chief Executive are two separate offices. Head of State is either a President or a Monarch. Chief Executive is often called a Prime Minister. - Head of State is usually a ceremonial role, while the Prime Minister runs the government. - Prime Minister is not elected, but is usually chosen by the party with the most seats in the legislature, or is sometimes appointed by the President.
British Queen Elizabeth II & Prime Minister David Cameron
Some countries combine Presidential and Parliamentary Systems
Semi-Presidential Republic
The President is usually elected by the people and serves as head of state, but is more than a purely ceremonial figurehead. The President also has some power to run the government.
The Prime Minister is usually appointed by the President, and sometimes elected by the people, and serves as the head of government.
In France, the President controls foreign policy and the Prime Minister controls domestic policy.
France
President François Hollande
Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault (appointed by the President)
Examples: France, Russia
Three Systems of GovernmentUnitary Confederation
Federal
StrongCentral
Government
Weak Central Government
Strong State GovernmentsWeak State Governments
Strong CentralGovernment
Powersof theCentralGov’t.
Powersof theStates
SharedPowers
Strong State Governments
Unitary System of GovernmentDefinition: A strong central government controls
weaker state and local governments.Strong Central
Government
• Central Government can take power away from the state and local governments at any time.• Central Government acts directly on the people.
• Examples: United Kingdom, France, Sweden
Weak State Governments
Confederation System of GovernmentDefinition: Independent, strong state governments with a weak central government.
Weak Central Government
Strong
• States have independent control over their own area• Central government only controls things of common concern• States can withdraw from the Confederation at any time• Central government acts on the states, not directly on people
• Example: Second Athenian Empire, Old Swiss Confederacy
State Gov- ern- ments
Before the Founding Fathers created the Constitution, most nations had either a Unitary or Confederate system of government.
Governments held authority over the people. The people did not control the government. In some countries, the King was in charge. In Confederation governments, the local or state government was in charge. The people had little say.In a Federal System of government, the people
decide who gets the power. In the Constitution, the Framers decided to split the power between the central government and the state governments.
Federal System of GovernmentDefinition: Power is shared between the central
government and state governments.Strong Central
Government
• The Central Government is usually stronger than the state governments, but there are some powers the states have that the Central Government does not have.• Examples: United States, India, Canada, Germany, Mexico
Powers of theCentral
Government
Powers of theState
GovernmentsSharedPowers
• Create post offices• Declare war
• Create public schools
• Tax the people
Strong State Governments
STRONG CENTRAL WEAKE
R
FRANCEUNITED KINGDOM
PEOPLE
CENTRAL POWERS
SHARED
UNITED STATES
STATES
WEAKER
STRONG
SHARED POWERS
STATE POWERS
STRONG Central Govt.
STRONG Central Govt.
weak Central Govt.
STRONG State Govts.weak State Govts.
STRONG State Govts.