Types of Government

7th Grade

Social Studies

Compare & Contrast Various Forms of Government

Describe the ways government systems

distribute power: unitary, confederation, and federal

SS6 - CG1a, CG4a, CG6aSS7 – CG1a, CG4a, CG6a

Define the different types of governments (i.e., democracy, autocracy, oligarchy, monarchy, dictatorship, and so on). SS GPS

Terms to Know!Distribution of Power: Unitary Confederation Federal

Citizen Participation: Autocratic Oligarchic Democratic

Democracies: Parliamentary Democracy Presidential Democracy

Anarchy

Communist

Capitalist

Dictatorship

Monarchy

Theocracy

Interactive Notebook Question

Using the Words to Know! Terms as a guide:Which form of government(s) do we have in the U.S.?

Two Main Questions for Government…

How does the government distribute power?

How do the citizens participate in government?

Describe the ways governments distribute power

Unitary- a form of government in which power is held by one central authority.

Confederation-voluntary associations of independent states to secure some common purpose or defense.

Federal-a form of government in which power is divided between one central and several regional authorities.

UnitaryAll power is held by the central government. This central government may

delegate (or transfer) some duties to smaller political units like cities but it retains final power over all decisions.

Examples: France, Italy, Japan, South Korea, and Kenya

UNITARYWays Government Distributes Power

Central Authority

Regional Authority

Regional Authority

Regional Authority

Regional Authority

UNITARYWays Government Distributes Power

ConfederationA loose alliance of countries or other political units like states. Each unit has final control of its own laws and citizens. Confederations can be unstable because members often want to do things their own way! Examples: African Union & European Union

CONFEDERATIONWays Government Distributes Power

Central Authority

Regional Authority

Regional Authority

Regional Authority

Regional Authority

Federal

Divide power between the central government and the states. Most federal systems give a lot of power to the lower governments to handle local affairs. The central government handles issues that concern the entire country, such as the military or negotiating treaties with foreign countries. Examples; The U.S., Canada, Mexico.

FEDERATION/FEDERALWays Government Distributes Power

Regional Authority

CentralAuthority

Regional Authority

Regional Authority

Regional Authority

List of countries with Federal Governments (24)

Australia Brazil Canada Ethiopia Germany India Malaysia

Mexico Nigeria Pakistan Russia South Africa

United Arab Emirates United States of America Venezuela

Countries in Transition to FederalismIraq Sudan

Countries Considering a Federal SystemSri Lanka

Citizen participation in government

Autocratic-Dictatorship with unlimited power and the citizen has little or no role in the government.

Oligarchic-Government by the elite few. The citizen has very limited role.

Democratic-Government in which the main power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly.

Autocratic- One person has all control, no one else is allowed

to either make any decisions or give

input.

Oligarchic- A few people maintain all control, no one else is allowed to make any decisions or give input.

Democratic- Everyone is allowed to provide input or make decisions.

Citizen Participation in Government

This explains how citizens in a country are allowed to participate in how the government works and is chosen. Within an Autocratic Government the citizen has little to no choices, within an Oligarchic Government the citizen has very few choices, and within a Democratic Government the citizen may have quite a few choices.

AUTOCRATIC, OLIGARCHIC, OR DEMOCRATIC Which one is the United States? China?

Democracy

In a democracy, the government is elected by the people. Everyone who is eligible to vote has a chance to have their say in who runs the country. It is distinct from governments controlled by a particular social class or group (aristocracy; oligarchy) or by a single person (despotism; dictatorship; monarchy).

A democracy is determined either directly or through elected representatives.

Parliamentary Democracy

Example: Israel

A parliamentary system is led by representatives of the people. Each is chosen as a member of a political party and remains in power as long as their party remains. The members of Parliament elect the Prime Minister.

Parliamentary Democracy

Legislature aka: National Assembly, Congress, ParliamentAny others?

What is a cabinet?

Presidential Democracy

A system of government in which the president is constitutionally independent of the legislature. Usually elected directly by citizens.

Anarchy

Anarchy is a situation where there is no government. This can happen after a civil war in a country, when a government has been destroyed and rival groups are fighting to take its place.

Example: Egypt?

Communist

A system of government in which the state plans and controls the economy and has only one political party which holds power; no private ownership of property or businesses by average citizens and all goods are equally shared by the people (i.e., a classless society).

Dictatorship A country ruled by a single leader. The leader has not been elected and may use force to keep control.

In a military dictatorship, the army is in control.

Example: Iraq under Saddam

Federal RepublicA country in which the powers of the central government are restricted and in which the states or colonies retain a degree of self-government; ultimate power rests with the voters who chose their representatives.

Examples: India, Russia, United States.

United States

Georgia

Florida

Alabama

Monarchy

A monarchy usually has a king, queen, emperor or empress.The ruling position can be passed on to the ruler’s heirs. In some traditional monarchies, the monarch has absolute power. Example: Saudi Arabia

Constitutional MonarchyA system of government in which a monarch’s duties and responsibilities are limited and defined by written law or custom. Examples: United Kingdom and Japan.

Most constitutional monarchies have a parliamentary system in which the monarch is the head of state, but an elected or appointed prime minister is head of government.

Interactive Notebook Question (Left Side)

Draw a Venn Diagram listing the similarities and differences between a Presidential Democracy and a Parliamentary Democracy.

RepublicExample: USA

A republic is led by representatives of the voters. Each is individually chosen for a set period of time.

Theocracy Example: IranA form of government in which a deity (god) is recognized as the supreme power, but the deity's laws are interpreted by religious leaders; a government under religious control.

Think-N-Ink (On your own paper, remember your heading!)

Working with your partner, decide which forms of government would fit the following situations (4 total):

1. A religious group overthrows the government. They create a new government that claims their right to authority comes from God.

2. After a civil war, an individual takes total control of the government; she has no experience in leading a government. She disbands the national congress and retains all power in government to herself.

3. The new President elect wins the election by a landslide. Over 90% of the citizens vote for the new leader.

4. The new Prime Minister wins election narrowly due to his political party barely gaining enough seats in Parliament.

Government Learning Log Pick one of the following countries to write an essay on their government: India, Iran, Israel, Japan, Kenya, Nigeria, North

Korea, China, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sudan, or Turkey

Include the following: Type of Government, Distribution of Power, Citizen Participation, and what type of Democracy (if that is their type of government).

In your conclusion explain why you would or would not want to live in that country based on the items listed above.

Ticket-Out-The-DoorIn regular 7th grade language, what is the difference between a Parliamentary Democracy and a Presidential Democracy?

(Include the leaders and how they are chosen).

Summarizing Activity

On the Left Side of your INB

Draw a picture for each of the types of citizen participation

Summarizing Activity

On the Left Side of your INB

Draw a picture for each of the types of distribution of power by governments.

How Governments Distribute Power (Unitary, Confederation, Federal)

For each of the following situations, write on the left hand side of your INB whether it is Unitary, Confederation, or Federal

A. a form of government in which power is held by one central authority.

B. a form of government in which power is divided between one central and several regional authorities.

C.  voluntary associations of independent states that, to secure some common purpose, agree to certain limitations on their freedom of action and establish some joint machinery of consultation or deliberation.

D. Country “A” has a national capital and several smaller regional provinces, the national capital and provinces share power.

Summarizing ActivityCitizen Participation

(Autocratic, Oligarchic, or Democratic)One the left side of your INB write which type of Citizen Participation is described:

1. A small group of people control the government. Usually they do not offer many choices during an election.

 

2. One person controls the government. Elections may or may not take place however that one person maintains control regardless of the election result.

3. A _____ has a king or queen, who sometimes has absolute power. Power is passed along through the family

4. A _______ system is led by representatives of the people. Each is chosen as a member of a political party and remains in power as long as his/her party does

Summarizing ActivityHow Governments Distribute Power (Unitary, Confederation, Federal)

1. a form of government in which power is held by one central authority.

 

2. a form of government in which power is divided between one central and several regional authorities.

 

3. voluntary associations of independent states that, to secure some common purpose, agree to certain limitations on their freedom of action and establish some joint machinery of consultation or deliberation.

 

4. Country “A” has a national capital and several smaller regional provinces, the national capital and provinces share power.

Resources

Georgia Department of Education. Types of government Worksheets for Unit 2. 06/30/2007.

Grade Seven GPS. Georgia Department of Education. September 2, 2008.