Forms of Governments

To study governments, geographers look at the following:

Types – Who rules and who participates.

Systems – How the power is distributed.

Types of Government are based on one key question: Who governs and what is the citizen participation?

There are three types of governments:Autocracy, Oligarchy, and Democracy

Autocracy

Government in which the power to govern is held by one person.

Generally the power to rule is inherited or by military force.

There are three

types of Autocracy.

Oligarchy

A government in which a few people such as a dominant clan or clique have power.The group gets their power from either military, wealth or social status.Elections may be held but offer

only one candidate.Examples: Greek city states

Democracy

In a democracy, the government is “Rule by the people”There are two forms of democracyDirect Democracy – People vote on all the

issues.Representative Democracy – People elect

representatives and give them the power to vote on issues.

Example: United States

In a democracy….

Individual freedom and equality is valued.

Free elections are held

Decisions are based on majority rule.

All candidates can express their views freely.

Citizens vote by secret ballot.