Government in Africa Government in Africa (Part 1)(Part 1)
November 12, 2014November 12, 2014
Ways that Government systems Ways that Government systems distribute powerdistribute power
There are 3 different ways that There are 3 different ways that governments can distribute power:governments can distribute power:
UnitaryUnitary: : the central government the central government possesses most of the decision-possesses most of the decision-making powermaking power
ConfederationConfederation: : Local governments or Local governments or individual states possess more power individual states possess more power than a weak central governmentthan a weak central government
FederalFederal: : Power is split between a Power is split between a central government and individual central government and individual state governments. There is often a state governments. There is often a constitution that defines the powers of constitution that defines the powers of each governmenteach government..
Ways that Government Systems Ways that Government Systems Determine Citizen ParticipationDetermine Citizen Participation
AutocraticAutocratic: : Government in which one Government in which one person possesses unlimited power and person possesses unlimited power and the citizen has little, if any, role in the the citizen has little, if any, role in the governmentgovernment
OligarchicOligarchic: : Government by a few, and the Government by a few, and the citizen has a very limited rolecitizen has a very limited role
DemocraticDemocratic: : Government where the Government where the supreme power is held by the people, supreme power is held by the people, and usually exercised through a system and usually exercised through a system of periodically held free electionsof periodically held free elections
Two Types of Democratic Two Types of Democratic Governments Governments
Presidential DemocracyPresidential Democracy: : A system of A system of government where the president is the government where the president is the head of government and is constitutionally head of government and is constitutionally independent of the legislatureindependent of the legislature
Parliamentary DemocracyParliamentary Democracy: A system of : A system of government where the real power lies government where the real power lies with a cabinet made up of legislators. with a cabinet made up of legislators. This group is responsible to the This group is responsible to the legislature. There may be a prime legislature. There may be a prime minister that is elected by the legislatureminister that is elected by the legislature
KenyaKenya Kenya’s government is a republicKenya’s government is a republic Their government is ruled by a president and a Their government is ruled by a president and a
one-house legislature, called the National one-house legislature, called the National AssemblyAssembly
Since Kenya is a republic, they distribute power Since Kenya is a republic, they distribute power in the federal style and determine citizen in the federal style and determine citizen participation in the style of a presidential participation in the style of a presidential democracydemocracy
Role of the citizen in Kenya: all citizens over the Role of the citizen in Kenya: all citizens over the age of 18 can voteage of 18 can vote
They vote for the president and half of the They vote for the president and half of the National Assembly National Assembly
The other half of the National Assembly is The other half of the National Assembly is appointed by the presidentappointed by the president
South AfricaSouth Africa
South Africa’s government is a republicSouth Africa’s government is a republic They have a president and a two-house They have a president and a two-house
legislature, called the National Assemblylegislature, called the National Assembly South Africa distributes power in the federal South Africa distributes power in the federal
style and determine citizen participation in style and determine citizen participation in the style of a presidential democracythe style of a presidential democracy
All citizens over the age of 18 are allowed to All citizens over the age of 18 are allowed to votevote
They vote for most of the National AssemblyThey vote for most of the National Assembly The National Assembly then elects the The National Assembly then elects the
presidentpresident
Standard of Living in AfricaStandard of Living in Africa
The governments of various countries The governments of various countries play a part in how the people of that play a part in how the people of that country are able to livecountry are able to live
Remember, your standard of living is Remember, your standard of living is directly tied to your literacydirectly tied to your literacy The higher the literacy rate, the higher the The higher the literacy rate, the higher the
standard of living usually isstandard of living usually is The government can affect a citizen’s The government can affect a citizen’s
ability to be educated in many countries ability to be educated in many countries in Africain Africa
Kenya’s literacy and standard of Kenya’s literacy and standard of livingliving
Kenya has a literacy rate of about 87%Kenya has a literacy rate of about 87% The government has made the The government has made the
improvement of education a priority in the improvement of education a priority in the countrycountry
In larger cities, both boys and girls are In larger cities, both boys and girls are given access to an educationgiven access to an education
However, in rural areas, only boys are However, in rural areas, only boys are educatededucated Many parents still follow the traditional view Many parents still follow the traditional view
that girls only need to get ready for marriagethat girls only need to get ready for marriage The government is working to get parents The government is working to get parents
to realize the value of educating all childrento realize the value of educating all children
Sudan’s literacy and standard of Sudan’s literacy and standard of livingliving
Sudan has been involved in a 50 year civil Sudan has been involved in a 50 year civil war between the Muslim northern half of war between the Muslim northern half of they country and the non-Muslim southern they country and the non-Muslim southern half of the countryhalf of the country
This finally resulted in the creation of the This finally resulted in the creation of the country of South Sudan in 2011country of South Sudan in 2011
Sudan’s national literacy rate is about 61%Sudan’s national literacy rate is about 61% As with Kenya, children living in cities, both As with Kenya, children living in cities, both
boys and girls, have the best chance of boys and girls, have the best chance of getting an educationgetting an education
In rural areas, many girls are excluded In rural areas, many girls are excluded because they are seen as only needing to because they are seen as only needing to get ready for marriageget ready for marriage
South Sudan’s literacy and South Sudan’s literacy and standard of livingstandard of living
The 50 year civil war in Sudan did most of The 50 year civil war in Sudan did most of its damage to the southern part of the its damage to the southern part of the country – this is the part that became South country – this is the part that became South Sudan in 2011Sudan in 2011
Many schools were left in ruinsMany schools were left in ruins Even though South Sudan models its Even though South Sudan models its
educational programs like Sudan does, the educational programs like Sudan does, the national literacy rate is only 27%national literacy rate is only 27%
The literacy rate for females is the lowest in The literacy rate for females is the lowest in the world – 16%the world – 16%
South Sudan’s government recognizes South Sudan’s government recognizes these problems and is working to improve these problems and is working to improve the education systemthe education system
QuestionsQuestions 1. What type of government does Kenya 1. What type of government does Kenya
have?have? 2. Who is in charge of their government?2. Who is in charge of their government? 3. How does Kenya distribute power?3. How does Kenya distribute power? 4. How does Kenya determine citizen 4. How does Kenya determine citizen
participation?participation? 5. Who has the right to vote in Kenya?5. Who has the right to vote in Kenya? 6. Who are Kenyans voting for?6. Who are Kenyans voting for? 7. What type of government does South 7. What type of government does South
Africa have?Africa have? 8. Who is in charge of South Africa’s 8. Who is in charge of South Africa’s
government?government?
Questions Questions 9. How does South Africa distribute power?9. How does South Africa distribute power? 10. How does South Africa determine citizen 10. How does South Africa determine citizen
participation?participation? 11. Who has the right to vote in Kenya?11. Who has the right to vote in Kenya? 12. Who are South Africans voting for?12. Who are South Africans voting for? 13. How does literacy rate affect the standard of 13. How does literacy rate affect the standard of
living in many countries?living in many countries? 14. What is Kenya’s government trying to get 14. What is Kenya’s government trying to get
parents to realize about education?parents to realize about education? 15. Who was fighting a civil war in Sudan?15. Who was fighting a civil war in Sudan? 16. Why are girls excluded from education in 16. Why are girls excluded from education in
Sudan?Sudan? 17. Which country has the lowest literacy for girls? 17. Which country has the lowest literacy for girls?
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