Forms of Government

SSCG19

Governments can be classified by Governments can be classified by one or more of their basic one or more of their basic features:features:

1) Geographic distribution of 1) Geographic distribution of power. (Who holds the power?) power. (Who holds the power?)

2) Relationship between the 2) Relationship between the Legislative and Executive Legislative and Executive branches. branches.

3) Number of people who 3) Number of people who participate in the process. (does participate in the process. (does everyone have a voice?)everyone have a voice?)

Geographic distribution of power Geographic distribution of power consists of three basic forms:consists of three basic forms:

1. Unitary Government1. Unitary Government Power is held by a central Power is held by a central

group or agency.group or agency. The central group or The central group or

person creates what person creates what powers the local powers the local governments will have.governments will have.

Unitary GovernmentUnitary Government

Ex: Great Britain – a single organ Ex: Great Britain – a single organ (Parliament) holds all of the power of (Parliament) holds all of the power of the British government. Local the British government. Local governments do exist, but only to governments do exist, but only to relieve Parliament of burdens if it relieve Parliament of burdens if it could perform only with difficulty and could perform only with difficulty and inconvenience. At any time, inconvenience. At any time, Parliament could dissolve all Parliament could dissolve all agencies of local government.agencies of local government.

Unitary GovernmentUnitary Government

Most governments in the world are Most governments in the world are unitary in form.unitary in form.

GeographicGeographic distribution of distribution of power consists of three basic power consists of three basic

forms:forms:

2. Federal Government 2. Federal Government - - Power is shared between a central

agency and local governments. An authority superior to both the

central agency and the local government makes the division of power.

Federal GovernmentFederal GovernmentThe superior authority that guides the The superior authority that guides the

government is known as the United government is known as the United States ConstitutionStates Constitution

GeographicGeographic distribution of distribution of power consists of three basic power consists of three basic

forms:forms:

3)3) ConfederationConfederation Member states join to form a Member states join to form a

government called a government called a confederation.confederation.

A Confederate government only A Confederate government only has powers that are given to it by has powers that are given to it by the state government.the state government.

ConfederationConfederation

A Confederate structure makes it A Confederate structure makes it possible for the individual States to possible for the individual States to act together to achieve a common act together to achieve a common goal. goal.

*****The U.S. Articles of the *****The U.S. Articles of the Confederation failed before the Confederation failed before the Constitution instituted a Federal Constitution instituted a Federal System*****System*****

ConfederationConfederation

The United States has had a The United States has had a Confederate government twice in Confederate government twice in its history:its history:

1.1. Articles of Confederation (1781-1789)Articles of Confederation (1781-1789)

1.1. Confederate States of America (1861-1865) Confederate States of America (1861-1865) are also examples of a Confederation.are also examples of a Confederation.

Government may take a Presidential Government may take a Presidential or Parliamentary form.or Parliamentary form.

1) Presidential:1) Presidential: each branch is each branch is independent and coequal. independent and coequal.

The Executive and Legislative branches are The Executive and Legislative branches are two separate and coequal branches of two separate and coequal branches of government. government.

The Chief Executive is called the The Chief Executive is called the President and he serves for a fixed term President and he serves for a fixed term of four years.of four years.

The Chief Executive, President, is chosen The Chief Executive, President, is chosen separately and independently of the separately and independently of the Legislative Branch, Congress.Legislative Branch, Congress.

Usually, as in the United States, a written Usually, as in the United States, a written constitution provides for the separation constitution provides for the separation of powers between branches of of powers between branches of government.government.

2. Government may take a 2. Government may take a Presidential or Parliamentary Presidential or Parliamentary form.form.

2) Parliamentary:2) Parliamentary: the Executive the Executive branch consists of members from branch consists of members from the Legislative branch. the Legislative branch.

The Executive is made up of a Prime Minister and his advisors (Cabinet). This group also serves as the Legislative branch known as Parliament.

Prime Minister and his cabinet are “the government”. The Prime Minister selects his cabinet, but Parliament selects the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister and his cabinet stay in office only as long as their policies and administration have the confidence of a majority of Parliament.

If a “Vote of No Confidence” occurs, the government must resign its office.

The Prime Minister is chosen by the Legislature, is part of it, and is subject to its direct control.

Government can be classified by the Government can be classified by the percentage of citizens who can percentage of citizens who can participate.participate.

1. Dictatorship: those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will of the people

2. Democracy: supreme political authority rests with the people

All dictatorships are All dictatorships are authoritarianauthoritarian (governmental systems in which those (governmental systems in which those in power hold absolute and in power hold absolute and unchallengeable authority over the unchallengeable authority over the people).people).

Modern-day dictatorships tend to be Modern-day dictatorships tend to be totalitariantotalitarian as well (they exercise as well (they exercise dictatorial, or authoritarian, power over dictatorial, or authoritarian, power over nearly every aspect of human affairs, nearly every aspect of human affairs, and their power embraces all (the and their power embraces all (the totality of) matters of human concern.totality of) matters of human concern.

Typically, dictatorial regimes are Typically, dictatorial regimes are militaristic in character, usually gaining militaristic in character, usually gaining power by force and holding many of the power by force and holding many of the major posts in the government.major posts in the government.

DictatorshipDictatorship

Often identified as either autocracies Often identified as either autocracies or oligarchies.or oligarchies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdh9xo47OWMv=vdh9xo47OWM

Autocracy

One ruler that has unlimited authority.

1. Autocracy means a single person rules EVERYTHING!

Autocracy

Examples: North Korea Iraq (under Saddam Hussein) Germany (under Hitler)

http://www.cracked.com/article_18850_7-modern-dictators-way-crazier-than-you-thought-possible_p2.html

Oligarchy

Power rests with a small group of people.

Rulers can be distinguished by royalty (King/Queen), prominent families, wealth, military control.

Oligarchy

Examples: South Africa during Apartheid (ruling

class of Afrikaans-speaking whites ruled)

Government can be classified Government can be classified by the percentage of citizens by the percentage of citizens who can participate.who can participate.

2) Democracy2) Democracy:: people hold people hold authority,authority,

directly or through directly or through representatives.representatives.

Direct DemocracyDirect Democracy – exists where – exists where the will of the people is translated the will of the people is translated into public policy (law) directly by into public policy (law) directly by the people themselves, in mass the people themselves, in mass meetings.meetings.

Direct Democracy does not exist Direct Democracy does not exist anywhere on the national level in anywhere on the national level in the world today.the world today.

Representative DemocracyRepresentative Democracy – a – a small group of persons chosen by the small group of persons chosen by the people to act as their representatives people to act as their representatives expresses the popular will.expresses the popular will.

Representative Democracy is Representative Democracy is government by popular consent—government by popular consent—government with the consent of government with the consent of the governed.the governed.

ReviewReview

Who Rules????Who Rules????

King Jacob is the monarch of a King Jacob is the monarch of a nation. The king is the only ruler in nation. The king is the only ruler in the country. What type of the country. What type of government exists in this nation?government exists in this nation?

AutocracyAutocracy OligarchyOligarchy Direct DemocracyDirect Democracy Indirect DemocracyIndirect Democracy

Who Rules???Who Rules???

There is nation called Happy Place. There is nation called Happy Place. Happy place is governed by LeMaya, Happy place is governed by LeMaya, Nicole, Jaym, and Wei. What type of Nicole, Jaym, and Wei. What type of government exists in Happy Place?government exists in Happy Place?

AutocracyAutocracy OligarchyOligarchy ConfederateConfederate FederalFederal

Who Rules???Who Rules???

You live on an island called Nacho Island. You live on an island called Nacho Island. On this island every person votes on On this island every person votes on every law. All people have a say in every law. All people have a say in every decision that is made. What type every decision that is made. What type of government exists on Nacho Island?of government exists on Nacho Island?

AutocracyAutocracy OligarchyOligarchy Direct DemocracyDirect Democracy Indirect DemocracyIndirect Democracy

Who Rules???Who Rules??? Your American Government class won Your American Government class won

a trip to England. During one of the a trip to England. During one of the tours you see where the Parliament tours you see where the Parliament meets. Parliament is the group of meets. Parliament is the group of people who hold the governing power people who hold the governing power in England. What type of government in England. What type of government exists in England?exists in England?

UnitaryUnitary FederalFederal ConfederateConfederate DictatorshipDictatorship

Who Rules???Who Rules???

In the United States the federal/national In the United States the federal/national government has powers. The states and government has powers. The states and local government also have powers. local government also have powers. What type of government exists in the What type of government exists in the United Staes?United Staes? UnitaryUnitary FederalFederal ConfederateConfederate DictatorshipDictatorship

There was a time in American History There was a time in American History when the Southern states joined when the Southern states joined together to form their own nation. together to form their own nation. The government only had powers The government only had powers that were given by the states. What that were given by the states. What type of government existed?type of government existed?

UnitaryUnitary FederalFederal ConfederalConfederal DictatorshipDictatorship

In the country of Freddies, the Chief In the country of Freddies, the Chief Executive (leader) is a member of a Executive (leader) is a member of a governing body. When the people are governing body. When the people are not pleased with his work, the Chief not pleased with his work, the Chief Executive must resign. What type of Executive must resign. What type of government is this describing?government is this describing?

DictatorshipDictatorship Direct DemocracyDirect Democracy Indirect DemocracyIndirect Democracy ParliamentaryParliamentary