Governments around the Governments around the WorldWorld

Forms of Forms of GovernmentGovernment

When people decide to form the social When people decide to form the social contracts that we call governments, they contracts that we call governments, they

make many different decisions about how make many different decisions about how their government will look. their government will look.

President or King?

President or King? Rule by few or rule by all? Rule by few or rule by all?

Hold elections?

Hold elections? Where do the rulers get their power? Where do the rulers get their power?

State vs. State vs. Government vs. Government vs.

LegislatureLegislature• The Head of State in the living symbol of the

country and the representative of the country• The Head of Government oversees those in

charge of the administration and those who create and enforce laws

• The Legislature is an assembly that creates, fixes, and repeals laws

Democracy Democracy

•A democracy is any form A democracy is any form of government in which of government in which political power is exercised political power is exercised by all citizens either directly by all citizens either directly or through their elected or through their elected representatives. representatives.

•There are two kinds of There are two kinds of Democracies: Direct and Democracies: Direct and RepresentativeRepresentative

Direct DemocracyDirect DemocracyIn a direct Democracy all citizens participate in In a direct Democracy all citizens participate in government government There are no representativesThere are no representatives in government: The citizensin government: The citizens vote on everythingvote on everythingAll citizens can create public All citizens can create public policy if they want topolicy if they want toExample: In ancient Athens, Greece, they held Example: In ancient Athens, Greece, they held assemblies where citizens voted to pass lawsassemblies where citizens voted to pass laws

Representative Representative DemocracyDemocracy

Like direct democracy, all citizens participate in Like direct democracy, all citizens participate in governmentgovernment

People elect representatives (a legislature) who People elect representatives (a legislature) who vote on laws for the citizens or lead themvote on laws for the citizens or lead them

Representatives answer to the peopleRepresentatives answer to the peopleRepresentatives are also usually held accountable Representatives are also usually held accountable

by a constitutionby a constitutionThere are two common types of Representative There are two common types of Representative

Democracies: Presidential and ParliamentaryDemocracies: Presidential and Parliamentary

Presidential DemocracyPresidential Democracy

• In a presidential democracy an elected president is the head of state and government

• The president is not the absolute ruler

• Laws are created by an elected legislature (ex: the senate)

• The government enforces them• Examples: Brazil, Indonesia,

Nicaragua, the United States

Parliamentary Parliamentary DemocracyDemocracy

• In Parliamentary governments, there is often a separate Head of State (the president) and Head of Government (Prime Minister)

• The legislature (the Parliament), the President and the PM are elected

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmGCwiQvhH0&list=PL03FFE1F0B34AA057&index=25

• Examples: Germany (and most of Europe), India, Israel, Libya

Constitutional MonarchyConstitutional Monarchy• Just Like a Parliamentary

Gov. but with a royal as its Head of State

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KFGt9M-j28&list=PL03FFE1F0B34AA057

• Examples: Canada (and all Common Wealth Nations), Norway, Japan, and the United Kingdom

AutocracyAutocracy

• An autocracy is a form of government in which An autocracy is a form of government in which political power is controlled by one individual political power is controlled by one individual such as a monarch, dictator, emperor, etc. such as a monarch, dictator, emperor, etc.

•We’re going to talk about two kinds of We’re going to talk about two kinds of Autocracy: Monarchy and DictatorshipAutocracy: Monarchy and Dictatorship

MonarchyMonarchyRule by kings, queens, Tsars, Rule by kings, queens, Tsars,

Emperors, Empresses, ext.Emperors, Empresses, ext.Monarchs usually gain their Monarchs usually gain their

power because their parents power because their parents were rulers toowere rulers too

Most Monarchs have absolute Most Monarchs have absolute power in their countrypower in their country

Examples: Modern Saudi Examples: Modern Saudi Arabia, most countries at one Arabia, most countries at one pointpoint

DictatorshipDictatorshipIn a dictatorship, power is not inherited, but is In a dictatorship, power is not inherited, but is

acquired by force (military or political)acquired by force (military or political)Dictators have absolute control over the lives of Dictators have absolute control over the lives of

their citizens and usually people are not allowed their citizens and usually people are not allowed to voice their negative opinionsto voice their negative opinions

Dictatorships usually only last as long as their Dictatorships usually only last as long as their leader does leader does

Examples: The Soviet Union’s Stalin, Germany’s Examples: The Soviet Union’s Stalin, Germany’s Hitler, North Korea’s Kim Jong Il, China’s Mao Hitler, North Korea’s Kim Jong Il, China’s Mao Zedong, Cuba’s Castro, Iraq’s Saddam Husain, Zedong, Cuba’s Castro, Iraq’s Saddam Husain, Modern Belarus and EgyptModern Belarus and Egypt

OligarchyOligarchy ““Rule by few” Rule by few” Power can be based on several things:Power can be based on several things:

Military strength = Military JuntaMilitary strength = Military JuntaFamily power = AristocracyFamily power = AristocracyReligious control = Theocratic OligarchyReligious control = Theocratic Oligarchy

Oligarchies can often come from or lead to other Oligarchies can often come from or lead to other forms of government (like autocracies)forms of government (like autocracies)Examples: The Soviet Union in which only Examples: The Soviet Union in which only members of the Communist party had any say, members of the Communist party had any say, dominated countries during imperialism, the Medici dominated countries during imperialism, the Medici family in Italyfamily in Italy

TheocracyTheocracy

““Theo” means “god” in GreekTheo” means “god” in GreekTheocracies are ruled in the name Theocracies are ruled in the name

of godsof godsLeaders are usually religious leaders Leaders are usually religious leaders Society uses religious law to settle its disputesSociety uses religious law to settle its disputes

Example: The Islamic Republic of Iran is a modern Example: The Islamic Republic of Iran is a modern theocracy that uses the holy Islamic book, The Qur’an, theocracy that uses the holy Islamic book, The Qur’an, as its guide, The Vatican, and many older civilizationsas its guide, The Vatican, and many older civilizations

AnarchyAnarchy

In an anarchy there is no government to make or In an anarchy there is no government to make or enforce laws. enforce laws.

A