Governments

SS7CG4 The student will compare and contrast various forms of government.

a. Describe the ways government systems distribute power: unitary,

confederation, federal

Unitary: all the power is in one central government

Examples: Saudi Arabia’s monarchy, France, Italy, Japan

a. Describe the ways government systems distribute power: unitary,

confederation, federal

Confederation: a loose alliance of countries or political units; local governments hold all the power and the central government depends on the local governments

Examples: League of Arab States, Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), British Commonwealth of Nations

a. Describe the ways government systems distribute power: unitary,

confederation, federal

Federal: power is shared among different levels of government; power is shared between the central government and local governments

Examples: Israel, United States, Canada, Mexico

b. Explain how governments determine citizen participation:

autocratic, oligarchic, and democratic

Autocratic: the ruler has absolute power; one leader holds complete power; citizens have no participation in the government

Examples: Hitler (Germany), Saudi Arabia’s monarchy, Cuba

b. Explain how governments determine citizen participation:

autocratic, oligarchic, and democratic

Oligarchy: means “government of the few;” control rests with a small group of people with wealth or power; citizen participation is restricted to the ruling group

Examples: Syria’s ruling political party (Ba’ath Party) controls much of the government

Iran- ruled by a small group of religious and political leaders

b. Explain how governments determine citizen participation:

autocratic, oligarchic, and democratic

Democratic: the people hold supreme power, citizens choose the leader and/or representatives; all citizens can participate

Examples: United States, Israel

c. Describe the two predominant forms of

democratic governments: parliamentary and presidential

There are two main forms of democracy. The main difference between the two is the relationship between the legislative and executive branches

c. Describe the two predominant forms of

democratic governments: parliamentary and presidential

Parliamentary: the legislature controls the power. The legislature makes and carries out laws

The citizens elect representatives to the legislature. The majority party in the legislature then chooses the leader who is usually known as the Prime Minister

Examples: Israel, Great Britain

c. Describe the two predominant forms of

democratic governments: parliamentary and presidential

Presidential: the executive branch and legislative branches are separate and elected separately by the citizens

The legislature passes the laws and the president sees that the laws are enforced

c. Describe the two predominant forms of

democratic governments: parliamentary and presidential

One main difference between presidential and parliamentary is that the prime minister is a member of the legislature (parliament) while the president is a separate branch of the government

Economies of Southwest Asia

(the Middle East)

• SS7E5: The student will analyze different economic systems

Traditional Economy1. What to produce?

• Basic necessities of life such as food, shelter, and clothing

2. How to produce?

• Farming, building, and sewing for self and others within the tribe

• Use natural resources

3. For whom to produce?

• Self, family, and others within the tribe

Command Economy1.What to produce?

• Needs of the country according to the government

2.How to produce?

• Through government plans for production

•3. For whom to produce?

• The government

• Used for the country and trade

Market Economy1.What to produce?

• What the consumer wants

2.How to produce?

• Through industry, farming, mining, etc.

3.For whom to produce?

• The people of the country and to trade with other countries

• Supply and demand drives the country’s economy

Three types of Trade Barriers

• Tariff

• tax placed on imported goods

• Quota

• set number of goods that can be imported from another country

• Embargoes

• forbid trade with another country

• Sanction

• Action calculated to force a country to comply with legal responsibility.