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Governments

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Forms of Governments

To study governments, geographers look at the following:

Types – Who rules and how much can a citizen can participate.

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. (often unlimited)Citizens have little if any role in the governmentGenerally the power to rule is inherited or by military force.There are two

types of Autocracy.

#1 DictatorshipThe leader has not been elected and uses force to control all aspects of social and economic life.The leader is not restricted by laws or the constitutionCitizens have few rightsExamples: Adolf Hitler in Germany, Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union and some African nations after independence

#2 AbsoluteMonarchy

A monarchy has a king, queen, or emperor.

The power is usually inherited or passed down from family members.

The monarch has absolute power, meaning they can make all decisions .

Some countries limit the monarch’s power by having a constitutional monarchy. (U.K.)

Oligarchy

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

only one candidate.The citizens have a very limited role.Examples: Greek city states and South Africa before the end of Apartheid.

DemocracyIn a democracy, the government is “ruled by the people.” Supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representationThere are two forms of democracy: Direct Democracy – People vote on all the issues.

(Ancient Athens) Representative Democracy – People elect

representatives and give them the power to vote on issues. (Republic)

Example: United States, South Korea, Israel, South Africa

In a democracy….

Individual freedom and equality is valued.Free elections are held and all can vote.Decisions are based on majority rule.All candidates and people can express their views freely.Citizens vote by secret ballot.The name Republic of does not necessary mean a democracy.

Democratic Governments

There are two major forms of democratic governments:ParliamentaryPresidential

Parliamentary DemocracyVoters elect members to the Parliament (legislature)Most of the time the head of state and the chief of state are two different people.Many times the head of state is a ceremonial role and the chief of state has the powerChief of state is usually called the Prime Minister and is chosen by the legislature (parliament) not directly by the people.Chief executive and the legislature are usually the same branch of the government

Presidential DemocracyVoters elect legislators with the legislators and president elected in separate elections.

Voters elect the president who is the head of state and the chief of state. Therefore, in the presidential system voters have a

more direct say about those who serve in two branches of the government :

Legislative Executive These are separate branches with power divided

between them.

Parliamentary System

Presidential System

ExecutiveExecutive LegislativeLegislative

CitizensCitizensCitizensCitizens

LegislativeLegislative

ExecutiveExecutive

Elect

Elect

Elect

Elect

Select

Select

ElectElect

Systems of Government are based on one question: How is the power distributed?

There are three ways governments distribute power:UnitaryConfederationFederal

Unitary

One central government (authority) controls everything.

Power is not shared between the central government and states or provinces.

Works well with smaller nations.

Examples : United Kingdom, Sudan, Japan, Israel, the Netherlands, and Spain

Unitary does not necessarily equal autocratic.

Confederation

A voluntary association of independent states that agrees to follow a central government.

States can choose to follow or not follow the lead of the weak central government.

States may leave at any time.

Examples: Confederate States of America

( 1861-1865), European Union, OPEC,

OAU.

Federal

Power is shared between a powerful central government and states or provinces.States or provinces are given considerable self rule, usually through their own legislatures. (example: state governments)Examples: United States, Germany, Kenya

South Africa

Unitary

central has all the power

Countries who have this government are U.K., Saudi Arabia, and Oman

Government decides everything voting, drinking, seatbelts, all taxation laws for the country.

Power is unbalanced toward the central government

Federal

Central government decides: voting age, drinking age, national security, federal taxes

Local government decides: education, cell phone laws, alcohol sales, seatbelt laws, sales tax

Countries with this type of government are: U.S. , Germany, U.A. E.

Power is balanced

Confederation

Local government decides everything- voting, drinking age, driving age, taxation, etc.

The U.S. pre-civil war

Central government has little power.

There is no consistency across the country.

Power is with unbalanced toward local government

AutocraticNo rights for citizens

The oldest form of government

AKA: Dictatorship, Tolitarian, or Absolute Monarchy

Leadership maintained through inheritance or ruthless use of military and police power

Oman has this type of government

Stalin, Hitler, Mussolini, King of Saudi Arabia

Ayatollah

Gadhfi

Castro

Oligarchic

AKA: Communism

Examples of countries with this government are China and North Korea

Citizens have a limited role

Wealthy and Military often hold more power

Leaders are often corrupt with selfish motives

Leaders of the “party” and armed forces control the government

Theocracy

Taliban

Hammas- Israel

Theocracy

Democratic

For the people, of the people

Fair elections

Power is exercised directly and indirectly through a system of representation

Two main forms

Presidential Obama

Parliamentary Queen Elizabeth

Putting it all together….To classify a type of government we need to look back at the three questions we have answered… Who rules and how? How much can a

citizen participate in their government?

How is the power distributed?

For example: The United Kingdom

is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy and a unitary system.

The United States is a presidential democracy with a federal system.

What do you remember?

What are the three types of governments?

What are the three systems of government?

Now it is your turn…

Now you classify the governments of Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Kenya and 3 other African nations of your choosing. Use cia.gov and culture grams on the Cobb Virtual Library to help you find out information.

Kenya

KENYA

Kenya's president (currently Mwai Kibaki) serves as both chief of state and head of government and is elected by popular vote to a five-year term. The prime minister (currently Raila Odinga) is the head of the largest party in the National Assembly and handles government business. However, this position was eliminated by the 2010 constitution and is expected to be phased out when the new constitution comes into effect. Legislative power is held by the 224-seat National Assembly (Bunge). Its members serve five-year terms. Voters directly elect 210 members, the president appoints 12, and two positions are reserved for the National Assembly's speaker and the attorney general. The 2010 constitution called for a second legislative body, the Senate, to be created. Kenya has eight provinces, each with a local government. The voting age is 18.

Type- Republic

Who rules? Mwai Kibaki is both President is Chief and Head of State Prime Minister’s role is to be phased out. Legislative Branch is called the Bunge

How? Presidential Democracy

How much can citizens participate in their government?

Voting-

Age 18 to vote and elect both the president and legislature by popular vote

Freedom of Speech/Press-

The Kenya Broadcasting Corporation is indirectly controlled by the government.

How is power distributed?Federal- Eight province each with a local government.

Standard of Living

Access to education for citizens:

Citizens have access to school, but public schools are underfundedSchools are authoritarian

Access to Healthcare for citizens:

Access to basic healthcare, but they are under equipped. Growing number of AIDS and Malaria

Distribution of Resources

Kenya’s government is stable with a democratic system. This would have a POSITIVE impact on distribution of resources.

Sudan

Sudan's president (currently Omar Hassan al-Bashir) is chief of state and head of government. The executive branch also includes a first and second vice president. The bicameral legislature consists of a directly elected National Assembly and an indirectly elected Council of States. Members of both bodies serve six-year terms. The National Congress Party (NCP) is the official governing party of Sudan. The voting age is 18. Islamic law forms the basis of Sudan’s legal system

Type- Autocratic- Dictatorship

Who rules? President is chief and head of governmentLegislation is called the National assembly

How? Authoritarian/Theocracy


Voting-

18 years, but no popular vote elections


Primitive communication except in cities. No government restrictions evident

How is power distributed?

Unitary

Standard of Living

Access to education for citizens:

Schools are often under equipped. Boys are more likely to attend school than girls. It is widely believed that a girls place is in the home

Access to Healthcare for citizens:

Health care is very limited except in major cities.


International relief agencies provide some basic services in war-torn areas and to internal refugees.

The authoritarian government will have a negative impact on distribution of resources

South Africa

South Africa's president (currently Jacob Zuma) is chief of state and head of government. The president is chosen by an elected parliament on the basis of the majority party's recommendation. Parliament has two houses: a 90-member Council of Provinces and a 400-seat National Assembly. All members of Parliament are elected to five-year terms. Members of the National Assembly are elected directly by popular vote, while Council members are chosen by the nine provincial parliaments. The president serves a maximum of two five-year terms. Citizens are eligible to vote at age 18.

Type- Republic

Who rules? President is head of state and chief of state

How? Parliamentary Democracy


How much can citizens participate in their government? (Type)

Voting-

18 years of age vote for National Assembly


No limitations on freedom of speech

How is power distributed?

unitary

Standard of LivingAccess to education for citizens:

High school education is more common for whites and Indians. Some schools are under equipped

Access to Healthcare for citizens:Public hospitals and clinics are open to all citizens. Free care is given to all pregnant women and to children younger than age six. Disease and malnutrition are more common among blacks.

About half of South Africa's population lacks basic sanitation; almost

one-third lacks access to adequate supplies of potable water.


Unequal distribution of resources due to the long-lasting affects of the Apartheid. Not related to current government stability.

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