1. What makes a good government? Throughout global history, people have established different systems of government. They have been based on different views of how people should be ruled. These views have ranged from absolute control by a single individual to shared control by a group of elected representatives. Before we begin our unit on Governments and Empires, take a moment to reflect upon what you think is necessary to create a good government. Write a list of 10 important words or phrases that describes your vision of a “good government”

2. Political Systems Definitions * Theocracy – a political system in which the government is based on the ideas of a particular belief system and run by religious leaders. * Monarchy – a political system in which the government is controlled by a single ruler.

3. Political Systems Definitions Direct Democracy - a political system in which the citizens participate in the day- to-day affairs of the government rather than elected representatives (ex. law making and voting on laws). * Autocracy – a political system in which the government is controlled by a single ruler who exercises absolute and sometimes arbitrary power.

4. Political Systems Definitions Oligarchy - A political system in which the government is under the control of a small group of people. * Bureaucracy – a system of government that includes different departments, job functions, and levels of authority within the administration of the government **** Bureaucracy usually exists within other types of political systems: – e.x. monocratic bureaucracy in Persia

5. Persia, Greece, China, India