1. How do we classify a government?
Classifying Governments
Governments can be classified by three different standards:
(1) Who can participate in the governing process
(2) The geographic distribution of the governmental power within the state
(3) The relationship between the legislative (lawmaking) and the executive (law-executing) branches of the government
Classification by Who Can Participate
Democracy
•In a democracy, supreme political authority rests with the people
•A direct democracy exists where the will of the people is translated into law directly by the people themselves
Dictatorship
•A dictatorship exists where those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will of the people
•An autocracy is a government in which a single person holds unlimited political power
•An oligarchy is a government in which the power to rule is held by a small, usually self-appointed elite
Classification by Distribution of Power
•Unitary Government
•A unitary government has all powers held by a single, central agency.

2. How is power distributed in a
SS7CG1 The student will compare and contrast various forms of government.  a. Describe the ways government systems distribute power: unitary, confederation, and federal.   b. Explain how governments determine citizen participation: autocratic, oligarchic, and democratic.  
How is power distributed in a
unitary: All power is held by one central authority.
confederation: Power is shared between members since they all are wanting to make the same thing happen. All decisions are unanimous and there is no direct power.
federal: Power is split between a Central government and a regional government. The Central government usually has more control.
What voting rights do citizens have in these governments?
autocratic: No voting rights for citizens
Form of a dictatorship or monarchy.
oligarchic: No voting rights for citizens except those that were part of a special group
For example: Although only 20% of South Africans were white in the 1900s, they were able to govern
and control the rest of the population that was mostly non-white.
democratic: All citizens can vote for their leaders
Citizens can vote for a leader and also impeach a leader. Citizens can also vote for their lawmakers.

3. Presidential Democracy:
SS7CG1 The student will compare and contrast various forms of government. c. Describe the two predominant forms of democratic governments: parliamentary and presidential.
Presidential Democracy:
People vote for the President and Legislature
President cannot dismiss the Legislature
President can only serve a limited term
President cannot propose bills, but can veto a bill that lawmakers create
President is Head of State & Head of Government
Appoints a Cabinet of officials to manage day-to-day needs
Legislature is separate

4. Parliamentary Democracy
SS7CG1 The student will compare and contrast various forms of government. c. Describe the two predominant forms of democratic governments: parliamentary and presidential.
Parliamentary Democracy
No separation of power between the Executive Branch and Legislative Branch
A Prime Minister is the Head of the Government
Prime Minister is elected by the Legislature
To be elected, your legislature usually is of the same political party as you
Prime Minister and Legislature is usually in the same political party
Is sometimes easier to pass laws