Systems of Government

Anarchy No Government Can occur after a civil war when a government is destroyed and rival groups fight for power Believe government is a bad thing…stops people from organizing their own lives Example: Somalia

Dictatorship A country ruled by one person (or a small group of people) Often violence and force are used to maintain rule Example: Cuba, Soviet Union, Nazi Germany

Totalitarian Rule by one party People are forced to do as that party tells them to do Leaders control government, economy, and personal belief system i.e. Which person in their party to vote for i.e. When they can leave the country Example: China

Oligarchy Rule by few, who use their authority to protect their own interests Example: Pakistan

Monarchy A country ruled by 1 hereditary monarch (i.e. King, Queen, Prince, Emperor) Power is inherited Absolute monarchs have unlimited power Example: Saudi Arabia, Jordan

Constitutional Monarchy A country with a monarch whose power is checked by representative body Monarch acts as Head of State and Prime Minister (or other elected government official) acts as Head of Government Example: United Kingdom, Spain, Sweden, Japan, Holland

Theocracy A country ruled by religious leaders Such as Iran, Vatican City

Democracy Government of the People Majority rule, everyone has an equal say Direct Democracy All citizens have a vote and a voice in every decision Example: Ancient Greece

Republic Representative Democracy Citizens vote on representatives who meet and vote on issues Political Parties play a big part Legislature can have multiple parties Two main parties in USA (a unique case) With multiple parties, a party does not need to get a majority (and usually doesn’t) to rule Parties form coalition (group of parties or legislators) in order to have a majority and enact legislation Example: USA

Republics - Continued Parliamentary Republic The leader of the legislature becomes the chief executive and head of government, usually a Prime Minister Such as UK, Canada Presidential Republic The chief executive is elected separately from the legislature Such as USA, Russia, France, Germany The power of presidents varies from country to country oGermany has a weak president with most power held by the Premier (leader of legislature) oUSA and France have powerful President

Federalism Central(national) government shares power with a number of smaller (state) governments Example: USA

Unitary Power is concentrated in the central government Regional governments carry out decisions made by the central government Example: United Kingdom, Japan

Confederal Independent states join together in a confederation and delegate limited powers to a central government. Powers of central government are given by the states Example: European Union, US under Articles of Confederation

Fascism centralization of authority under a dictator stringent socioeconomic controls suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship typically a policy of belligerent nationalism (state gives corporations contracts to make goods) and racism. Example: Hitler’s Rise in Nazi Germany, Mussolini in Italy

Communism Government owns all businesses and farms Government is supposed to provide its people's healthcare, education and welfare One party system Similar to: Cuba, North Korea

Socialism Socialist governments own many of the larger industries Government provides education, health, and welfare services Does allow citizens some economic choices Such as Norway

Capitalism Free-market Demand meets Supply Government control is inexistent/minimal People own their own business and property People also must buy services for private use, such as healthcare, education, welfare. Such as Russia, US