Types of Governments 7 th Grade Social Studies

Cornell Notes Name Date Class Period Title or Topic Key Terms Questions Cue Words NOTES Summary:

Terms to Know Ways Governments Distribute Power  Unitary  Confederation  Federal Ways Citizens Participate  Autocratic  Oligarchic  Democratic Two Prominent Forms of Democracy  Parliamentary Democracy  Presidential Democracy Other Types  Anarchy  Communist  Capitalist  Dictatorship  Monarchy  Revolutionary  Theocracy  Totalitarian

Remember Almost every country in the world is ruled by a governmental system that combines 2 or more of government types. For example, the USA is not a true capitalist society, since the government actually provides some services for its citizens. One person's opinion of the type of government may differ from another's.

Ways Governments Distribute Power Power is held by one central authority. Sections of the country have their own governmental organizations and have rights and make decisions that cannot be overridden by the main government. Assign limited powers to the central government. Power is divided between one central and several regional authorities. Unitary Confederation Federal

Ways Citizens Participate in Government One person possesses unlimited power and the citizen has little if any role in the government. Government by the few, sometimes a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes. The citizen has very limited role. Government is elected by the people. Everyone who is eligible to vote has a chance to decide who runs the country either directly or through elected representatives. The people have supreme power. Oligarchic Autocratic Democratic

Two Forms of Democratic Governments Led by representatives of the people. Each is chosen as a member of a political party and remains in power as long as his/her party does. The real executive power is vested in a cabinet composed of members of the legislature. May have a Prime Minister elected by the legislature. Example: Israel. A system of government in which the president is constitutionally independent of the legislature. Parliamentary Democracy Presidential Democracy

Other Types of Governments

Anarchy No government exists. Can happen after a civil war in a country, or when a government has been destroyed and groups are fighting to take its place. If government is overthrown by force, the new ruling group is sometimes called a revolutionary government. Other Types of Governments Revolutionary

Capitalist People can own their own businesses and property, and buy services for private use, such as healthcare. Government owns property such as businesses and provides services such as healthcare and education. Other Types of Governments Communist

Dictatorship Ruled by a single leader who has not been elected and may use force to keep control. Only has one political party. People are forced to do what the government tells them. Rulers claim to be ruling on behalf of a set of religious ideas, or as direct agents of a deity. Other Types of Governments Theocracy Totalitarian

Monarchy Has a king, queen, emperor or empress. Position can be passed on to the heirs. Some traditional monarchies have absolute power. The monarch has limited powers and the constitutionally organized government has most of the power. The monarch acts as head of the state or in a ceremonial position. Other Types of Government Constitutional Monarchy

Other Types of Government Led by representatives of the voters. Each is individually chosen for a set period of time. The head is an elected president and not a king or queen. Republic

Federal Republic A union of states with a republican form of government. A federation is the central government. The states in a federation also maintain political sovereignty. Other Types of Governments