1.2 Classifying Governments in the World Today

1 Geographic Distribution of Power 1. Unitary Government Def: a centralized govt in which all powers belong to a single, central agency Ex: Great Britain, France, Cuba, Egypt

2.***Federal Government Def: powers of govt are divided between a central govt & several local/regional govts Ex: United States, Canada, Mexico, Germany, India

3. Confederate Government Def: an alliance of independent states with a central govt of very limited power Ex: European Union, U.S. under the Articles of Confederation, Confederate States of America

2. Relationship Between Legislative and Executive Branches 1.***Presidential Government Def: the executive & legislative branches are separate, independent, & coequal Chief executive: President (chosen by the people & is NOT subject to the legislature’s powers) Ex: United States, France, Brazil, Mexico

2. Parliamentary Government Def: members of the executive branch are chosen by the legislative branch, are a part of it & are subject to its direct control Chief Executive: Prime minister/ Premier (can be removed at any time by the legislature) Ex: Great Britain, Canada, Japan, India

3. Number Who Can Participate 1. Dictatorship Def: the leader holds absolute power & cannot be held responsible to the will of the people Autocracy: one person Oligarchy: small elite group Totalitarian: control nearly all aspects of human affairs Ex: Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, Stalin’s U.S.S.R., Cuba, China, North Korea

2. ***Democracy Def: supreme authority rests with the people; they hold the sovereign power Direct Democracy: will of the people is translated into law by the people themselves, in mass meetings **Representative/Indirect Democracy: small group of persons, chosen by the people, expresses the popular will Ex: United States, Great Britain, France, India