Types of Government Econ/Gov Unit 3

Opener 11/9/17 Authoritarian - power is held by an individual or group not accountable to the people. Constitutional monarchies - power of the hereditary ruler is limited by the country’s constitution and laws.

Types of Governments No two governments are alike. They are shaped by their country’s unique history, culture, politics, and economy. Governments may be grouped into two broad categories: democratic and authoritarian.

Authoritarian In authoritarian regimes, power is held by an individual or group not accountable to the people. An oligarchy is an example of this. It is a form of government in which power rests with a small number of people. Some city-states from ancient Greece were oligarchies.

Authoritarian A monarchy is a government with a hereditary ruler. Absolute monarchs have unlimited authority to do as they wish. Today, many countries have monarchs but almost none are “absolute.”

Authoritarian Dictators also exercise complete control but usually take power by force. Most rely on the police and military to stay in power. They often tamper with elections or refuse to hold them. They also limit basic freedoms. .

Authoritarian Most dictators impose totalitarian rule, in which the government controls almost all aspects of people’s lives.

Authoritarian Totalitarian leaders typically have a master plan for the economy and society. They ban political opposition, suppress individual freedom, and dictate what people should believe. To enforce their rules, they control the media and use scare tactics and violence

Authoritarian Adolf Hitler in Germany and Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union were totalitarian leaders. Today, China, Cuba, and North Korea are usually considered totalitarian states.

Democratic Governments Almost all monarchies today are constitutional monarchies, in which the power of the hereditary ruler is limited by the country’s constitution and laws. These governments generally follow democratic practices. The people participate in governing and elect officials to make laws. The monarch serves as the ceremonial head of state and national symbol of unity.

Democratic A republic is a democracy with a representative government in which no leaders inherit office. It is also called a representative democracy or a constitutional republic. The United States was the first republic, but now there are many more.

Democratic Democracy has been spreading. Nearly two-thirds of the world’s countries now have democratic governments. All are representative democracies, though they vary in how they elect leaders and organize government.

Democratic Few democracies use a presidential system. Most follow Great Britain’s model and use a parliamentary system. The legislature is usually called a parliament and the head of government a prime minister, though the terminology can vary.

Democratic In a parliamentary system, top officials perform both executive and legislative functions. Prime ministers and their cabinet ministers are members of parliament, so they help make the laws as well as carry them out. In a presidential system, the executive and legislative branches operate independently.

Democratic In a presidential system, voters elect the president directly. In a parliamentary system, members of parliament elect or approve the prime minister. In a presidential system, the president acts as both the head of government (political leader) and head of state (ceremonial leader).

Democratic In parliamentary systems, someone other than the prime minister (a king, queen, or “president”) serves as head of state. Because a parliamentary system does not separate the legislative and executive branches, it has fewer checks and balances. However, the unity among branches helps the government get things done.

Democratic The prime minister is typically from the majority party in the legislature. As a result, the government has fewer party conflicts over laws and policies like those that cause gridlock in the U.S. Congress. Governments evolve as times change and people with new agendas come to power.

Review http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4r0VUybeXY

11/10/17 Complete the handout “Comparing Forms of Government.” You may use your notes, or page 588 in the book. Place in the bin when you complete it