Political Systems Forms of Government
Government – - the system that establishes and enforces the laws and institutions of a society.
What is the purpose of government?
4 REASONS FOR GOVERNMENT Security Law and Order Public Services & Cooperation Provides Institutions & Ideas good for society
government – Some governments are ruled by a few people and others are ruled by many.
Two Basic Categories of Governments Totalitarian Democratic (Oligarchy) -One person or few people make the decisions -People do not vote (at least not often, and not all the people) -People have few rights -Less freedom -Leader is elected -Decisions made by many people -Citizens vote -People have more rights -People have more freedom
totalitarian – Fidel Castro is the totalitarian leader of Cuba because he has total control of the government.
Two Basic Categories of Governments Totalitarian (Oligarchy) Democratic Constitutional Monarchy Parliamentary Democracy Representative Democracy Socialism Absolute Monarchy Communism Dictatorship Socialism
Pure democracy… government run completely by the people. Not practical. Everyone votes on every issue.
The ancient Greeks first came up with the idea of democracy.
Representative Democracy – The people vote for others to represent them in the government. Those representatives make the decisions. The people rule themselves through elected representatives.
Representative Democracy In a Representative Democracy equality, freedoms, and rights of the people are recognized and protected.
Two different types of Representative Democracy: Presidential – Legislative Democracy Parliamentary Democracy
Presidential-Legislative Democracy – Power is shared between an elected president and an elected Legislature (law-making body). USA, Cyprus, Philippines, Taiwan, most of S America, Mexico
Parliamentary Democracy – An elected group of people who vote for the Head of the government. (Prime Minister) Canada, UK, Sweden, Japan, Israel, Germany, Greece, Italy
Monarchy – - a system of totalitarian government headed by a king or queen who inherits the throne by birth.
Monarchy – Monarchs in various governments throughout history have had different titles: King Emperor Sultan Queen Czar
Monarchy – Some monarchs have absolute, or total, power while others have only ceremonial titles.
Examples: Saudi Arabia Bahrain Qatar Oman
Constitutional Monarchy – A government with a King or Queen but power is limited by a constitution. The monarch may only be a ceremonial figure.
TOGETHER
Examples: United Kingdom, Canada, Australia Japan Morocco
Socialism – - a type of government which owns the most basic industries such as transportation, communications, and banking. Non-basic industries are privately owned.
Socialism – Socialist countries can be either democratic or totalitarian, depending on how the system is set up.
Socialism – Sweden is a socialist country which is very democratic. Myanmar is a socialist country which is very totalitarian.
Socialism – Socialists want the nation’s wealth to be distributed equally among the people.
Socialism – As a result of this cooperation, socialist countries provide many services to their citizens, but have very high taxes to pay for them.
Communism – - a totalitarian system of government in which the central government owns all property and controls all aspects of citizens’ lives.
Communism – In communist countries, citizens have little or no freedom or rights. The government prohibits public or organized criticism. Usually NO VOTING.
Communism – China is a communist country with only one party which controls the central government, although the system has been reforming slowly.
Examples include: Cuba China North Korea Vietnam The former Soviet Union
Dictatorship – Dictatorship – A totalitarian ruler with absolute (total) power.
Dictatorship – No hereditary (birth right) or consent of the people.
Dictatorship – Not restricted by a Constitution or laws.
Dictatorship – Can be the leader of many different types of governments.
Dictatorship – Cuba (Castro), Germany (Hitler), USSR (Stalin), North Korea (Kim).