Systems of Governments

Government/Civics Understandings SS7CG4 The student will compare and contrast various forms of government. a. Describe the ways government systems distribute power: unitary, confederation, and federal.

Governments distribute power in different ways depending on type of government instituted. Note: Countries do not design their government systems to fit into categories. Therefore, a government may have aspects of more than one system.

What Do You Know? Name the city, county, state, and country you live in. Beside the name of each place, what is the leader of each kind of government is called? City – Mayor Gwinnett – County Commissioner Georgia – Governor United States – President Why are there different levels in our government?

Why Do We Have Governments? They are organized ways for creating laws/rules designed to protect the well-being of the general public and to help manage conflict. They determine the power structure (who has the power) within a country. In some countries, only one person or party maintains centralized control of the government, while in other countries power is shared between individuals and factions.

Why Do We Have Governments? All countries require governments to function. Governments provide laws, structure, public services, and national defense. There are different types of governments: democracies republics monarchies dictatorships

To study governments, geographers look at the following: Types – Who rules and who participates. Systems – How the power is distributed.

Systems of Government are based on one question: How is the power distributed? There are three ways governments distribute power: Unitary Confederation Federal

Unitary One central government controls everything. Power is not shared between central and local governments.

Unitary Diagram:

Unitary Governments of the World (All countries in blue)

Confederation Two Options: Examples: none in this region A. A voluntary or weak association of independent states that agrees to follow a powerful central government. B. Nations can choose to follow or not follow the lead of the weak central government. Examples: none in this region

Confederation In a confederation the central government is less powerful than local governments

Confederation Diagram:

Federal Power is shared by a powerful central government and local governments States or provinces are given considerable self rule, usually through their own legislatures. Examples: United States of America, Iraq

Federal System Diagram:

Federal Governments of the World (All countries in green)

Power sharing Where are the decisions made? Unitary— the strong central government tells the states what to do Federal—the central government and the state government share power Confederate—the central government is very weak and the state governments have the power to make their own decisions

Forms of Government

The type of government that we have affects Governments are very important to us. They affect everything in our lives. The type of government that we have affects where we live where we work what we eat where we go to school what we wear

Autocracy Government by a single person having unlimited power; despotism (domination through threat of punishment and violence) . Ex: Saudi Arabia Oman

Lykurgos from ancient Sparta Oligarchy Most of the political power in the government is controlled by a small group (usually the wealthiest or most ruthless). Lykurgos from ancient Sparta Example: Syria

Government by the People Democracy Government by the People Example:Iraq, Turkey

People have a say in their government by voting. Democracy People have a say in their government by voting.

Presidential v. Parliamentary

3 Branches of Government Legislative – create laws Executive – enforces laws Judicial – interprets laws

Parliamentary Democracy Examples The voters elect the members of Parliament who than choose the Prime Minister who is head of the Executive Branch. Jordan Voters Legislative Branch Israel Parliament Executive Branch Prime Minister

Parliamentary The party in power in Parliament picks the Prime Minister (Premier) Prime Minister (executive) has to answer to the parliament for his actions and decisions Prime Minister is a member of Parliament

Presidential Democracy Examples The voters elect the members of the Executive Branch separately from the legislative branch. United States France Voters Legislature Chief Executive Argentina Israel Congress (House and Senate) President

Presidential The President is constitutionally separate from Congress and cannot be dismissed by Congress. (exception: impeachment)