Chapter 1 – Section 2 Forms of Government

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT all governments can be classified according to one or more basic features three of those classifications are especially important and useful 1) who can participate in the governing process 2)the geographic distribution of governmental power within the state 3)the relationship between the legislative and executive branches of the government

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT DEMOCRACY Supreme political authority rests with the people Democracy is either direct or indirect Direct – (also called pure) – exists where the will of the people is translated into public policy directly by the people themselves – only works in small communities

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT DEMOCRACY Indirect – (representative democracy) – a small group of representatives express the popular will Reps are held accountable to the people People can voice their approval or disapproval through elections Government with the consent of the governed

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT DEMOCRACY In a democracy the people are sovereign They are the only source of any and all the government’s power The people rule

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT DICTATORSHIP Exists when those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will of the people The government is not accountable The most oldest and common form of government known to history

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT DICTATORSHIP Autocracy – government in which a single person holds unlimited political power Oligarchy – the power to rule is held by a small, usually self-appointed elite

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT DICTATORSHIP All dictatorships are authoritarian Modern dictatorships are usually totalitarian – they exercise complete power over nearly every aspect of human affairs Examples in the modern era?????

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT DICTATORSHIP ITALY 1922-1943

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT DICTATORSHIP GERMANY 1933-1945

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT DICTATORSHIP SOVIET UNION 1917-1991

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT DICTATORSHIP Most present day dictatorships are not nearly so absolutely controlled by a single person or by a small group Outward apperances may hide the fact that several groups (army, religious leaders, industrialists e.g.) compete for power

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT DICTATORSHIP People vote in dictatorships, but the elections are closely controlled, usually only containing candidates from one political party

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT DICTATORSHIP Dictators usually gain power through force with the military holding many major posts in the government These regimes sometimes turn to foreign aggression to enhance the country’s military power and prestige

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT UNITARY GOVERNMENT Often described as a centralized government All powers held by the government belong to a single, central agency Most governments in the world are unitary Best Example- Great Britain (Parliament) Unitary is not same as dictatorship—the powers of Parliament are limited

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT The powers of the government are divided between a central government and several local governments Division of powers USA – the national government has certain powers and the 50 state governments have others Defined in the Constitution – stands above both levels of government

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT CONFEDERATE GOVERNMENT Confederation – an alliance of independent states Confederate government only handles matters assigned to it by the states Limited powers in areas of defense, foreign commerce Lack the power to make laws without consent of the states

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT CONFEDERATE GOVERNMENT Very rare in today’s world Closest modern example – European Union Our example???? Articles of Confederation (colossal failure) Articles – meant to unite the 13 states, instead created a loose alliance of thirteen individual states

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT PRESIDENTIAL GOVERNMENT Executive & legislative are separate and independent of one another Chief executive is chosen independently of the legislature and serves a fixed term USA – Constitution provides for the separation of powers between the branches (checks & balances)

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT PARLIAMENTARY GOVERNMENT Executive is made up of the prime minister or premier and that official’s cabinet PM or premier is part of the legislative branch PM selects members of the cabinet but only with approval of the legislature Therefore, executive is chosen by the legislature, is part of it, and is subject to its control

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT PM and cabinet remain in office as long as their policies have the confidence of a majority in Parliament If Parliament defeats the PM on an important matter, government may receive vote of “no confidence” and must resign Parliamentary government avoids conflict between executive/legislative branch, but does not use a checks & balances system