Types of Government

Direct Democracy DEFINITION: Form of democracy where all adults take part in decisions. ADVANTAGES: All adults get to participate DISADVANTAGES: - Time Consuming - Decisions made by people who may not be experts EXAMPLE: New England states

Tribal Rule DEFINITION: Communities band together, make group decisions but chief has the final say ADVANTAGES: - Decisions are based on the culture’s customs - Group Decisions DISADVANTAGES: -Only the chiefs get to make final decisions EXAMPLE: tribes, Native Americans

Absolute Monarchy DEFINITION: Rule by a king or queen who inherits the throne and has total control ADVANTAGES: - passed down through family DISADVANTAGES: -passed down through family - no power for the people - outsiders can’t gain power EXAMPLE: Saudi Arabia

Dictatorship DEFINITION: Lead by one person (not a king or queen). Dictators seize power ADVANTAGES: none, unless you are the dictator DISADVANTAGES: Dictators use violence against their opponents, and deny their people the right to make their own decisions EXAMPLE: North Korea

Oligarchy DEFINITION: Government controlled by small groups of wealthy people; ordinary people have little say ADVANTAGES: Small groups make decisions DISADVANTAGES: Ordinary people have little to no say EXAMPLES: China, Burma

Constitutional Monarchy DEFINITION: Power of King and Queen are limited by law. Country also has a constitution. ADVANTAGES: Constitution and lows give king and queen less power DISADVANTAGES: King and queen still have power; not enough power for the people EXAMPLES: Canada, Kuwait, Spain, United Kingdom

Representative Democracy DEFINITION: Run by representatives that are chosen by the people; people indirectly hold the power ADVANTAGES: - power is shared - people hold power indirectly - citizens can work to change laws and elect reps. DISADVANTAGES: People hold power only indirectly EXAMPLE: United States