Sections 2 & 3

Classifying Government There are three basic government classifications: 1. Who can participate in the governing process? 2. What are the geographic distributions of governmental power within the state? 3. What is the relationship between the legislative and the executive branches of the government?

Who can participate in the governing process? 1. Democracy: People hold the sovereign power & government is conducted only by and with the consent of the people. Direct: the will of the people is translated into public policy directly through the people in mass meetings Indirect: a.k.a. representative – small groups of people ask as representatives to express the will of the people In a democracy, the people are sovereign. They are the only source for the government’s power.

Who can participate in the governing process? Dictatorship Those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will of the people. Autocracy: a single person holds unlimited political power Oligarchy: the power to rule is held by a small, usually self-appointed elite Most modern dictatorships are totalitarian, they control all aspects of human concern. Typically dictatorships are also militaristic. They take their power by force.

What are the geographical distributions of power? Governmental power is located in one or more places within the government. Unitary: all powers are held by a single, central agency A.K.A. Centralized government Local units are created for the convenience of the central government with only those powers that the central government chooses the give it. It is not a dictatorship…officials can still be elected and power can be shared between the central agency and the local units

What are the geographical distributions of power? Federal: powers of the government are divided between the central government and several local governments Division of power cannot be changed by the federal or local levels alone Both levels of government act directly on the people through their own set of laws, officials, and agencies In Constitution describes the division of power for the United States

What are the geographical distributions of power? Confederate: alliance of independent states The central government only has the power to act on matters that the member states have assigned to it, resulting in limited power, especially in defense and foreign affairs. Most often, they do not have the power to make laws that apply to individual citizens. Rare in modern history.

What is the relationship between the legislative and executive branch? Presidential Government: separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches Two branches are independent The chief executive is elected separate from the legislative branch and has a number of powers that are not subject to the direct control of the legislature

What is the relationship between the legislative and executive branch? Parliamentary: the executive and his cabinet are members of the legislature The Prime Minister is the leader of the majority in parliament and is chosen by the body. The cabinet in chosen from the members of the parliament. Since the executive branch is chosen from the legislative branch, it is part of it and subject to its direct control. The prime minister remains in power as long as his policies maintain the support of parliament.