1. Forms of Government

2. Types of Government
Every country in the world has their own type of government.
Each country’s government is unique and varies widely across the globe.
Each country’s government has been shaped by traditional beliefs of its people and by their history.

3. Types of Government
Governments fall into two main different categories:
Nondemocratic governments
Democratic governments
There are three main classifications political scientist use for the different types of governments:
Who participates in the governmental process?
How is power distributed within the state?
What is the relationship between the legislative and executive bodies?

4. Introduction to Forms of Government

5. Nondemocratic Governments
A non-democratic government is one where the people hold no/little power and generally do not participate in much of the political process.
A monarchy is a type of government where a king or a queen, called a monarch, reigns over a kingdom. Many times monarchies can be non- democratic.
(Morocco, Sweden)

6. Nondemocratic Governments
An autocracy is a type of government with complete and absolute power.
There are different kinds of autocracies:
An absolute monarchy is where a person assumes complete power by being born into the family of rulers
A dictatorship is usually where a military leader takes power by force. (can get power other ways)
Oligarchy is a type of dictatorship that is run by a small group of people

7. Nondemocratic Governments
A theocracy is a type of government controlled by one or more religious leaders who rule on behalf of God or the gods worshipped in their country.
Vatican City

8. Lack of Government……
Anarchy is the absence of any type of government.

9. Democratic Governments
In a democracy, the people of a nation either rule directly or elect officials who act their behalf.
United States, Greece, & Brazil

10. Democratic Governments
The word “democracy” comes from the ancient Greek, meaning “rule of the people”.
There are two forms of democracy.

11. Direct Democracy
Direct democracy exists when ALL of the voters in a community meet in one place to decide laws and government actions ALL of the time.
Why is this not practical in most places today?

12. Representative Democracy
Representative democracy exists when the people elect representatives to carry on the work of gov’t for them.
When the people give consent, or permission, to be ruled by elected officials this is a system of government called a republic. (Pledge of Allegiance)

13. Geographic Distribution of Power
In every system of government, the power is located in one or more places, geographically.
From this standpoint, there are three basic forms of government that exist:
Unitary
Federal
Confederal

14. Unitary Government “Top down” government
The powers held by the government resides in a single, central agency.
The central government creates smaller, local governments and give them only the power it wants them to have.
Great Britain is an example of a unitary government.
Parliament holds all the power
Local governments do things that support the Parliament
Do not confuse unitary and dictatorship – just because power resides in the central government doesn’t mean they have all the power.

15. Federal Government
Power is shared/divided between the central government and several local governments.
Both levels of governments sets their own laws and policies and have their own officials.
But a higher authority governs both levels.
In the US, the national government has certain powers and the 50 states have certain powers. The division of the powers comes from the Constitution.
Australia, Germany, Canada, Switzerland…

16. Confederation/Confederal Government
“Bottom up” government
Alliance of independent states – each with their own powers and abilities (own currency, military, treaty making abilities, etc.)
Confederations are rare and often not effective in maintaining as a “state”.
Formerly the united States of America; the European Union is the closest example.
25 member nations
Set a common currency (euro)
Coordinate defense efforts

17. Relationship between Legislative & Executive Bodies
Political scientists also classify government based on this relationship.
There are two different L/E relationships
Presidential
Parliamentary

18. Presidential Government
In a presidential government, the E and L branches are separate, independent and coequal.
The chief executive (president) is chosen independently of the legislature, holds office for a fixed term and has broad powers that are not subject to the control of the legislature.
The US Constitution separates the powers of the all three branches in the United States – therefore, we have a presidential government.

19. Parliamentary Government
In a parliamentary government, the chief executive (prime minister) is chosen from the body of the legislature.
The Prime Minister and the Cabinet carry out the executive duties but are all members of the legislature (the Parliament).
The Prime Minister is elected by the legislature, not by the people.
The Prime Minister only holds office as long as their political party remains in power in the Parliament.
Parliamentary governments avoid a common problem – deadlock because the legislative and executive bodies generally work together.
Great Britain, Canada, Japan…