1. Extent of Government Power
Authoritarian
Democratic
Extent of Government Power
Government has unlimited power.
Citizens decide how much power government will have.
Control of Power
Power is held by an individual or small group.
Power is held by people who are chosen in free elections.

2. Civil Liberties and Rights
Authoritarian
Democratic
Civil Liberties and Rights
Rights are not guaranteed.
Liberties and rights are respected by the government.
Elections
Elections do not offer a choice.
Elections offer a choice of candidates.

3. Authoritarian Democratic
Rule of Law
Government does not always follow rule of law.
Government follows the rule of law.
Maintaining Order
Force is often used to keep power.
Force is only used to protect citizens.

4. Monarchy Rule by one person who holds all the power in government.
Power is passed down from one family member to another.

5. Oligarchy
Rule by a small group of people, a single political party, or military group.

6. Rule by one person who holds all the power in government.
Dictatorship
Rule by one person who holds all the power in government.

7. Headlines
“King Imprisons All People Who Oppose His Policies”

8. Headlines
“State Senate Election is too Close to Call”

9. Headlines
“Government Leadership Taken Over by Three Militant Aristocrats”

10. Headlines
“North Korea’s Kim Jong II Receives 100% of the People’s Vote”

11. Lord Acton Quotation
“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” What do you think this quotation means?