1. Political and Economic Systems

2. Democracy Leader: President or Prime Minister
Authority to Rule: Elections
Who Benefits: People in the majority
Who Suffers: People in the minority
Freedoms: Many individual rights, example: Bill of Rights
Examples: USA, Germany, South Korea, Iceland, France (120 total)

3. Monarchy Leader: King, Queen, Prince, Sultan, Shah
Authority to Rule: Hereditary
Benefits: Those closest to royal family, usually the wealthy
Suffers: Lower classes
Freedoms: much more limited than in Democracy
Examples: Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, England, Sweden, Jordan ( 44 total)

4. Fascist Leader: Dictator, Chief of State
Authority: Most take by force, but some are appointed/elected
Benefits: Those in political party of Dictator
Suffers: Most of the population
Freedoms: Little to none
Examples: Between WWI and WWII-Italy, Germany, Spain, Romania, Portugal

5. Theocracy Leader: Pope, Patriarch, Bishops, Sheikh
Authority to Rule: Appointed or Elected by religious community/group
Benefits: Those worshipping the specific religion of country
Suffers: Those who do not worship specific country religion
Freedoms: Attached to religious law, some can be strict
Examples: Iran, Vatican, Israel

6. Capitalism Founder: Adam Smith termed it laissez-faire
Means of Production: All individual control, control by private citizens/businesses
Benefits: Entrepreneurs
Suffers: Small businesses
Gov’t involvement: None
Examples: No true capitalist, but USA, United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Japan are close

7. Mercantilism History: 1500-1750, mostly European countries
Means of Production: Gov’t controlled amount of Bullion (gold) but merchants controlled trade
Benefits: Domestic companies
Suffers: Foreign companies and weaker nations
Gov’t involvement: Some
Examples: Most of Europe, United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, France

8. Socialism History/Founder: Freidrich Engels and Karl Marx
Means of Production: Some held by the Government and some individuals
Leader: Prime minister or President
Authority to rule: Usually elected
Benefits: Helps all people
Suffers: All tax paying citizens, Businesses seeking large profits
Examples: Sweden, Norway

9. Communism Founder: Karl Marx and Engels
Means of Production: All held by the state or government
Leader: Usually a dictator
Authority: Seizes power by force
Benefits: Those in communist party
Suffers: Mostly everyone
Examples: Former USSR, Cuba, Laos, North Korea, China, Vietnam

10. Feudalism History: Medieval times and Japan
Means of Production: Held by King or Lords
Leader: King
Authority: Hereditary
Benefits: Upper class
Suffers: Lower class
Examples: Most of Europe during Middle Ages