1. AP US Government & Politics

2. Government

3. Government Notes
Governments

4. I. GOVERNMENT: the institution through which the state maintains social order, provides public services, provides for the economic system, and provides for national security while enforcing decisions that are binding on all people within the state.
A. ANARCHY: the absence (or lack) of government

5. B. AUTOCRACY: the power and authority to rule are in the hands of a single person 1. TOTALITARIAN DICTATORSHIP: the ideas of a single leader are glorified and the govt wants to control every aspect of life. 2. MONARCHY: king, queen, or emperor exercises the powers of the govt. (usually inherited) a. CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY: monarch shares governmental powers with elected legislature

6. b. ABSOLUTE MONARCHY: monarch has complete and unlimited power to rule their people C. OLIGARCHY: any system of government in which a small group of people hold power 1. PARLIAMENTARY GOVERNMENT: a form of government in which the executive and legislative functions both reside in an elected assembly

7. D. DEMOCRACY: a form of government in which the people rule. 1
D. DEMOCRACY: a form of government in which the people rule. 1. DIRECT DEMOCRACY: the people govern themselves by voting on issues individually as citizens 2. REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY: (a.k.a. indirect) the people elect representatives and give them the power to make laws and conduct government E. REPUBLIC: a form of government in which power comes from the people who elect representatives to conduct government

8. II. ECONOMY: the system related to the producing and the buying and selling of goods and services
CAPITALISM: (a.k.a. free enterprise) economic system in which there is private ownership, free enterprise, competition among businesses, freedom of choice, and the possibility of profits.
B. SOCIALISM: economic system in which the government owns the basic means of production, determines the use of resources, distributes the products and wages, and provides social services such as education health care and welfare

9. C. COMMUNISM: (a.k.a. Marxism) theoretical economic system in which all land and capital is held in common so that all people are equal and there would be no need for government. D. 3 MAJOR ECONOMIC DECISIONS 1. What to produce? 2. How to produce? 3. For whom to produce?