1. Forms of Governments

2. To study governments, geographers look at the following:
Types – Who rules and what is the role of the citizen.
Systems – How the power is distributed (shared) between central and regional authorities.

3. Types of Government are based on two key questions:
Who governs?
Is there just one person leading?
Is there a small group of people leading?
Are the people in charge?
Does religion play a role in who governs?
What is the citizen participation?
How does the leader get his/her job?
Is the role inherited?
Was it taken by force?
Did the people freely vote?

4. Autocracy Government in which unlimited power is held by one person.
Generally the power to rule is inherited or is taken by military force.
The citizen has little, if any, role in the government.
There are two types
of Autocracy.

5. (1) Dictatorship The leader uses force to take control of citizens
Examples: Kim Jong Un of North Korea and Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe

6. (2) Absolute Monarchy The king or queen has total control.
The power is usually inherited from family members.
Example: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ruled by King Abdullah

7. Oligarchy
A government in which a small group of people have total power.
The group gets their power from either military, wealth, or social status.
Elections may be held but offer only one candidate.
Political opposition is usually suppressed-
sometimes violently.
The citizen has a very limited role.
Examples: Communist party
of China, the Taliban in
Afghanistan, or the Theocracy
of Iran

8. (1) Theocracy Ruled by religious leaders according to religious law.
Chief of State is religious leader appointed for life.
Head of State is elected.
Example: Iran
President Ahmadinejad
Ayatollah Khomeini

9. Democracy
Government is -supreme power is vested in the people & exercised by them directly or indirectly “rule by the people”.
Two types of democracy:
Parliamentary Democracy – People vote for legislature and from among them they choice head of gov’t.
Presidential Democracy – People elect representatives and give them the power to vote on head of gov’t.
Examples: United States, Israel, Egypt, Turkey

10. In a democracy…. Individual freedom and equality is valued.
Free elections are held and citizens vote by secret ballot.
Decisions are based on majority rule.
All candidates can express their views freely.
Citizens are most likely to directly participate.

11. Parliamentary System Presidential System
Executive
Executive
Legislative
Select
Elect
Elect
Legislative
Elect
Citizens
Citizens

12. Democratic Governments
There are two major forms of democratic governments:
Parliamentary
Presidential

13. (1) Parliamentary Democracy
Voters elect members to the Parliament (legislature).
Parliament chooses the leader.
Leader is a part of the legislative branch
Example: Israel, Turkey

14. (2) Presidential Democracy
Voters elect legislators
Voters elect (indirectly) the leader
Leader is a part of the Executive branch
Examples – US, South Korea, Kenya