1. Forms of Government
By Mr. Baker

2. Who Can Participate?
Democracy - Supreme political authority rests with the people
Constitutional Monarchy – The king or queen is limited by a constitution

3. Who Can Participate?
Direct democracy - The people vote and decide on public policies directly
Problem - It can only work in small communities where it is possible to meet in a central place

4. Who Can Participate?
Indirect or representative democracy -representatives are elected to serve the public
Problem – It’s very slow

5. Who Can Participate?
Dictatorship/Authoritarian System - Those in power hold absolute authority over the people
Absolute Monarchy – A king or queen holds absolute authority over the people

6. Who Can Participate? Dictatorships Militaristic
Often hold illegal elections
Come to office by force

7. Who Can Participate?
Autocracy - Government in which a single person holds unlimited power

8. Who Can Participate?
Oligarchy - Government in which a small elite group holds unlimited power

9. Classifying Governments
Types of governments are classified according to 3 questions
Who Can Participate? Democracy or Dictatorship
Who Can Participate?
Democracy
Dictatorship
Indirect
Direct
Oligarchy
Autocracy
Constitutional Monarchy
Absolute Monarchy Authoritarian

10. Distribution of Power
Unitary Government - All powers held by the gov’t belong to a single, central agency. The central gov’t creates local units of gov’t for their convenience.

11. Distribution of Power Federal Government -
Power is divided between a central gov’t and several local gov’ts
Both levels of government act directly and have their own sets of laws, officials, and agencies
An authority superior to both the central and local gov’ts divides their powers which cannot be changed by either the local or central gov’t alone.

12. Distribution of Power
Confederate Government - An alliance of independent states. A central organization, the confederate gov’t, only handles those matters that a member states assigns to it.

13. Classifying Governments
Types of governments are classified according to 3 questions
What is the distribution of power?
Unitary
National Gov’t
Federal
Nat’l and State Gov’t
Confederate = Confederation = Confederal
Confederate
State Gov’ts

14. Relationship Between Legislative and Executive Branches
Presidential Government - Branches are separate but equal
Public elects members of both branches
Both branches can block each other’s actions

15. Relationship Between Legislative and Executive Branches
Parliamentary Government - Legislative branch is elected by the public. The legislature then elects a prime minister, who chooses his cabinet
Executive is part of the legislature and is subject to its direct control

16. Relationship Between Legislative and Executive Branches
If parliament defeats the prime minister on an important matter, the government may receive a “vote of no confidence” if a majority of people in the parliament feel this way
The prime minister and his cabinet must resign and Parliament must choose a new prime minister

17. Classifying Governments
Types of governments are classified according to 3 questions
What is the relationship between the executive and legislative branch?
Presidential
Parliamentary

18. THE END