1. AM GOV Chp. 1.2
Forms of Government

2. Classifying Government
1. Who can participate in the governing process
2. The geographic distribution of governmental power within the state
3. the relationship between the legislative (law making) and the executive (law executing) branches of government

3. Democracy: supreme political authority is with the people
Direct democracy- peoples will becomes public policy
Indirect democracy- a representative democracy
Dictatorship: those who rule can’t be held responsible to the will of the people
Autocracy- a single person holds unlimited political power
Oligarchy- power to rule held by small self appointed elite
Who can participate?
Some argue the USA is really a republic and not a democracy, because a voted official is in charge
Famous Dictatorships would include: Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of China
Typical Dictatorial regimes are military based

4. Distribution of Power 3 basic forms of government Unitary Federal
Centralized government (has most of power), creates local units of Gov. for convenience, most world Gov. are Unitary, England is great example- it’s Unitary and Democratic at same time
Federal
Gov. powers are divided between central/local Gov., 1 superior power creates “division of powers” based on geography, US Gov. is Federal, the Constitution is the superior authority and can’t be changed without a vote
Confederate
An alliance of independent states, limited powers (defense and foreign affairs) that only govern the member states, EU is an example as well as the confederate states of America

5. Legislative and Executive Branches
Presidential
Parlimentary
Separation of powers between executive and legislative branch
Branches are coequal
Checks and balances
USA is the best example
Prime minister/Premier and their cabinet
They are also members of parliament
Prime minister is selected by parliament
Prime minister selects his cabinet
Stays in power until parliament defeats prime minister on a matter, then PM must resign, as well as the cabinet
Most Gov. are parliamentary today

6. Basic Concepts of Democracy
Chapter 1, Section 3
Basic Concepts of Democracy

7. 2. Equality of all persons 3. Majority rule, minority rights
1. Worth of Individual
Protection of ALL individuals, not AN individual
2. Equality of all persons
People are entitled to 1. equality of opportunity, 2. equality before the law
3. Majority rule, minority rights
A search for satisfactory solutions to public problems
4. Necessity of Compromise
Blending and adjusting competing views and interests
5. Individual freedom
“The rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened” ~ J. F. Kennedy
Foundations
1. Recognition of the fundamental worth and dignity of every person
2. Respect for the equality of all persons
3. Faith in majority rule and an insistence upon minority rights
4. Acceptance of the necessity of compromise
5. Insistence upon the widest possible degree of individual freedom

8. Duties and Responsibilities of Citizenship
Serving on a jury
Serving as a witness when called
Attending school
Paying taxes
Registering for the draft (men only)
Obeying local, State and national laws
Respecting the rights of others
Voting
Volunteering
Participation in civic life
Understanding how our Gov. works

9. Democracy and free enterprise
Free Enterprise based on 4 Factors:
Private Ownership
Individual initiative
Profit
Competition
How it works: Free Enterprise = capitalism. Individuals not the Gov. run the business
Government’s participation in the economy is to:
Protect the public
Preserve private enterprise
Democracy and free enterprise