1. Types of Government
Unit 10

2. Vocabulary Terms government power monarchy “divine right” theory
absolute monarchy
Louis XIV
constitutional monarchy
republic
Thomas Jefferson
democracy
direct democracy
representative government
dictatorship
Idi Amin Dada
Robert Mugabe
Joseph Stalin
totalitarianism
theocracy
supreme leader
oligarchy

3. What is the best form of government?
Essential Question
What is the best form of government?

4. What is Government?
Government – the organization that people set up to protect their community and to enforce its rules
Role of government is to protect the lives, liberties, and property of members of the community
Governments also provide services that individuals cannot provide on their own
Governments are given power – the authority to use force – to exercise authority

5. Types of Government
Monarchy – rulers inherit power; when a ruler dies, power automatically passes from one of the monarch’s children or close relatives
Oldest form of government
Monarchs (kings, emperors, sultans) surround themselves with followers and advisors who help them govern

6. Types of Government Absolute monarchy
Kings or queens claimed to have absolute power
This power was often claimed to be granted by “divine right”
Divine right theory – belief that a king is God’s deputy on Earth, and that royal commands express God’s wishes
Ordinary people had no rights or freedoms except those allowed by the monarch
Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the UAE, are the only absolute monarchies remaining in the world (most are transitioning)

7. Types of Government Constitutional monarchy
Shares power with an elected legislature
Monarch rules as the symbolic head of state, while the elected members of Parliament govern the country
Examples
Great Britain – hereditary monarch, elected House of Commons
Japan
Kuwait

8. Types of Government Republic
Power is held by the people and the representatives they elect
These elected representatives make decisions for the people based on their wants and needs
Government without a king or queen
Examples
Roman Republic (509 BC – 27 BC)
The United States of America (established in 1776)
South Sudan (established in 2011)

9. Types of Government
Democracy – government authority is based on the will of the people
People are guaranteed certain basic rights, and are granted the freedom to criticize the government freely
Direct democracy
People vote on issues directly
Developed in ancient Athens in the 5th century B.C., as citizens of ancient Athens assembled to directly make their decisions regarding the city- state

10. Types of Government Representative democracy
Developed by the ancient Romans
Different social groups elected their own representatives, who met in assemblies, while the nobles met in the Senate
Government power was divided between two branches, who voted on various issues

11. Types of Government Later democracies
Various countries developed their own national assemblies
England – land owners elected representatives to the House of Commons, one of two chambers of Parliament
United States of America – each colony had its own colonial legislature; following independence in 1776, representatives are elected to Congress, either in the House of Representatives or the Senate
Latin America – after achieving independence from European powers in the late 19th century, several countries became democracies
Europe – many countries became democracies following World War I
Asia – many countries became democracies following World War II
Africa – in 1957, Ghana became the first sub-Saharan African country to become a democracy

12. Types of Government Dictatorship
An individual leader or political party enjoys great power and total control over the citizens
Seizes control by force or is placed into a position of authority by others
Since 1945, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa have been common areas for military dictatorships, as the military sometimes seized power and established a dictatorship
Uganda – Idi Amin Dada became a brutal military dictator while serving as president from
Zimbabwe – although Robert Mugabe was elected to power, he quickly became a dictator who blocked his opponents from voting
Iraq – Saddam Hussein (ruled ) was known for torturing those who spoke out against him and for invading neighboring countries to increase his own wealth and power
Chile – Augusto Pinochet (ruled ) seized power from the democratically elected president, who died under mysterious circumstances, and was known for killing and torturing his enemies

13. Types of Government
Dictators are free to do as they please, while other citizens have few rights and very little influence over the government
Decisions can be made quickly under the rule of a dictator
Ancient Romans used to appoint dictators when they were at war and needed strong leadership
When the war was over, the dictator was supposed to give up his power
Modern-day dictators tend to hold on to power until they are overthrown
Sometimes dictators hold elections to obtain legitimacy for their government
While an election victory might justify the rule of the dictator, it is often times not the will of the people, as there are no opposition parties and people are afraid to criticize the ruler

14. Types of Government Totalitarianism
System of government in which the government controls all aspects of individual life (total control)
People can only belong to organizations controlled by the government – this means no separate political parties, labor unions or other organizations are allowed
The government controls or prohibits all churches and religious groups

15. Types of Government Modern dictators Adolf Hitler – Germany
German politician and leader of the Nazi Party, whose foreign policy caused the onset of World War II
Responsible for the genocide of 6 million Jews and millions of others whom he deemed to be “inferior”

16. Types of Government Joseph Stalin – Soviet Union
Communist dictator who replaced Lenin in 1924 as the leader of the Soviet Union
Turned the Soviet Union into a totalitarian state
Anyone who opposed him was sent to icy gulags (prisons) in Siberia

17. Types of Government Mao Zedong – China Ruled from 1949-1976
Highly controversial figure – supporters credit him with modernizing China and increasing its world influence, while critics believe him to be a dictator who oversaw human rights abuses through starvation and forced labor

18. Types of Government Theocracy Government run by religious leaders
The government claims to be directed by God, or divinely blessed
No separation of church and state, and citizens of other faiths are often excluded or expelled
Early theocracies
Pharaohs of ancient Egypt
Emperor of the Byzantine Empire
Pope over territories in Italy
Puritan ministers in colonial Massachusetts

19. Types of Government Iran’s Theocracy
Muslim leaders seized power in Iran in 1979
The Iranian constitution emphasizes the importance of religion and Islamic law (Sharia)
Iran is considered to be a “theocratic republic”, as voters elect the President and representatives to the legislature
HOWEVER…these officials answer to the Supreme Leader, who is the religious leader of the country, and is the head of the government (even above the president)
The Supreme Leader (Ayatollah) interprets religious law, can dismiss the President, and can declare war
Currently is Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

20. Types of Government
Oligarchy – means “to rule or to command”; power rests with a small group of people who could be distinguished by royalty, wealth, family ties, education, corporate, or military control
Russian Federation (1991-present) – many Russian producers in the areas of natural gas, petroleum, and precious metals are seen as oligarchs (possessing great wealth and political influence)
South Africa ( ) – system of apartheid (racial segregation) enforced by the government, which kept the rights of the black majority curtailed and allowed the white minority greater rights and freedoms
United States Supreme Court – All of the current 9 justices are alumni of Harvard or Yale law schools