1. Systems of Government

2. Question for Thought:
Let’s pretend that your family has decided to go out to dinner tonight. How would your family go about making the decision of where to go out to dinner? Please write at least three complete sentences.
Possible answers:
Mom Decides
(or Dad… but we all know who is really in charge)
Parents Decide together
Family Vote
Other options?

3. Three types of government
Autocracy – power is held by a single ruler
Rule of One
Oligarchy – power is held by a small, elite group of people in society
Rule of Few
Democracy – power is held by the people
Rule of Many
Direct Democracy – all people vote on everything
Indirect Democracy (REPUBLIC)– people elect representatives who make decisions
Which of these sounds most like our government?

4. Assignment Read pgs. 21-27 in We the People books
Answer: What are the three characteristics of republican government?
Draw and complete the following chart in notes:
ADVANTAGES
of republican government
DISADVANTAGES
Of republican government

5. Three Characteristics of a republican govt.
Citizens have the power to govern
Citizens delegate their power to elected leaders who represent the people’s interests
Both citizens and their representatives work together toward the common good

6. Republican form of government
ADVANTAGES
of republican government
DISADVANTAGES
Of republican government
Representatives serve the common good
How?
Self-Interest (re-election)
More efficient
Specialized law-makers
All people still have a voice in government
Voting!
Representatives are responsible to be the voice of the people
What prevents them from serving special interests only?
Works best in smaller settings where communication is easy
Do you know your U.S. senators?
Do you know your state representative?
Diversity in population can be problematic
What if you are the voice of a district that has half republicans and half democrats?
Half rich and half poor?
Can create factions
Special interests can have a big influence

7. Assignment: Get into groups of 2-4 (no more than 4)
Read pgs in WE THE PEOPLE
Reflect on the story as you discuss and create answers to the questions that follow the reading.
Have designated people within your group ready to answer each question.

8. Forms of autocracy Absolute Monarchy Dictatorship/Totalitarianism
Monarch has absolute power
Does not include “Constitutional
Monarchs” like the Queen of
England
Dictatorship/Totalitarianism
One leader who not only controls behavior, but attempts to control thinking
Fascism
Communism
Theocracy
Religious leader in charge
People must follow laws of the religion
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia
Adolf Hitler
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini

9. Two Forms of Totalitarianism
Fascism
Communism
- extreme nationalism
- warlike policies
- persecution of minorities
- all property is owned by the government
- the government controls all publications, radio, and television, and restricts journalism
Adolf Hitler
- Nazi Germany
Kim Jong-il,
North Korea
Benito Mussolini
founded Italian
Fascism (Italy )
Examples: North Korea, Cuba, the former Soviet Union

10. Autocracy - “Rule by a Single Person”
Democracy - “Rule by the Many”
Oligarchy - Power is held by a small, elite group of people in society.
- Often controlled by a few powerful families who raise their children to inherit the government
Characteristics:
family ties to an aristocracy
ruthlessness
wealth
political influence
military strength
Examples: Ancient Sparta; South Africa under apartheid when the white minority ruled the black majority ( )
There really aren’t any true oligarchies in the world today.

11. Types of Democracies/Republics
Direct Democracy
- All the citizens vote directly on the laws
Representative Democracy/Republic
- Representatives vote on the laws
Liberal Democracy
- Representative Democracy that includes the protection of minorities, separation of powers, and protection of liberties
Full Presidential Republic
Three Forms of
Republics
Semi-Presidential Republic
Parliamentary Republic

12. Rule of One – Monarch or King King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia rare
inherit
one
Rule of One – Monarch or King
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia
rare
related
Absolute
Constitutional
dictator
inherit
Rule of One - Dictator
force
elected
Adolf Hitler
takes
weak
Rule of the few – Small Group
South Africa under apartheid
elite
inherit
wealth
political influence
military strength
aristocracy
ruthlessness
The people
Direct
All
U.S. and many other nations in various forms
Rule of the many – People
all
Representative
representatives
representatives
Liberal

13. Presidential Republic
Two Forms of Democratic Government
Presidential Republic
Parliamentary Republic
- The President is both the Chief Executive and the Head of State
- Head of State and Chief Executive are two separate offices. Head of State is either a President or a Monarch. Chief Executive is often called a Prime Minister.
- Powers of the President are usually balanced (or shared) with those of the legislature
- Head of State is usually a ceremonial role, while the Prime Minister runs the government.
- The President is elected independently by the people, not by the legislature
- Prime Minister is not elected, but is usually chosen by the party with the most seats in the legislature, or is sometimes appointed by the President.
U.S. President Barack Obama
British Queen Elizabeth II & Prime Minister David Cameron

14. Semi-Presidential Republic
Some countries combine Presidential and Parliamentary Systems
France
The President is usually elected by the people and serves as head of state, but is more than a purely ceremonial figurehead. The President also has some power to run the government.
The Prime Minister is usually appointed by the President, and sometimes elected by the people, and serves as the head of government.
In France, the President controls foreign policy and the Prime Minister controls domestic policy.
President François Hollande
Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault (appointed by the President)
Examples: France, Russia

15. Weak Central Government
Three Systems of Government
Unitary
Confederation
Strong
Central
Government
Weak Central Government
Weak State Governments
Strong State Governments
Federal
Strong Central
Government
Powers
of the
Central
Gov’t.
Powers
of the
States
Shared
Powers
Strong State Governments

16. Unitary System of Government
Definition: A strong central government controls
weaker state and local governments.
Strong Central
Government
Weak State Governments
Central Government can take power away from the state and local governments at any time.
Central Government acts directly on the people.
Examples: United Kingdom, France, Sweden

17. Weak Central Government
Confederation System of Government
Definition: Independent, strong state governments with a weak central government.
Weak Central Government
Strong
State
Gov-
ern-
ments
States have independent control over their own area
Central government only controls things of common concern
States can withdraw from the Confederation at any time
Central government acts on the states, not directly on people
Example: Second Athenian Empire, Old Swiss Confederacy

18. Before the Founding Fathers created the Constitution, most nations had either a Unitary or Confederate system of government.
Governments held authority over the people. The people did not control the government. In some countries, the King was in charge. In Confederation governments, the local or state government was in charge. The people had little say.
In a Federal System of government, the people decide who gets the power. In the Constitution, the Framers decided to split the power between the central government and the state governments.

19. Federal System of Government
Definition: Power is shared between the central
government and state governments.
Strong Central
Government
Powers of the
Central
Government
Powers of the
State
Governments
Shared
Powers
Tax the people
Create post offices
Declare war
Create public schools
Strong State Governments
The Central Government is usually stronger than the state governments, but there are some powers the states have that the Central Government does not have.
Examples: United States, India, Canada, Germany, Mexico

20. weak Central Govt. STRONG Central Govt. STRONG Central Govt.
STRONG State Govts.
weak State Govts.
STRONG State Govts.
STRONG CENTRAL
STRONG
WEAKER
WEAKER
CENTRAL POWERS
SHARED POWERS
STATE POWERS
SHARED
PEOPLE
UNITED KINGDOM
STATES
UNITED STATES
FRANCE