1. Government

2. Citizen Participation
Autocratic/
Autocracy
Oligarchic/
Oligarchy
Democratic/
Democracy
Definition
Characteristics:

3. Autocratic/
Autocracy
Oligarchic/
Oligarchy
Democratic/
Democracy
Examples
Picture

4. Citizen Participation
Different governments decide a citizens’ role in government differently
The government can share none, little, or most of its power with its citizens

5. 3 main ways governments determine citizen participation . . .
autocratic
oligarchic
democratic

6. rule by one OLIGARCHIC rule by all
AUTOCRATIC
rule by one
OLIGARCHIC
rule by the few
DEMOCRATIC
rule by all

7. Citizen’s Role in Government
Autocratic
(one)
Oligarchic
(few)
Democratic
(all)
MOST citizen participation
LEAST citizen participation

8. How Governments Determine Citizen Participation
High Participation
High Participation
Select Citizens’ Participation
General Citizens’ Participation
Government Power
Citizen Participation
Government Power
Government Power
Citizen Participation
Low or No Participation
Low or No Participation
Low or No Participation
Autocratic
Oligarchic
Democracy

9. Autocratic
One person (ex. King, Emperor, Czar) possesses unlimited power
The citizen has limited, if any, role in government

10. Autocratic cont.
Ruler gets power through inheritance or ruthless use of military & police power
The oldest form of government
One of the most common forms of government
Remy, Richard C., United States Government- Democracy in Action (Columbus, OH: Glencoe, McGraw-Hill, 2006) 10

11. Examples of Autocratic Gov’ts
Totalitarianism & Dictatorships
Ideas of a single leader glorified
Gov’t tries to control all parts of social & economic life
People lack the power to limit their rulers
Examples- Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Sudan
Remy, Richard C., United States Government- Democracy in Action (Columbus, OH: Glencoe, McGraw-Hill, 2006) 11

12. Examples of Autocratic Gov’ts
Absolute Monarchy
King, queen, or emperor has unlimited power
Position is usually inherited (from parents or other relatives)
People lack the power to limit their rulers
Absolute monarchs are rare today but from the 1400s to the 1700s they ruled most of Western Europe
Example - King of Saudi Arabia
Remy, Richard C., United States Government- Democracy in Action (Columbus, OH: Glencoe, McGraw-Hill, 2006) 12

13. Oligarchy
Government by the few (a few powerful individuals make decisions)
A small group exercises control, especially for corrupt and selfish purposes
The citizen has a very limited role

14. Political disagreement is usually suppressed (sometimes violently)
Oligarchy
The ruling group gets its power from military power, wealth, religion or a combination.
Political disagreement is usually suppressed (sometimes violently)
Remy, Richard C., United States Government- Democracy in Action (Columbus, OH: Glencoe, McGraw-Hill, 2006) 14

15. Examples of Oligarchy Theocracy (Iran)
a government run by religious authority
A Deity (god) is recognized as the highest ruler
The Deity's laws are interpreted by religious experts (priests, mullahs, etc.)
CIA World Factbook Notes and Definitions 15

16. Examples of Oligarchy Communism (China)
Gov’t plans & controls the economy
a single party holds power
state controls are forced
NO private ownership of property
All goods are to be equally shared by the people (ex. classless society)
CIA World Factbook Notes and Definitions 16

17. WARNING! Autocracy & Oligarchy
Sometimes claim they rule for the people.
In reality, the people have very little say in both types of government.
Example - may hold elections with only one candidate or control the results of elections
Example - even when these governments have a legislature (branch that makes laws), they often only approve decisions made by the leaders.
Remy, Richard C., United States Government- Democracy in Action (Columbus, OH: Glencoe, McGraw-Hill, 2006) 17

18. Democracy
Citizens vote on government representatives & on specific issues
People have the most power

19. Presidential Democracy Parliamentary Democracy
Definition:
Characteristics:
Examples
PICTURE:

20. 2 main forms of democratic governments . . .
Parliamentary: parliament (legislature) elects prime minister
Presidential: citizens elect president

21. Presidential Democracy
Different branches of government (executive, legislative, judicial) are equal in power
Executive branch independent from the legislature (ex. president elected by citizens not legislature)
Remy, Richard C., United States Government- Democracy in Action (Columbus, OH: Glencoe, McGraw-Hill, 2006) 21

22. Examples of Presidential Democracy
Republic
(U.S., Kenya, South Africa, India)
the people elect representatives to govern and make laws

23. Parliamentary Democracy
Legislature makes most decisions
Executive (Prime Minister) elected by the legislature instead of by the citizens
Example - Israel
Remy, Richard C., United States Government- Democracy in Action (Columbus, OH: Glencoe, McGraw-Hill, 2006) 23

24. Examples of Parliamentary Democracy
Constitutional Monarchy
(Japan)
Monarch (king or queen) must follow the laws of the constitution
monarch is usually a figure-head, the real power rests with the legislature (Parliament/Congress)
CIA World Factbook Notes and Definitions 24