1. Political Systems

2. Characteristics that define a country:
Territory
Population
Sovereignty
Government 2

3. Territory
A country’s territory includes the land, water, and natural resources within its boundaries.

4. Territory
Def: a geographic area that is owned and controlled by a particular government or country.
Territory includes:
Land, water, and natural resources.
A country’s resources may be more important than it’s size
The earth’s natural resources are not evenly distributed.
Several factors play an important role in how a country defines it’s boundaries:
Natural division (Rhine River)
Geographic factors (United Kingdom)
Political conflict (Poland & Austria) 4

5. Population
As citizens of a nation, people are usually assured of protection by their government. In return citizens usually pay taxes, serve in the military, or carry out other obligations to the government.

6. Population
Def: all of the people who inhabit an area, region, or country.
The size of a population does not determine the existence of a country.
Netherlands
Population deals with size AND with culture.
Based upon nationality, ethnicity, religion, or class. 6

7. Sovereignty
A nation’s freedom from outside control.

8. Sovereignty Def: a country’s ability to rule itself.
Freedom from outside control
Establishes its own policies
Geographic factors affects sovereignty.
Isolation:
UK, Switzerland
Vulnerability:
Poland & Belgium 8

9. Government
Def: institutions or individuals who have power to make & enforce laws for a country.
Purpose of government:
Protects society from outside threats
Provides services for citizens
Keeps order
Governments classified according to it’s structure & basis of authority.

10. Government Structure Unitary System Federal System (federation)
Confederation
Strong national government
Local governments at the mercy of national government
Examples: Great Britain, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Italy, Greece, Ukraine
Most governments in world are unitary!
Power is divided between national and local government
Examples: (USA), Germany, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland
Strong local government
National government is at mercy of local government (weak)
Example: Confederation of Independent States
(former USSR) - Switzerland
Usually unsuccessful! 10

11. Unitary System
Type of government where one central government runs the nation.

12. Federation
Some powers are given to the national government and other powers are reserved for more local governments.

13. Confederation
Smaller political units keep their sovereignty and give the central government only very limited powers.

14. Government Authority Democracy Monarchy Two forms: Direct Democracy
People make decisions themselves
Representative Democracy (Republic)
People elect representatives to do the work of government for them.
Government of the people
People participate in government
Monarchy
Two forms
Absolute Monarchy
King/Queen make all political decisions
Representative Monarchy (most common today!)
King/Queen shares power with legislative branch
Mix between democracy & monarchy
Divine Right (“royal family”) 14

15. Government Authority Authoritarian Two forms Dictatorship Totalitarian
Leaders hold all political power
Totalitarian
Extreme form of dictatorship
Government tries to control all aspects of citizen’s lives.
Use of military force or terror to gain & exercise power.
Citizens have NO say in their government.

16. Authoritarianism
Leader or leaders of this style of government hold all the power.

17. Dictatorship
The most common type of authoritarian government. Power is usually held by a single person or very few.

18. Totalitarianism
The most extreme form of dictatorship.

19. Monarchy
Leaders of monarchies are born into power because their family holds political control.

20. Democracy
Government where people choose their leaders and have power to set government policy.