1. Forms of Government

2. How do we classify government? We classify government using three different methods: Who can Participate Geographic Distribution Relationship between Branches A single government can be classified

3. Who Can Participate? Separated into Democracy and Dictatorship Democracy (ex. U.S.) People hold the power through voting Direct Democracy: people vote on everything Does not exist any more Indirect Democracy: elect people to act on our behalf Dictatorship (ex. Nazi Germany) One person or group holds all the power Oldest and most common form of government in the world

4. Geographic Distribution Three categories: Unitary Gov., Federal Gov., and Confederation Unitary Government (ex. Great Britain) All powers in a single central agency Federal Government (ex. U.S.) Powers divided between central and local governments Confederation (ex. E.U.) Alliance of independent states Very weak

5. Relationship btw Branches Two categories: Presidential and Parliamentary Presidential Government (ex. U.S.) Separation btw executive and legislative branches Branches independent and coequal Parliamentary Government (ex. Britain and Israel) Prime minister is elected leader of the legislature P.M. is elected by the legislature