1. Government Systems

2. Distribution of Power
Unitary
Confederation
Federal

3. Distribution of Power Unitary
One in which the central government holds nearly all of the power
Local governments as state or county systems may have some power-but are mainly under the control of the central government

4. Unitary (cont’d.) Some unitary governments have elected officials
Sometimes these officials may make and enforce laws without considering the opinions of lower levels of government
Monarchy - area ruled by a king/emperor
The ruler and his advisors make most of the decisions
Example: The People’s Republic of China (Communist government)

5. Unitary (cont’d.) Example: Japan
Constitutional Monarchy- a monarchy in which powers of the ruler are restricted to those granted under the constitution or laws of the nation
In Japan, the Emperor of Japan is the head of state and a symbol of the country with no political power
The power in the Japanese government is in the hands of the Japanese Diet
- Japanese Diet is a two-house legislature that is elected by the Japanese people.

6. Distribution of Power 2. Confederation
One in which the local governments hold all of the power and the central government depends on the local governments for its existence
Example: United Nations
-the United Nations can only offer advice and assistance when the member nations agree to cooperate.

7. Confederation (cont’d)
Examples: Association of Southeast Asian Nations of ASEAN
ASEAN is a regional group organized to help the member countries cooperate on economic matters, encourage cultural exchanges, and to help keep peace and stability in the region.

8. Distribution of Power 3. Federal
A political system in which power is shared among different levels of government
The states have some powers that the federal government does not have-
ex. Collecting property tax & determining sales tax
The national government also has some powers that the state does not- declaring war and making treaties with foreign countries.

9. Federal (cont’d.) Example: India
The Indian National Congress (INC) is a two-house legislature made up of representatives elected from all across the country
Members are elected by all citizens 18 years of age or older
Once the INC members are elected, the majority political party then chooses someone to serve as the prime minister

10. Citizen Participation
*Rights given to individual citizens
Autocratic
Oligarchy
Democratic

11. Citizen Participation
Autocratic
One in which the ruler has absolute power to do whatever he wishes and make and enforce whatever laws he chooses.
Citizens do not have any rights to choose leaders or vote on which laws are made and put into practice

12. Autocratic (cont’d.)
Some governments may allow people certain rights such as local affairs
People usually have little or no power to use against the government if they disagree with the decisions made
Example: North Korea (Communist)
Kim Jong-il is both the premier and the head of the National Defense Commission
He is known as an autocratic dictator

13. Citizen Participation
2. Oligarchy
“government by the few”
A political party or other small group takes over a government and makes all of the major decisions
Very similar to an autocratic government
Example: People’s Republic of China
Leaders of the Chinese Communist Party control most of what goes on in the country

14. Citizen Participation
3. Democratic
The people play a much greater role in deciding who the rulers are and what decisions are made
Decisions are often made by majority votes, but there are laws to protect individual rights
- Examples: India, Japan, and South Korea

15. Forms of Democratic Governments
Parliamentary
Presidential

16. Form of Democratic Governments
Parliamentary- the people vote for those who represent the political party they feel best represents their views of how the government should operate
The legislature they elect, the parliament, makes and carries out the laws for the country
The leader of the parliament is chosen by the party that wins the majority of representatives in the legislature
The leader is called a premier or prime minister- Head of Government
Prime Minister leads the executive branch and must answer directly to the legislature
Head of state serves as a ceremonial leader

17. Parliamentary Government (cont’d.)
The parliament is led by the prime minister (represents the leading political party in the country.)
Rules with the help of a group of advisors, or the cabinet
A prime minister holds their position for whatever term of office the country’s constitution allows
A prime minister may be voted out of office before the term runs out if the party he leads begins to lose power.

18. Parliamentary Government (cont’d.)
Examples: India (the largest parliamentary democracy in the world)
The people elect representatives to the Indian National Congress, and the majority party in the Congress chooses who will be the prime minister
Japan- the two house parliament called the Diet (who hold the real power, even if there is an emperor)
* the Japanese emperor is ceremonial figure who has no real power.

19. Forms of Democratic Government
Presidential Democracy- the president or chief executive is chosen separately from the legislature
Legislature passes the laws and it is the president’s duty to enforce the laws
The president holds power separately from the legislature, but he does not have power to dismiss the legislature or force them to make particular laws
President is the official head of government and the head of state
The legislature does not have the power to dismiss the president, except in extreme cases when the president has broken a law.