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 DEMOCRATIC rule by all
AUTOCRATC
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 (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Stalin (Russia), Bashir (Sudan), Hussein (Iraq)
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 Jordan
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 force, 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
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
Gov’t plans & controls the economy
a single political 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. Examples of Democratic Gov’t
Republic
the people elect representatives, not the people themselves, to govern and make laws

20. Examples of Democratic Gov’t
Constitutional Monarchy
monarch must follow the laws of the constitution
monarch is usually a figure-head, the real power rests with the legislature (Parliament/Congress) who is elected by the citizens
CIA World Factbook Notes and Definitions 20

21. 2 main forms of democratic governments . . .
Presidential
Parliamentary

22. Types of Democratic Gov’ts
Presidential Democracy
Parliamentary Democracy
Definition
Characteristics
Examples
Picture

23. Branches of Government
Enforces the laws of the Constitution & legislature
EXAMPLES
President or Prime Minister
Police, FBI, Military, Dept. of Ed, Treasury, Dept. of Justice (prisons), Dept. of Agriculture
Decides who is or isn’t following the laws of the Constitution & legislature
Makes the laws
(legislature)
EXAMPLES
courts & juries
Supreme Court
EXAMPLES
Congress
(Senate & House of Representatives)
Parliament

24. Presidential Democracy (definition)
Executive branch is independent from the legislature
Head of the executive branch (president) elected by citizens, not the legislature

25. Presidential Democracy Citizens vote for EVERY branch of gov’t

26. Presidential Democracy (characteristics)
Different branches of government (executive, legislative, judicial) are equal in power
EXAMPLE U.S.A., Mexico, Brazil
Remy, Richard C., United States Government- Democracy in Action (Columbus, OH: Glencoe, McGraw-Hill, 2006) 26

27. Parliamentary Democracy (definition)
executive branch is dependent on legislative branch
Head of executive branch (Prime Minister) elected by the legislature, not the citizens

28. Parliamentary Democracy Citizens DO NOT vote for Executive Branch
Prime Minister
Parliament

29. Parliamentary Democracy (characteristics)
NO clear separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches
Legislature makes most decisions
Remy, Richard C., United States Government- Democracy in Action (Columbus, OH: Glencoe, McGraw-Hill, 2006) 29

30. Examples of Parliamentary Democracy
U.K., Canada, Germany, Australia

31. What do you know?
What is the main difference between a Presidential Democracy and a Parliamentary Democracy?
Presidential = executive branch (ex. President) is chosen by the citizens, not the legislature
Parliamentary = executive branch (ex. Prime Minister) is chosen by the legislature (parliament)
Which form of democracy do you think allows for more citizen participation? Why?
Presidential b/c citizens get to vote for all 3 branches of gov’t

32. AUTOCRATIC OLIGARCHIC DEMOCRATIC Rule by one Rule by the few
Rule by all/many
One person (ex. King, Emperor, Czar) possesses unlimited power
The citizen has limited, if any, role in government
Ruler gets power through inheritance or ruthless use of military & police power
Examples
Totalitarianism & Dictatorships- Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Sudan
Absolute Monarchy – King, queen, or emperor has unlimited power
Position is usually inherited (from parents or other relatives)
A small group exercises control, especially for corrupt and selfish purposes
The citizen has a very limited role
The ruling group gets its power from military power, wealth, religion or a combination.
Political disagreement is usually suppressed (sometimes violently)
Theocracy - a government run by religious authority
Communism - NO private ownership of property
Citizens vote on government representatives & on specific issues
People have the most power
Republic – the people elect representatives, not the people themselves, to govern and make laws
Constitutional Monarchy –monarch must follow the laws of the constitution
monarch is usually a figure-head, the real power rests with the legislature (Parliament/ Congress) who is elected by the citizens