1. Forms of Governments

2. Civics and Government Understanding
SS7CG4 Compare and contrast various forms of government
INTRODUCTION TO TERMS
Government is necessary to keep order in society and to keep people safe.

3. To study governments, geographers look at the following:
Systems – How the power is distributed.
There are three systems.
Types – Who rules and who participates.
The types fall into one of the three systems.

4. Government is like a cake…
Cake = System
Ex: Unitary
Chocolate = Type
Autocratic
Icing/Sprinkles = Subtype
Absolute Monarchy
Dictatorship

5. Types of Government are based on one key question:
Types of Government are based on one key question: Who governs and what is the citizen participation?
There are three types of governments:
Autocracy, Oligarchy, and Democracy

6. 1. Autocracy
A government by a single person having unlimited power (domination through threat of punishment and violence).
There are three types of Autocracies.

7. 2. Dictatorship
A country ruled by a single leader. The leader has not been elected and may use force to keep control.
Examples:
Adolf Hitler
Saddam Hussein

8. 3. Absolute Monarchy
A monarch is a king, queen, emperor, empress, sultan, etc.
The power is usually inherited or passed down from family members.
The monarch has absolute power meaning they can make all decisions without consulting anyone.
Examples: Saudi Arabia, Oman, Vatican City, Liechtenstein

9. 4. Constitutional Monarchy
Kings, queens, or emperors share power with elected legislatures.
Generally the monarchs are nothing more than figureheads.
The government is democratic that limits the monarch’s power.
Example: Great Britain

10. 5. Oligarchy
A government in which a few people such as a dominant clan (family) or clique have power.
The group gets their power from either military, wealth, or social status.
Elections may be held but offer
only one candidate.
Candidate can claim that they
won the election “fairly”.

11. 6. Democratic
This is not the same as the democratic party in the United States!
In a democracy, the government is elected by the people. Everyone who is eligible to vote has a chance to have their say over who runs the country.
A democracy is determined:
Directly
Through elected representatives (Ex: Electoral College)
Examples: United States, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, France, and many others!

12. In a Democracy…. Individual freedom and equality is valued.
Free elections are held
No poll tax, no penalty for not voting
Decisions are based on majority rule.
All candidates can express their views freely.
Citizens vote by secret ballot.

13. 7. Parliamentary Democracy
Examples: Canada, France, Australia
People vote for the political party representative
The political party representatives choose the leader (Prime Minister) who leads the government

14. 8. Presidential Democracy
President is chosen separately from the legislature
However, in the United States, the electoral college elects the President.
The people vote for the senators & representatives that make up the electoral college.
Examples: United States, Yemen, Afghanistan

15. Executive: Prime Minister
Parliamentary System
Presidential System
Executive: Prime Minister
Executive: President
Legislative
Select
Elect
Elect
Legislative
Elect
Citizens
Citizens

16. Systems of Government are based on one question:
Systems of Government are based on one question: How is the power distributed?
There are three ways governments distribute power:
Unitary
Confederation
Federal

17. Uni = One
9. Unitary
A system of government in which ALL of the power is in the central government

18. Ways Government Distributes Power: Central is LARGER than regional
Unitary
Ways Government Distributes Power:
Central is LARGER than regional
Regional Authority
Regional Authority
Central Authority
Regional Authority
Regional Authority

19. 10. Confederation
A government that joins together groups or smaller governments. The central power has less power than the individual states.
Examples: The United Arab Emirates (UAE), OPEC (it’s not a country, but a governing organization that countries belong to)

20. Ways Government Distributes Power: Central is SMALLER than Regional
Confederation
Ways Government Distributes Power: Central is SMALLER than Regional
Regional Authority
Regional Authority
Central Authority
Regional Authority
Regional Authority

21. 11. Federal
A system of government where power is shared or divided between the central government and the state government.

22. Ways Government Distributes Power: Both Central and Regional
Federal
Ways Government Distributes Power:
Both Central and Regional
are equal
Regional Authority
Regional Authority
Central Authority
Regional Authority
Regional Authority

23. 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

24. 12. Theocracy
A government ruled by religious leaders according to religious law.
Example: Iran

25. GOVERNMENT TERMS UNITARY FEDERAL CONFEDERATION AUTOCRATIC DICTATORSHIP
ABSOLUTE MONARCHY
CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY
FEDERAL
DEMOCRATIC
PARLIMENTARY/PRESIDENTIAL
CONFEDERATION
OLIGARCHIC
THEOCRACY

26. Federal Power Distribution
Central = Regional
EQUAL
Unitary Power Distribution
Central > Regional
GREATER than
Confederation Power Distribution
Central < Regional
LESS than