1. Types of Government

2. Government: The institution that makes LAWS.
***Questions to think about?
How much control does the government have?
Where does the power come from?
Transfer of power?
How much freedom do the people have?
What about minorities?
Watch TCI video slide 10
Each country’s government is classified based on the answers to these questions.
Governments control their people through several means, including law, military, communications, economy, and education
Power can come from a variety of sources – the will of the people, religious authority, use of force, etc.
Rule can be inherited, elected, appointed, seized
The freedom and rights exercised by the individual citizen, especially minority individuals, helps us to identify the type of government

3. Limited Government Unlimited Government
Everyone must obey the laws, including those in authority.
The Constitution limits our governments power
Government’s power is limited
Unlimited Government
Leaders don’t have to follow the same laws as everyone else.
Unjust or cruel exercise of authority or power
Government’s power is unlimited

4. Democracy “Government by the people” Rule by the majority –
(1) The Government’s control is shaped by the people.
(1) Ruled by many
(2) Government leaders are elected by the country’s people
Rule by the majority –
Directly: Everyone’s vote counts, majority rules
Indirectly: Everyone votes to elect people to represent their interests in government
Switzerland is a democracy, the United States is also a Democracy.
Indirect/vs. direct Democracy
In the US we have limited the power of the government to protect the rights of the people. Ex: King of England - George
The word democracy is Greek for “people-power.”
Although the United States is democratic (people have ultimate authority in our government), this is not the best category fit for the U.S.
A democracy is often described as “mob rule” - Whatever the majority decides
In direct democracy, the people come together to discuss and make policy. This is not practical for large countries. Instead, they practice indirect (representative) democracy, in which the people elect representatives for a limited term. These representatives meet to make decisions. If they don’t act in accordance with popular will, they are not reelected.
For democracy to operate, people have to be able to express their viewpoints; therefore, individual rights are encouraged in democracies.
It would be tempting to say that ALL people can vote in a democracy, but that wouldn’t be accurate. The people decide who will be able to vote. For instance, in ancient Athens – the birthplace of democracy – women and slaves were not allowed to vote.
It is possible for the voice of the minority to be ignored in a democracy, but democracies tend to protect the rights of minorities.
In Switzerland, any law passed by the national government must be ratified by popular vote if enough Swiss citizens so request.

5. Republic “Rule of law” Most basic form: A country without a monarch
A republic is different from the majority-rule of a democracy;
(1) A Republic exists to protect the rights of individuals.
Government is limited by the law (constitution)
Tells government how it will be organized and how to operate
(2) Constitutions guarantee certain rights to the people
In its most basic form, a “republic” is a country without a monarch. However, the defining characteristic of a republic is a constitution or collection of laws that say how the government will be organized and operate. These laws outline how long government officials serve.
The amount of power given to the government is spelled out in the constitution. It also explains what the government is not allowed to do.
Republics may or may not be democracies – also, democracies may or may not be republics. In other words, it’s possible to have democracies without a constitution. It’s also possible to write a constitution for an undemocratic country.
Constitutions also define what rights are guaranteed to the people. In our republic, many rights are guaranteed to the individual American – but it’s also possible for a republic to significantly limit the rights of the individual.
In a republic, a significant portion of society has a say in government – though this can be severely limited. For instance, the early U.S. republic limited the ability to vote based on gender, color, and property ownership.
The rights of minority groups are defined by law means that, in some cases, these are protected – and, in other cases, these are limited. The status of minorities might change over time, as laws change.
In the U.S., the way in which our government operates is outlined by the Constitution – which has been amended over time to make the political system more democratic.

6. The United States is a republic

7. Monarchy “Divine right of kings”
Parliamentary/ Constitutional:
King/Queen is head if the government BUT citizens elect members of parliament to RUN government
(1) Kings/Queens must obey laws
Ruled by many
(2) Citizens vote to elect leaders of parliament
Traditional/ Absolute: (1)The ruler has absolute power.
(1) His or her word is the law
(1) Ruled by one
(2) People have no voice in national government.
Monarchy is probably the oldest form of government. Monarchs include kings, queens, pharaohs, sultans, and shahs, emperors.
In traditional monarchies, all power lies with the king/queen and their advisors. Law is made by royal decree, and may be changed on a whim and without input from the people.
Constitutional monarchies are, historically speaking, rather new. The first one was established in 1689 in Britain with the signing of the English Bill of Rights, limiting the monarchy and protecting the rights of the people. By definition, a constitutional monarchy is one in which the ruler is head of state but their powers are limited by the country’s constitution or laws.
You become a monarch by being born into the ruling family. For this reason, monarchs have long stated that they were “chosen by God” – and therefore have the “divine right of kings.”
It is possible for people in a monarchy to exercise a great deal of freedom, particularly in a constitutional monarchy where individual freedoms have been outlined by the constitution. It is also possible for monarchs to exercise a great deal of control of their people, limiting their rights significantly. This is particularly true in traditional monarchies.
Just as individual freedoms vary greatly in monarchies, so do the rights of minorities. In traditional monarchies, there are no guarantees of minority rights.
Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy. The only limitation on the king is that he must not violate Islamic law. Individual rights are not guaranteed, and minorities (including women and non-Muslims) face significant discrimination.
Today in Great Britain, the Prime Minister and Parliament hold the real power – and the queen is mostly a symbol of national unity. Therefore, Great Britain is often referred to as a “crowned republic.”

8. Theocracy “Power of religion”
(1) A religious leader or council has ultimate power
(1) Power comes from religious belief
Rulers are chosen by the church
(2) People are limited by religious law, as interpreted by the government
(2) Minorities may be discriminated against
Iran and Afghanistan are a theocracy
This is another old form of government, dating back to ancient times. In Egypt, pharaohs were believed to be gods – and many other ancient leaders were heads of churches.
Today, the large majority of theocracies are Islamic nations.
In a theocracy, the government follows religious laws and claims to be directed by God. There is no legal separation of church and state.
Rulers are chosen by church officials, and they generally remain in power for life.
Individual freedoms are hemmed in by religious law and by laws made to support religious edicts. Because the government is in charge of interpreting God’s will, laws may change drastically when rulers change.
In a theocracy, religious minorities may be excluded or expelled. Additionally, the rights of women and other minority groups will be limited by religious doctrine.
The Iranian Constitution emphasizes the importance of religion and Islamic law. The Supreme Leader is the Ayatollah, the head of the Twelver Shi’a, who serves for life. Although Iran has an elected president and legislature, these officials are subject to the control of the Ayatollah. No political decisions – including election results – are lawful until they are approved by the Supreme Leader.

9. Dictatorship “I am the law”
(1) A single person or small group has complete power
Dictators seize power or are placed into a position of authority by a group in society
(1) Dictators hold power until they are overthrown
(2) People have little to no freedom
(2) Minorities are often discriminated against
North Korea is a dictatorship
Often, the military helps to seize power and establish a dictatorship. Some dictators – like Hitler or Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe – were elected officials who stripped away political rights (like free elections) after taking power.
Dictators make laws without concern for what the citizens want. They serve until they die, or until others (the people, the military, or another strong group in the country) remove them from power.
Some dictators hold elections for show, but the decisions of the elections aren’t free and the decision does not reflect the will of the people.
People are afraid to criticize or oppose the dictator and opposition parties aren’t permitted.
Minorities and dissenters may be arrested, tortured, or even killed.
North Korea is a hereditary dictatorship. Citizens don’t have freedom of speech or of the press, and they are limited in their ability to move. The government press is secretive, so much is left to speculation – but international human rights groups have condemned North Korea for abuses, including establishing concentration groups that contain dissenters and minorities such as Japanese citizens.

10. Totalitarianism/Communism “Ultimate control”
(1) Government controls all aspects of their citizens’ lives
Dictatorship with unlimited authority
Rule until death or removal
(2) No freedom or choice for people including minorities)
Burma is a totalitarian state
Under totalitarianism, people can only belong to organizations controlled by the government. No separate political parties, labor unions, or other organizations are allowed.
The government either controls or prohibits all churches and religious groups.
One leader or political party maintains total control over all aspects of society. This control extends to the police, military, communications, economy, and educational system.
The government also controls all television, radio, and newspapers. Government censorship prohibits all books or articles criticizing the government.
All dissent is suppressed and citizens are terrorized by the police. People who oppose the government are arrested and sent to labor camps or killed.
Burma is a totalitarian state. The military government controls all news organizations and, though elections are held, the results are fraudulent. People who protest the government are detained or silenced. Abuse by the government – including human trafficking and sexual violence – are concerns for international human rights organizations.
The State Department also lists Cuba as a totalitarian regime, though this classification is debated. The most notable cases of totalitarianism are Germany under Hitler and the Soviet Union under Stalin.