1 / 21

Chapter 1 – Section 2

Chapter 1 – Section 2. Forms of Government. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT. all governments can be classified according to one or more basic features three of those classifications are especially important and useful 1) who can participate in the governing process

avian
Download Presentation

Chapter 1 – Section 2

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Chapter 1 – Section 2 Forms of Government

  2. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT • all governments can be classified according to one or more basic features • three of those classifications are especially important and useful • 1) who can participate in the governing process • 2)the geographic distribution of governmental power within the state • 3)the relationship between the legislative and executive branches of the government

  3. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT DEMOCRACY • Supreme political authority rests with the people • Democracy is either direct or indirect • Direct – (also called pure) – exists where the will of the people is translated into public policy directly by the people themselves – only works in small communities

  4. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT DEMOCRACY • Indirect – (representative democracy) – a small group of representatives express the popular will • Reps are held accountable to the people • People can voice their approval or disapproval through elections • Government with the consent of the governed

  5. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT DEMOCRACY • In a democracy the people are sovereign • They are the only source of any and all the government’s power • The people rule

  6. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT DICTATORSHIP • Exists when those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will of the people • The government is not accountable • The most oldest and common form of government known to history

  7. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT DICTATORSHIP • Autocracy – government in which a single person holds unlimited political power • Oligarchy – the power to rule is held by a small, usually self-appointed elite

  8. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT DICTATORSHIP • All dictatorships are authoritarian • Modern dictatorships are usually totalitarian – they exercise complete power over nearly every aspect of human affairs • Examples in the modern era?????

  9. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT DICTATORSHIP ITALY 1922-1943

  10. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT DICTATORSHIP GERMANY 1933-1945

  11. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT DICTATORSHIP SOVIET UNION 1917-1991

  12. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT DICTATORSHIP • Most present day dictatorships are not nearly so absolutely controlled by a single person or by a small group • Outward apperances may hide the fact that several groups (army, religious leaders, industrialists e.g.) compete for power

  13. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT DICTATORSHIP • People vote in dictatorships, but the elections are closely controlled, usually only containing candidates from one political party

  14. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT DICTATORSHIP • Dictators usually gain power through force with the military holding many major posts in the government • These regimes sometimes turn to foreign aggression to enhance the country’s military power and prestige

  15. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT UNITARY GOVERNMENT • Often described as a centralized government • All powers held by the government belong to a single, central agency • Most governments in the world are unitary • Best Example- Great Britain (Parliament) • Unitary is not same as dictatorship—the powers of Parliament are limited

  16. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT • The powers of the government are divided between a central government and several local governments • Division of powers • USA – the national government has certain powers and the 50 state governments have others • Defined in the Constitution – stands above both levels of government

  17. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT CONFEDERATE GOVERNMENT • Confederation – an alliance of independent states • Confederate government only handles matters assigned to it by the states • Limited powers in areas of defense, foreign commerce • Lack the power to make laws without consent of the states

  18. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT CONFEDERATE GOVERNMENT • Very rare in today’s world • Closest modern example – European Union • Our example???? Articles of Confederation (colossal failure) • Articles – meant to unite the 13 states, instead created a loose alliance of thirteen individual states

  19. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT PRESIDENTIAL GOVERNMENT • Executive & legislative are separate and independent of one another • Chief executive is chosen independently of the legislature and serves a fixed term • USA – Constitution provides for the separation of powers between the branches (checks & balances)

  20. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT PARLIAMENTARY GOVERNMENT • Executive is made up of the prime minister or premier and that official’s cabinet • PM or premier is part of the legislative branch • PM selects members of the cabinet but only with approval of the legislature • Therefore, executive is chosen by the legislature, is part of it, and is subject to its control

  21. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT • PM and cabinet remain in office as long as their policies have the confidence of a majority in Parliament • If Parliament defeats the PM on an important matter, government may receive vote of “no confidence” and must resign • Parliamentary government avoids conflict between executive/legislative branch, but does not use a checks & balances system

More Related