Forms of Governments

1. Forms of Governments

2. To study governments, geographers look at the following: • Types – Who rules and how much can a citizen can participate. • Systems – How the power is distributed.

3. 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

4. Autocracy • Government in which the power to govern is held by one person. (often unlimited) • Citizens have little if any role in the government • Generally the power to rule is inherited or by military force. • There are two types of Autocracy.

5. #1 Dictatorship • The leader has not been elected and uses force to control all aspects of social and economic life. • The leader is not restricted by laws or the constitution • Citizens have few rights • Examples: Adolf Hitler in Germany, Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union and some African nations after independence

6. #2 AbsoluteMonarchy • A monarchy has a king, queen, or emperor. • The power is usually inherited or passed down from family members. • The monarch has absolute power, meaning they can make all decisions . • Some countries limit the monarch’s power by having a constitutional monarchy. (U.K.)

7. Oligarchy • A government in which a few people such as a dominant clan or clique have power especially for corrupt or self purposes • The group gets their power from either military, wealth or social status. • Elections may be held but offer only one candidate. • The citizens have a very limited role. • Examples: Greek city states and South Africa before the end of Apartheid.

8. Democracy • In a democracy, the government is “ruled by the people.” Supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation • There are two forms of democracy: • Direct Democracy – People vote on all the issues. (Ancient Athens) • Representative Democracy – People elect representatives and give them the power to vote on issues. (Republic) • Example: United States, South Korea, Israel, South Africa

9. In a democracy…. • Individual freedom and equality is valued. • Free elections are held and all can vote. • Decisions are based on majority rule. • All candidates and people can express their views freely. • Citizens vote by secret ballot. • The name Republic of does not necessary mean a democracy.

10. Democratic Governments • There are two major forms of democratic governments: • Parliamentary • Presidential

11. Parliamentary Democracy • Voters elect members to the Parliament (legislature) • Most of the time the head of state and the chief of state are two different people. • Many times the head of state is a ceremonial role and the chief of state has the power • Chief of state is usually called the Prime Minister and is chosen by the legislature (parliament) not directly by the people. • Chief executive and the legislature are usually the same branch of the government

12. Presidential Democracy • Voters elect legislators with the legislators and president elected in separate elections. • Voters elect the president who is the head of state and the chief of state. • Therefore, in the presidential system voters have a more direct say about those who serve in two branches of the government : • Legislative • Executive • These are separate branches with power divided between them.

13. Executive Executive Legislative Select Elect Elect Legislative Elect Citizens Citizens

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

15. Unitary • One central government (authority) controls everything. • Power is not shared between the central government and states or provinces. • Works well with smaller nations. • Examples : United Kingdom, Sudan, Japan, Israel, the Netherlands, and Spain • Unitary does not necessarily equal autocratic.

16. Unitary Diagram:

17. Confederation • A voluntary association of independent states that agrees to follow a central government. • States can choose to follow or not follow the lead of the weak central government. • States may leave at any time. • Examples: Confederate States of America ( 1861-1865), European Union, OPEC, OAU.

18. Confederation Diagram:

19. Federal • Power is shared between a powerful central government and states or provinces. • States or provinces are given considerable self rule, usually through their own legislatures. (example: state governments) • Examples: United States, Germany, Kenya South Africa

20. Federal System Diagram:

21. To classify a type of government we need to look back at the three questions we have answered… Who rules and how? How much can a citizen participate in their government? How is the power distributed? For example: The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy and a unitary system. The United States is a presidential democracy with a federal system. Putting it all together….

22. Now it is your turn… Now you classify the governments of Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Kenya and 3 other African nations of your choosing. Use cia.gov and culturegrams on the Cobb Virtual Library to help you find out infromation.

23. What do you remember? • What are the three types of governments? • What are the three systems of government?