Types of Government
AUTOCRACY OLIGARCHY DEMOCRACY 3 Forms of Government AUTOCRACY OLIGARCHY DEMOCRACY
AUTOCRACY Rule by one EXAMPLE 1: MONARCHY DIVINE RIGHT THEORY EXAMPLE 2: TOTALITARIAN DICTATORSHIP - Authoritarian power, suppression of opposition FORCE THEORY BENITO MUSSOLINI
Two types of Monarchies Absolute Monarchy King Queen, Emperor, Czar Power is usually inherited Ruler has complete and unlimited power Constitutional Monarchy Shares power with a legislature A written constitution exists as rule of law in the state
Constitution A plan of government – can be written or unwritten -sets out ideas - basic structure of gov’t - supreme law Constitutions limit the central authority/government Most are incomplete guides because they do not spell out all laws and customs of a country In most cases constitutions can be changed or amended.
OLIGARCHY RULE BY FEW EXAMPLE: COMMUNIST GOV’T OF CHINA - MOST OLIGARCHIES CLAIM TO HAVE RULE FOR THE PEOPLE, BUT IN REALITY, VERY FEW HAVE POWER.
Aristocracy OLIGARCHY - Powers derived from Wealth, Education. and/or Social position
OLIGARCHY Military Junta Power derived from military strength
OLIGARCHY Communist Totalitarianism Powers claimed to be derived from the people, but actually in the hands of few
DEMOCRACY GREEK DEMOS- people KRATIA- rule RULE BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE EXAMPLE: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
DIRECT DEMOCRACY The people are the gov’t. They create and pass laws *Nowhere does this exist in its true form*
Representative Democracy CONGRESS The people vote for delegates to represent them in government.
Representative Democracy Representative Government Voters choose citizens to represent them in a law making branch Elections are called when needed
Representative Democracy Democratic Republic “and to the republic for which it stands…….” A republic is a form of government under a constitution which provides for the election of: An executive and a legislative body, who working together in a representative capacity Holding regularly scheduled elections
CHARACTERISTICS OF DEMOCRACY Compromise Individual Liberty Majority Rule w/ Minority Rights Free Elections Competing Political Parties