Citizen Participation in Government Autocratic, Oligarchic, & Democratic Unit 8 Notes Autocratic, Oligarchic, & Democratic Unit 8 Notes

Citizen Participation  In each country, the people have different rights to participate in the government  In some countries, any citizen can run for office or vote in elections  In other countries there are restrictions placed on who can run for office and who can vote  There are also countries where no citizen can vote and there are no elections  In each country, the people have different rights to participate in the government  In some countries, any citizen can run for office or vote in elections  In other countries there are restrictions placed on who can run for office and who can vote  There are also countries where no citizen can vote and there are no elections

Autocratic Governments  Has a single ruler with unlimited power  People have no ability to participate in the selection of the ruler or in the creation of laws  One benefit of this type of government is that decisions for a country can be made quickly  However, the needs of the people may be ignored or unheard  The leader may make poor or selfish decisions that hurt the people  Has a single ruler with unlimited power  People have no ability to participate in the selection of the ruler or in the creation of laws  One benefit of this type of government is that decisions for a country can be made quickly  However, the needs of the people may be ignored or unheard  The leader may make poor or selfish decisions that hurt the people

Autocracies of the World An autocratic government is when only the government can make the decisions. So, the people who live in a country with an autocratic government have no say in creating their country’s laws

Oligarchic Governments  “rule by a few”  Country is ruled by a small group of people  An advantage is that decisions can be made relatively quickly  Compared to an autocratic system, oligarchies have more heads to think through problems and should make better choices  However, the people do not have a voice  “rule by a few”  Country is ruled by a small group of people  An advantage is that decisions can be made relatively quickly  Compared to an autocratic system, oligarchies have more heads to think through problems and should make better choices  However, the people do not have a voice

Democratic Governments  Puts the power of the government in the citizens of the country  All citizens have the opportunity to be a leader, and all citizens have the opportunity to vote for leaders and laws  All citizens are involved in the decision- making process of the government, and all groups are represented  Can be slow to make decisions because all people must discuss & vote on the issues  Puts the power of the government in the citizens of the country  All citizens have the opportunity to be a leader, and all citizens have the opportunity to vote for leaders and laws  All citizens are involved in the decision- making process of the government, and all groups are represented  Can be slow to make decisions because all people must discuss & vote on the issues

Democratic Governments  Most democratic countries are representative democracies  Citizens elect representatives to make decisions  A representative democracy allows citizens to choose leaders for a certain length of time & after that time, elections are held to choose new leaders  A direct democracy requires a vote by all citizens for every decision by the government  Most democratic countries are representative democracies  Citizens elect representatives to make decisions  A representative democracy allows citizens to choose leaders for a certain length of time & after that time, elections are held to choose new leaders  A direct democracy requires a vote by all citizens for every decision by the government

Democracies  Most countries in the world are labeled democracies  However, this does not mean there are open and free elections in all of these countries…  Cuba labels itself as a democracy, but when elections are held, the Communist party approves the candidates for each position  Most countries in the world are labeled democracies  However, this does not mean there are open and free elections in all of these countries…  Cuba labels itself as a democracy, but when elections are held, the Communist party approves the candidates for each position

This is a “Polity Data Series Map” It tries to measure a country’s true democracy in government It gives scores of -10 to +10. The countries in the lightest pink have the highest democracy score, the darker the color, the lower the democracy score