Unit 3 Political Development of the Middle East Standard: Civics and Government Understandings SS7CG4 The Student will compare and contrast various forms of government. a. Describe the ways government systems distribute power: unitary, confederation, and federal. b. Explain how governments determine citizen participation: autocratic, oligarchic, and democratic. c. Describe the two predominant forms of democratic government: parliamentary and presidential.

Ways Government Systems Distribute Power 1. A Unitary government system is a form of government in which power is held by one central authority/government. The local state or county government system may have some power; but they are controlled by the central government who has the authority to change the way local governments operate, or abolish them altogether. Some unitary governments have elected officials who have the authority to make and enforce laws without consulting local governments. A monarchy is an example of a unitary government, like Saudi Arabia.

2. A Confederation government system is one in which local governments hold all the power and the central government depends on the local governments for its existence. The local governments come together voluntarily for a common purpose, agree to certain limitations on their freedom of action, and establish a joint session of consultation or deliberation. The central government is given limited power by the local governments. The League of Arab States and OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) are examples of a confederation.

3. A Federal government system is a form of government where power is shared among different levels of government. It is divided between national or central governments and state governments or regional authorities. Israel is an example of a federal government system.

Ways Government Systems Distribute Power Directions: Answer the following questions using your notes. 1. In a unitary government system, most of the power is in the hands of the a. individual voters. b. king and advisors. c. local governments. d. central government. a. individual voters. b. king and advisors. c. local governments. d. central government. 2. Which of the following countries would be a good example of a unitary government system? a. Israel b. Lebanon c. Saudi Arabia d. the United States a. Israel b. Lebanon c. Saudi Arabia d. the United States 3. In a confederation government system, most of the power is in the hands of the a. legislature. b. individual voters. a. legislature. b. individual voters. c. local governments. d. central government c. local governments. d. central government

Ways Government Systems Distribute Power Directions: Answer the following questions using your notes. 4. What is a weakness of a confederation government system? a. A confederation is very expensive. a. A confederation is very expensive. b. Confederations are too large to rule effectively. c. A confederation does not share power with its members. c. A confederation does not share power with its members. d. The central government has only as much power as the local governments are willing to d. The central government has only as much power as the local governments are willing to give. give. 5. Which Southwest Asian country would be a good example of a federal system of government? a. Iran b. Israel c. Kuwait d. Saudi Arabia

How Governments Determine Citizen Participation 1. An Autocratic government is one in which one person, the ruler, has unlimited, absolute power to do whatever he wishes. He can make and enforce whatever laws he chooses. The citizens do not have any rights; or may have limited rights, like managing local affairs. The central government controls all of the important aspects of the country. The citizens have little or no power to disagree with government decisions. There are many different kinds of autocratic governments. A monarchy, like Saudi Arabia, is one example.

2. An Oligarchy means “government by the few.” In this form of government, a political party or other small group takes over a government and makes all of the major decisions. Citizens have a very limited role and have little choice but to go along with the decisions being made. This government is similar to an autocratic government. Syria and Iran are examples of an oligarchy.

3. A Democratic government system is a government by the people. The citizens have power in deciding who the rulers are and what decisions are made. Citizens use rules to organize their society and individual freedoms. Decisions are usually made by majority votes and there are laws to protect individual rights. Citizens can ask the government for help if they feel their rights have been violated. Israel is an example of a democracy, and Iraq will be once their new government is fully implemented.

How Governments Determine Citizen Participation Directions: Answer the following questions using your notes. 1. Who makes most of the important governmental decisions in an autocracy? a. the ruler b. the people c. the court system d. the elected legislature 2. Which Southwest Asian country could be described as an autocracy? a. Iraq b. Israel c. Turkey d. Saudi Arabia 3. Who makes most of the important governmental decisions in an oligarchy? a. the king b. the people c. the legislature d. a small group of powerful leaders powerful leaders

How Governments Determine Citizen Participation Directions: Answer the following questions using your notes. 4. Why do the individual voters have more power in a democracy than they do in an autocracy or an oligarchy? a. Kings are always cruel rulers. b. The voters get to choose the people who make the laws. c. All of the power stays in the hands of the local governments. c. All of the power stays in the hands of the local governments. d. Voters in democratic countries always choose qualified leaders. d. Voters in democratic countries always choose qualified leaders. 5. Which Southwest Asian country has a democratic system of government? a. Iran b. Israel c. Kuwait d. Saudi Arabia c. Kuwait d. Saudi Arabia

How Governments Determine Citizen Participation Directions: Answer the following questions using your notes. 6. How does a democratic government differ from an oligarchic government? a. the role of the citizen b. how the leadership is selected c. law making process d. judicial system

Use information in the passage to answer questions 7 and 8. The Saudi royal family controls the national government of Saudi Arabia. The king is the son of the previous king, and his son will rule after him. All government leaders serve by appointment from the king. The king appoints the governors of the provinces, as well. The king has the ability to remove any government official from a village, town, or province. The governments of the provinces and towns have no rights or authority. 7. Which type of government is described in the passage? a. unitary b. federation c. confederation d. parliamentary 8. Which BEST describes the government of Saudi Arabia? a. democracy b. dictatorship c. monarchy d. oligarchy

The Two Predominant Forms of Democratic Governments 1. Parliamentary a system of government where the executive power is held in an elected cabinet of members of the legislature called parliament, who makes and carries out laws for the country. The political party with the most elected members/representatives, usually chooses the leader called a Prime Minister or Premier, the head of the government. The Prime Minister leads the executive branch of the government; but answers directly to the legislature (parliament) for any actions and policies recommended. The Prime Minister is also a member of parliament. A Prime Minister holds power for their term of office; but may be voted out of office before the term ends if the major political party begins to lose power. New elections will be held in such cases. In some parliamentary governments, a “Head of State,” a ceremonial leader will be elected. Israel is an example of a parliamentary government.

2. A Presidential form of democratic government is also called a congressional form of government. It is a system of government where the President or Chief Executive is chosen separately from the legislature, who passes the laws. The President’s duty is to enforce the laws. The President holds powers separately from the legislature and cannot dismiss them or force them to make certain laws. The President is both the “Head of State” and “Head of Government,” is given specific powers, and serves a 4-year term or 2 consecutive 4-year terms if re-elected. The legislature cannot dismiss the President, except in extreme cases when the impeachment process can be used.

The Two Predominant Forms of Democratic Governments Directions: Answer the following questions using your notes. 1. Which branch of government is responsible for making and carrying out the laws in a parliamentary system of government? a. executive b. judicial c. legislative d. the monarch 2. The leader of a parliamentary system is often called the a. king. b. president. c. governor. d. prime minister. 3. The leader of a parliamentary system is chosen by a. the monarch or king. b. a popular vote of the people. c. a decision by the national courts. d. the political party with the most representatives in the legislature. the legislature.

The Two Predominant Forms of Democratic Governments Directions: Answer the following questions using your notes. 4. The Head of State in a parliamentary system is often a person who has a. no actual power. b. a veto for laws passed by the legislature. c. the most power in the national government. c. the most power in the national government. d. a ceremonial role without much actual power. d. a ceremonial role without much actual power. 5. In a presidential system of government, how is a president chosen? a. by a decision of the national courts b. by a majority vote of the legislature c. in a separate vote from the one that chooses the legislature legislature d. by the political party with the most representatives in the legislature the legislature

The Two Predominant Forms of Democratic Governments Directions: Answer the following questions using your notes. 6. What is the role of the president regarding the laws passed by the legislature? a. The president must enforce those laws. b. The president can change the laws he does not like. c. The president sends the laws to the states for approval. approval. d. Laws passed by the legislature do not have to go to the president for approval. the president for approval. 7. In a parliamentary government, unlike a presidential system, the head of government belongs to which branch of government? a. judicial b. national c. executive d. legislative