Forms of Government

Bell Ringer What type of government do we have in the United States? Define/Explain your answer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04n6qrBwFBE

Classifying Governments Governments can be classified by three different standards: (Step 1) Who can participate in the governing process. (Step 2) Where does the power go? (Step 3) What is the relationship between the legislative and executive powers?

Who Can Participate? Democracy Step 1: Supreme political authority rests with the people Indirect (Representative) Democracy Direct Democracy A direct democracy : will of people translated into law directly by the people In an indirect (representative) democracy small group of people are chosen by the people to act as their representatives expresses the popular will

More on these later… More on these later… Democracy Direct Democracy Representative Democracy Presidential Democracy System Parliamentary Democracy System More on these later… More on these later…

Who Can Participate? Dictatorship Step 1: A dictatorship exists where those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will of the people. Autocracy Oligarchy Autocracy a government in which a single person holds unlimited political power Oligarchy a government where power to rule is held by a small, usually self-appointed elite

Types of Autocratic Governments Autocracy – Rule by one Totalitarian Dictatorship Monarchy (king or queen) Absolute Monarchy (complete and unlimited power) Constitutional Monarchy (shares power with elected parliament and prime minister) Theocracy

Kim Jong Il Short list of accomplishments: Glorious birth “double rainbow” Walking at 3 weeks, talking at 8 weeks Wrote 1,500 books in university (2 years)…6 operas (boom!) Designed tallest tower in N. Korea Best golf score…EVER. 1st time played 11 holes in one Declared fashion icon Invented cheeseburger, called it double bread with meat

A unitary government has all powers held by a single, central agency. Where Does the Power Go? Step 2: Unitary Government A unitary government has all powers held by a single, central agency.

Where Does the Power Go? Federal Government A federal government is one in which the powers of government are divided between a central government and several local governments. An authority superior to both the central and local governments makes this division of power on a geographic basis.

A confederation is an alliance of independent states. Where Does the Power Go? Confederate Government A confederation is an alliance of independent states.

Relationship Between Legislative and Executive Branches Step 3:

Parliamentary and Presidential Examples of Representative Democratic Governments Parliamentary democracy Presidential democracy Aruba, Australia, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, United Kingdom United States, Mexico, Brazil

Scenario Imagine that on a trip to a remote area in the Alaskan wilderness, you all became stranded without any form of communication. You have extremely little hope of being rescued in the foreseeable future. The area where you’re stuck can provide the basic necessities of food, shelter, and water, but you will have to work together to survive. While in your new surroundings, you and group members decided to create a government. Your task at hand is a tricky one!

Matching the Preamble! With your group… Which question from your handout goes with these sections from the preamble? Write the letter from below next to prompt from your handout that you believe matches. Secure the Blessings of Liberty for our Posterity, Promote the General Welfare, Establish Justice, Form a more perfect Union, Insure Domestic Tranquility, Secure the Blessings of Liberty to Ourselves, and Provide for the Common Defense

PREAMBLE We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Bell Ringer Which country is… A federal presidential democracy? A unitary presidential democracy? A unitary presidential, dictatorship?

Forms of Government

Bell Ringer “No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.” Winston Churchill Explain, in your own words, what you think Churchill meant by this statement. Do you agree, or disagree? WHY?