Chapter 3, Section 4 Political Systems

(first Tuesday in November after the first Monday) Tuesday, November 8, 2016 (first Tuesday in November after the first Monday)

political systems As early communities began to grow larger, people needed laws, leaders, and organizations to help them make decisions. People also needed protection from other countries and a way to resolve conflicts between individuals and social groups.

“…but the rights of the one government A government is an organization that sets up and enforces laws. “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one…” “…but the rights of the one must be protected.”

A state is a region that shares a government.

dependency A dependency is a region that belongs to another state. It is also called a territory. American dependencies include American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

nation-states A nation-state is a country that is independent of other countries. Vatican City is the world’s smallest nation-state: it covers 109 acres in the center of downtown Rome.

city-states City-states governed themselves and the lands surrounding them. One of the earliest was Babylon, established about 3,000 B.C.

An empire is a state containing several other countries and peoples. The Nubian Empire, on the upper part of the Nile River, controlled many of their neighbors, including Egypt.

tribal council A tribal council was one of the first forms of government. Usually, the eldest males made all decisions for the community.

direct democracy In a direct democracy, all adults participate in the day-to-day governing of the country. The people of Athens in Ancient Greece invented this government about 400 B.C.

monarchy A monarchy is a country ruled by a king or queen. Until recently, it was the most common form of government. It comes from the Greek words “mono,” meaning “one” and “archon,” meaning “ruler.”

It comes from a Latin word meaning dictator A dictator is a leader with total power over the entire country. The people do not have the right to make decisions. It comes from a Latin word meaning “His word is the Law.”

“oligos,” meaning “few,” and “archon,” meaning “ruler.” oligarchy An oligarchy is a country ruled by a small group of wealthy people. From the Greek “oligos,” meaning “few,” and “archon,” meaning “ruler.”

tyranny Tyranny is a government where the military chooses and supports the leader.

theocracy A theocracy is a government run by a person who is also the supreme religious leader. King Abdullah – Saudi Arabia Pope Francis – Vatican City Ali Khamenei - Iran

constitutional monarchy

constitution A constitution is a written set of laws that define and limit a government’s power.

Magna Carta, 1215 AD

representative democracy In a representative democracy, the people elect legislators (lawmakers) to govern for them.

Senator James Lankford Oklahoma’s Senators Senator Jim Inhofe Senator James Lankford

Our Congressman 5th Congressional District U.S. Representative Steve Russell

alliances When nations agree to defend each other, its is called an alliance. One of the largest alliances in the world is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO.

The United Nations The United Nations is an international organization created to resolve disputes and promote peace.