Systems of Government LT: I can define different types of government systems and demonstrate my understanding of the systems of government.

The governing body of a nation, state, or community In charge of: creating and regulating laws managing the economy enforcing policies This can happen in many different ways, with different levels of freedoms. Not all governments are the same, and some look very different from each other! Government – What is it?

Spectrum of Governmental Power Autocracy & Aristocracy (Monarchy & Oligarchy) Totalitarian (Dictatorship) Democracy Republic Anarchy 100% Power to Government 0% Personal Choices 100 % Equality 0% Power to Government 100% Personal Choices 0% Equality Spectrum of Governmental Power

Totalitarian - Dictatorship Definition: a system of government that is centralized & dictatorial, requires complete subservience to the state. Key features: Ideology that addresses all aspects of life A single-party system Usually led by a dictator Some type of terror used to control people Historical examples: Hitler’s Germany Stalin’s Soviet Union Mussolini’s Italy Totalitarian - Dictatorship

Autocracy – Absolute Monarchy Definition: System of government by one person with absolute power. Key features: One person makes all laws & is limited by no one Monarchies = best known example - rule by one, for life, usually the next in line to the throne is based on heredity. Historical examples: Louis XIV (aka the sun king, France) Peter the Great (Russia) Autocracy – Absolute Monarchy

Aristocracy – Oligarchy Definition: Rule by the few or privileged (Greek root words: ‘rule by the best’). Oligarchy is usually made up of land owning, wealthy, & most influential members of society. Historical Example Sparta (ancient Greek city-state) Some people claim the current conditions in America are oligarchic because …..? Aristocracy – Oligarchy

Democracy – Direct, Representative Definition: a form of government in which all eligible citizens participate equally. Key Features: All eligible citizens help make laws and govern Simple majorities Eligible citizens: In ancient Greece, eligible citizens did not mean ‘everybody’. Referred to wealthy, male citizens, who were Greek born. In the early United States it meant white, landowning males. Historical examples: Athens Switzerland Democracy – Direct, Representative

Republic Anarchy Definitions Republic: system of government where people elect representatives to exercise power for them. What government does the US have? A Democratic Republic! (we elect people to exercise power for us, but we elect them with a majority vote.) Anarchy: Absence of government, no government Republic Anarchy

Definition: a system of government in which priests rule in the name of God or a god. Key Features: Run by priests from the dominant religion of a country. Example: The Vatican Theocracy