Types of Government

Anarchy Description Example No gov’t and no laws Total disorder Usually comes from gov’t failure, overthrown

Theocracy Description Example The leaders of gov’t are also the leaders of the religion Example The Vatican & Iran

Oligarchy Description Example When a family or small group of people control all of gov’ts power Example Saudi Arabia’s Royal Family

A dictatorship consists of rule by one person or a group of people Very few dictators admit they are dictators and almost always claim to be leaders of democracies The dictator may be one person Castro in Cuba Hitler in Germany Or a group of people The Communist Party in China Add key points in the history of your country to the timeline.

Dictatorship Description Example A leader takes control over the gov’t and has total power Example Cuba (Castro) & Iraq (Saddam Hussein)

Think, Pair, Share DIRECTIONS: on a scrap sheet of paper THINK - What will likely happen if a government denies all power to the people it governs? PAIR – Read another students answer to the question, then get your paper back and add any comments to your paper SHARE – tell the class when the teacher calls on you

A monarchy consists of rule by a king or queen. Sometimes a king is called an “emperor” There are no large monarchies today The United Kingdom, which has a queen, is really a republic because the queen has virtually no political power Insert a picture illustrating a season in your country.

Absolute Monarchy Description Example When the King/Queen has total power over the gov’t Example Louis XIV in France

Constitutional Monarchy Description The King/Queen is limited by law and shares power with elected officials Example Present day England

The word “democracy” literally means “rule by the people.” In a democracy, the people govern Insert a map of your country.

Direct Democracy Description Example The power of gov’t is controlled directly by the people Example New England Town Meetings

Representative Democracy Description The people elect representatives who then make decisions for them Example The United States

All “democracies” are really republics. A literal democracy is impossible in a political system containing more than a few people All “democracies” are really republics. In a republic, the people elect representatives to make and enforce laws. Insert a picture of one of the geographic features of your country.

An aristocracy is ruled by the aristorcrats Aristorcracy An aristocracy is ruled by the aristorcrats Typically the wealthy, educated people Many monarchies have really been ruled by aristocrats Today, the term aristocracy is used negatively to accuse a republic of being dominated by rich people Insert a picture of an animal and or plant found in your country.

Usually a democratic republic is not democratic and is not a republic A government that officially calls itself a “democratic republic” is usually a dictatorship Communist dictatorships have been especially prone to use this term The official name of North Vietnam was “The Democratic Republic of Vietnam” China uses “The People’s Republic of China” Insert a picture illustrating a custom or tradition here.

4 Corners Which type of government would you want to live in? Back right (by the bookshelf) – Anarchy Front right (by the Mantra) – Theocracy Front left (by my desk) – Dictatorship Back left (door) - Democracy What affect do various forms of government have on people around the world?