Government Review SS6CG4 The student will compare and contrast various forms of government. Describe the ways government systems distribute power: unitary, confederation, and federal. (b) Explain how governments determine citizen participations: autocratic, oligarchic, and democratic. (c) Describe the two predominant forms of democratic governments: parliamentary and presidential.  

Ways government systems distribute power What is government? A government is a body with the authority to make, enforce, and interpret laws for a country or area. Governments distribute their power through three basic systems, what are they? Think UFC… Unitary, Federal, Confederation Who has the power in a Unitary system? The central government does!

Who has the power in a Federal system? Power is divided between the central government and the government of smaller political units like states. Who has the power in a Confederation system? A group of independent states join together and give limited powers to a common government. What are the three levels of the federal government? Central, Regional, Local

How governments determine citizen participation: autocratic, oligarchic, and democratic *ruled by a single person *holds ALL power *opposite of a democracy Example: Hitler/Nazism *ruled by a small group of people with wealth or power Example: Kings and their advisers POWER POWER Citizens, chosen few Gov. Citizens Gov. Democratic *people hold supreme power *people elect leaders and rule by majority Example: Our government, President Obama POWER Gov. Citizens

The two predominant forms of democratic governments: parliamentary and presidential.   What are the three branches of government? *Legislative branch – makes the laws *Executive branch – carries out the laws *Judicial branch – enforces the laws What are some countries that have a parliamentary and presidential governments? Parliamentary United Kingdom Australia Jamaica Canada Presidential United States Mexico Argentina Brazil

Branches of the Parliamentary System Voters (Citizens) elect Legislative (Parliament) appoint Chosen by Majority Party Judicial Executive (Prime Minister) fusion of powers = executive and legislative branches are mixed, share power

Branches of the Presidential System Voters (Citizens) elect elect Legislative Executive (Congress) (President) approve nominate Checks and balances = limits each branch’s power, keeps one branch from having too much power Judicial separation of powers = division of the branches of government (US Supreme Court)