Governments and Levels of Citizen Participation
Distribution of Power
Unitary a form of government in which power is held by one central authority Examples of this would be a dictatorship, monarchy or communist country (China).
Ways Government Distributes Power Unitary Ways Government Distributes Power Regional Authority Regional Authority Central Authority Regional Authority Regional Authority
Confederation voluntary associations of independent states that, to secure some common purpose, agree to certain limitations on their power Example: European Union
Ways Government Distributes Power Confederation Ways Government Distributes Power Regional Authority Regional Authority Central Authority Regional Authority Regional Authority
Federal a form of government in which power is divided between one central and several regional authorities Example: United States and Mexico
Ways Government Distributes Power Federation / Federal Ways Government Distributes Power Regional Authority Regional Authority Central Authority Regional Authority Regional Authority
Citizen Participation
Dictatorship monarchy Autocratic government in which one person possesses unlimited power and the citizen has little if any role in the government. Dictatorship monarchy
Example: China, Vietnam Oligarchic government by the few; sometimes a government in which a small group exercises control (especially for corrupt and selfish purposes). The citizen has a very limited role. Example: China, Vietnam
Example: United States and Great Britain Democratic a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections. Example: United States and Great Britain
How Governments Determine Citizen Participation High Participation High Participation Select Citizens’ Participation General Citizens’ Participation Government Power Citizen Participation Government Power Government Power Citizen Participation Low or No Participation Low or No Participation Low or No Participation Autocratic Oligarchic Democracy
Democratic Governments
Parliamentary a system of government with the real executive power vested in the legislature; will usually have a Prime Minister elected by the legislature.
Presidential a system of government in which the president is constitutionally independent of the legislature; this person is elected seperately