Fundamentals of Government Unit one – why government? Systems of Rule

Do now Family oriented Loved to read, very knowledgeable Courageous soldier War hero Aspiring Artist Do you think this person would make a good leader? Answer why/why not

Adolf Hitler: Known as one of the most evil people in history.

Alaska Largest State Only state that borders two oceans Alaska was sold at .02 cents per acre

Fill in your map Alabama AL Alaska

Systems of Government

Democracy “Government of the people, by the people, for the people” – Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address, 1863. Supreme political authority rests with the people. Direct Democracy – where the will of the people is translated into public policy (law) directly by the people. (This can only work in small communities, where citizens can meet in a central place and government problems are few and simple)

Democracy cont Direct Democracy does NOT exist at the national level anywhere in the world. Indirect democracy – representatives – small groups of people, chosen by the people to act as their representatives, express popular will. It is government by popular consent – government with the consent of the governed Is the USA for sure an indirect democracy??

Republican Republic – sovereign power is held by those eligible to vote, while the political power is exercised by representatives chosen by and held responsible to those citizens. Many Americans use the terms democracy, republic, representative democracy, and republic interchangeably to describe the USA. In short – the people rule.

authoritarian A form of government in which those in power hold absolute and unchallengeable authority over the people. All dictatorships are authoritarian

dictatorship Dictatorship – A form of government in which the leader has absolute power and authority.

Dictatorship cont. Two types: Autocracy – government in which a single person holds unlimited political power. Oligarchy – government in which the power to rule is held by a small, usually self- appointed elite.

Totalitarian System of government where person/people in power exercise COMPLETE power over nearly every aspect of human affairs.

What do YOU think? What system of government would you prefer to live under? Why/why not

Cooperative learning Groups of three, each will be assigned to summarize the following governments in their own words: Democracy, Dictatorship, Totalitarian, and Republic Lastly, present the answer to the following question: Is this the best form of government to live in? Why/Why not.

Quiz 10 minutes 8/30/13 1. Name three types of Government 2. True or False? Direct Democracy exists in the United States. 3. True or False? All dictatorships are authoritarian.

FRIDAY shout outs!!