Forms of Government By Mr. Baker
Who Can Participate? Democracy - Supreme political authority rests with the people Constitutional Monarchy – The king or queen is limited by a constitution
Who Can Participate? Direct democracy - The people vote and decide on public policies directly Problem - It can only work in small communities where it is possible to meet in a central place
Who Can Participate? Indirect or representative democracy -representatives are elected to serve the public Problem – It’s very slow
Who Can Participate? Dictatorship/Authoritarian System - Those in power hold absolute authority over the people Absolute Monarchy – A king or queen holds absolute authority over the people
Who Can Participate? Dictatorships Militaristic Often hold illegal elections Come to office by force
Who Can Participate? Autocracy - Government in which a single person holds unlimited power
Who Can Participate? Oligarchy - Government in which a small elite group holds unlimited power
Classifying Governments Types of governments are classified according to 3 questions Who Can Participate? Democracy or Dictatorship Who Can Participate? Democracy Dictatorship Indirect Direct Oligarchy Autocracy Constitutional Monarchy Absolute Monarchy Authoritarian
Distribution of Power Unitary Government - All powers held by the gov’t belong to a single, central agency. The central gov’t creates local units of gov’t for their convenience.
Distribution of Power Federal Government - Power is divided between a central gov’t and several local gov’ts Both levels of government act directly and have their own sets of laws, officials, and agencies An authority superior to both the central and local gov’ts divides their powers which cannot be changed by either the local or central gov’t alone.
Distribution of Power Confederate Government - An alliance of independent states. A central organization, the confederate gov’t, only handles those matters that a member states assigns to it.
Classifying Governments Types of governments are classified according to 3 questions What is the distribution of power? Unitary National Gov’t Federal Nat’l and State Gov’t Confederate = Confederation = Confederal Confederate State Gov’ts
Relationship Between Legislative and Executive Branches Presidential Government - Branches are separate but equal Public elects members of both branches Both branches can block each other’s actions
Relationship Between Legislative and Executive Branches Parliamentary Government - Legislative branch is elected by the public. The legislature then elects a prime minister, who chooses his cabinet Executive is part of the legislature and is subject to its direct control
Relationship Between Legislative and Executive Branches If parliament defeats the prime minister on an important matter, the government may receive a “vote of no confidence” if a majority of people in the parliament feel this way The prime minister and his cabinet must resign and Parliament must choose a new prime minister
Classifying Governments Types of governments are classified according to 3 questions What is the relationship between the executive and legislative branch? Presidential Parliamentary
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