Governments of Latin America Activator With an elbow partner, compare the two types of government below according to how power is distributed and citizen participation. Federal Republic Dictatorship

Essential Question: How is a federal-republican system different from a dictatorship? Standard: SS6CG2a. Compare the federal-republican systems of the Federative Republic of Brazil (Brazil) and the United Mexican States (Mexico) to the dictatorship of the Republic of Cuba (Cuba).

Governments of Latin America Before we begin our studies of specific governments of Latin America, let’s review some important concepts.

Government The word government comes from the Latin verb gubernare, to steer.  The government steers the ship of the community.  All human groups and organizations--clubs, teams, families, nations--have governments.   How do we make decisions together?  That’s our system of government.

Autocracy In Greek, auto means self; cracy means power.   In an autocracy, one person has all the power to himself or herself.  In an autocratic dictatorship, the ruler grabs power by violence and holds on to power no matter what.

Democracy In Greek,  demos means people; cracy means power.  In a democracy, the people have the power.  The government is chosen by the people, and it serves the people.  The people have a voice and a choice.

Parliamentary Democracy In a parliamentary democracy, the voters elect the legislators, then the legislators pick one of themselves to be the head of government.  The head of government--or chief executive-- is still a legislator. The United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada are parliamentary democracies.

Presidential Democracy In a presidential democracy,  the voters elect the legislators, and the voters elect the head of government--or chief executive.  The head of government is not a legislator. The United States is a presidential democracy.

Form of Leadership Head of Government: A country’s top administrative leader who is designated to manage the day-to-day activities of the government.

Form of Leadership Head of Government Jair Bolsonaro Official photo of the 38th President of Brazil Head of Government Jair Bolsonaro BRAZIL Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador MEXICO If you or your students are not familiar with The Hunger Games, just skip to pictures of the actors or ask a student who does know how these relate.

Governments of Latin America What is the Legislature? The Law making body of government. For the U.S., it is Congress (House of Representatives and the Senate.)

Use your graphic organizer to take notes

Governments of Latin America Brazil and Mexico both have a Federal Republic.

Governments of Latin America A Federal Republic is a state in which the powers of the central government are restricted and the parts (states, colonies, provinces) keep a degree of self-government. Ultimate sovereign (supreme) power rests with the people who chose their representatives in government.

Federative Republic of Brazil (Brazil)

Form of Leadership in Brazil Brazil is a republic and a presidential democracy.  The current president , Jair Bolsonaro, took office on January 1, 2019 after winning 55% of the vote.  Brazil was governed by an autocratic military dictatorship from 1964 to 1985. Brazil has bicameral legislature (House of Chambers and Senate

Forms of Leadership in Legislature · The Bicameral National Congress (legislature with two houses) members are also elected. Federal Senate (upper house) and the Chamber of Deputies (lower house) Brazil has bicameral legislature (House of Chambers and Senate Brazil National Congress Building

Role of Citizens in Brazil Citizens vote to elect both the President and the members of the Legislature Voting is mandatory between the ages of 18-70 (voluntary between the ages of 16-18 and over 70).

Personal Freedoms in Brazil People can work where they want or start a business [free trade and free enterprise]. Citizens enjoy personal freedoms like freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.

United Mexican States (Mexico)

Form of Leadership in Mexico Mexico is a republic and a presidential democracy.  The current president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, known by his initials AMLO,  took office on December 1, 2018 with 53% of the vote. He had lost in two earlier elections.

Form of Leadership in Mexico · The Bicameral Congress of Union (legislature with two houses) members are also elected. Senate of the Republic (upper house) and the Chamber of Deputies (lower house) Congress of Union Building

Role of Citizens in Mexico Citizens vote to elect both the President and the members of the Legislature Voting is mandatory for citizens over the age of 18 (but it is not enforced)

Personal Freedoms in Mexico People can work where they want or start a business [free trade and free enterprise]. Citizens enjoy personal freedoms like freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.

Turn to a partner and discuss how living in Brazil and Mexico is similar to and different from living in the U.S. [in terms of government].

Republic of Cuba (Cuba)

Governments of Latin America Cuba is a dictatorship in which the ruler has absolute power (not restricted by a constitution of laws).

Form of Leadership in Cuba Cuba has a President who is head of government. The President (dictator) is elected by the Unicameral National Assembly (legislature with one house).

Form of Leadership in Cuba Fidel Castro ruled Cuba from 1959 to 2008. When he stepped down his brother Raul Castro became ruler. April 20, 2018, Raul stepped down and Miguel Diaz-Canel was officially named the new leader of Cuba. He serves as president. It's the first time in nearly six decades that Cuba is being led by a man not named Castro.

Form of Leadership in Cuba Cuba’s official name is the Republic of Cuba. Why is this misleading?

Form of Leadership in Cuba In the 1950’s, the US encouraged Fulgencio Batista to rule Cuba as an autocratic dictator.  In 1959, Fidel Castro, a 32-year-old former law student, organized a war, or guerra, with volunteer fighters, or guerrillas. They overthrew Batista, and Castro seized power.  Rich people fled to Miami, Florida. Everybody else cheered the exciting young rebel in his guerrilla uniform and scruffy beard.     Cuba became communist, with all farms and factories owned by the government; work and pay were controlled by a command economic system; newspapers were controlled by the government; opponents to the government were put in jail.       The communist Soviet Union helped Cuba pursue autocratic communism.  To protest, in 1960, the US put a total embargo on all Cuban goods which remained in place for 55 years.   Throughout the Cold War, the US felt threatened having a Soviet ally only 100 miles from Florida.     Fidel Castro ruled Cuba as an autocratic dictator for 52 years.  He died in 2016. His brother Raul Castro, now 87 years old, is still head of the Communist Party.  The new head of government is Miguel Diaz-Canel; he took office in 2018. The US has lifted the embargo on Cuba, and both countries are trying to move towards normal trade relations.  

Role of Citizens in Cuba Citizens can “vote” at the age of 16 for members of the Legislature. However, citizens can only vote for candidates selected by the Communist Party.

Personal Freedoms in Cuba Cuba’s citizens do not have personal freedoms like freedom of speech. They can be put in jail for criticizing the Communist Party or the president. People cannot just work where they want to work or open their own business.

Turn to a partner and discuss how Cuba’s current government contradicts the purpose of the Cuban Revolution.

Use your Government Chart to Complete the Comparison Graphic Organizer

Latin American Government Summarizer