Basics of American Government
Majority/Majority Rule Majority means more than 50% Majority Rule means the greatest number Majority Rule with minority rights guarantees no tyranny of majority
Major Types of Governments Autocracy Oligarchy Democracy
Autocracy One person has all the power In the past it was kings, emperors and czars Three different types Monarchies Totalitarian Dictatorships
Types/Forms of Governments Totalitarian Regime The government controls everything and the citizens have no power. People have little freedom in these societies. Examples: Soviet Union 1917-1991 Communist Germany 1933-1945 Fascist In a Communist society, there is little freedom, but great equality In a Fascist society, there is little freedom and little equality
Aristocracy/Monarchy A person (King/Queen) runs the government because they were born into it Absolute monarchy: king or queen is in complete control Constitutional monarchy: king or queen is under the Constitution England: Queen Elizabeth II is the symbolic leader today
Oligarchy A political system run by a few elite people Their interests are in doing something to benefit themselves, not the people They are usually self-appointed
Democracy Comes from the ancient Greeks-Aristotle Power is in the hands of the people There are two types of democracy Direct Democracy Representative Democracy
Direct Democracy Citizens, not representatives make all of the decisions That would mean that each of us would vote on every issue in government
Representative Democracy This is the system we use in the United States It creates a Republic, which means we elect people to represent us in our federal government (popular sovereignty) It also means we have universal suffrage. Everyone who is a citizen has the right to vote.
Characteristics of Democracy Free Elections Competing Political Parties Citizen Participation A Favorable Economy Widespread Education A Strong Civil Society A Social Consensus
Anarchy There is no government or laws, people govern themselves It gives great freedom and equality but creates a weak state This system has not really been recognized in politics
What is meant by citizen? How has this changed since America became a country? Only white male property owners Slaves (15th amendment) 1870 Women (19th amendment) 1920
Divided Government This has to do with the Executive and Legislative branches of government The President is from one political party and the legislature is from another. Currently in our United States government, we have a divided government President Obama is a Democrat Congress has a Republican majority
Liberal/Conservative Liberals believe that things can be changed for the better, but the system is not unjust or broken and it can be changed through the political process. Considered left (Democratic) Conservatives believe current structures are fine and do not see a need for change in institutions. Considered right (Republican)