A Guide to Understanding Systems of Government Making Systems Simple! SS.7.C.3.2 Compare parliamentary, federal, confederal, and unitary systems of government. A Guide to Understanding Systems of Government

First things First PowerPoint ID Take out a sheet of paper Describe the diagrams on the following slides – you can use complete sentences or just descriptive words.

Diagram #1 State/ Regional Government State/ Regional Government Central Government State/ Regional Government State/ Regional Government If doing the carousel activity, use these slides to debrief the activity. If doing the PowerPoint ID activity, go through these three slides allowing time for students to describe each diagram. Students may work individually or in groups. The diagrams will be explained and dissected in future slides. This activity is to assess knowledge base and gain a foundation and familiarity with the diagrams.

Diagram #2 State/ State/ Regional Government Regional Government Central Government If doing the carousel activity, use these slides to debrief the activity. If doing the PowerPoint ID activity, go through these three slides allowing time for students to describe each diagram. Students may work individually or in groups. The diagrams will be explained and dissected in future slides. This activity is to assess knowledge base and gain a foundation and familiarity with the diagrams. State/ Regional Government State/ Regional Government

Diagram #3 Central Government State/ Regional Government State/ If doing the carousel activity, use these slides to debrief the activity. Review the words on the diagram posters and ask students why they selected those words. If doing the PowerPoint ID activity, go through these three slides allowing time for students to describe each diagram. Students may work individually or in groups. After reviewing all three diagrams, go back to Diagram #1 and ask students for their descriptive words about the diagrams. Keep a list on the board or chart paper. Ask students to explain their word choice when describing the diagrams. The diagrams will be explained and dissected in future slides. This activity is to assess knowledge base and gain a foundation and familiarity with the diagrams. State/ Regional Government State/ Regional Government

Federal Unitary Confederal Diagramming Systems The diagrams you just looked at were outlining three different systems of government: Federal Unitary Confederal Have students write down these three systems of government on a sheet of paper. They will be referred to throughout the presentation and having the students write down the names of the systems will assist in clarity when explaining. Students can take notes as needed throughout the presentation. The diagrams of these systems of government show how power is distributed among the central government and state/regional governments.

Unitary System Central Government One central governing body State/ Regional Government State/ Regional Government One central governing body Smaller governments only have the powers granted, or delegated, to them Central Government Emphasize with students that a unitary form of government is the most centralized, as the power is concentrated in the central government. State/ Regional Government State/ Regional Government

Confederal System State/regional governments hold the power State/ Central government receives power from state/regional government Central Government State/ Regional Government State/ Regional Government Emphasize with students that a confederal form of government is the least centralized, as the power is spread out among smaller state/regional governments.

Federal System State/ Regional Government Power shared between central and state/regional governments State/ Regional Government Central Government Emphasize with students that in a federal form of government, the power is shared between the central government and smaller state/regional governments. This means that this system of government is not “centralized” or “decentralized,” but falls somewhere in the middle. State/ Regional Government State/ Regional Government

Federal Confederal Unitary Line them up! These three systems of government are all about the distribution of power. How would you place these systems on a “power line,” from most centralized power to least centralized power? Federal Confederal Unitary

First of all….Foldable Notes! Follow these steps to make foldable notes for this lesson: Fold one sheet of paper in half, long ways (hot dog), to create a crease. Unfold paper and lie flat. Cut one side in 3 equal parts, creating flaps. When folded in half, it will look like the image below. Students show follow instructions on slide using a sheet of regular notebook/computer paper. Fold in half long ways. Divide the sheet into 3 equal parts. Cut one side in 3 equal parts creating flaps. FLREA Copyright 2012

Label Your Foldable: Draw a line across your foldable. On the outside write the names of the systems of government in order from most centralized to least centralized. Most Centralized Least Centralized Students should label the front of the flaps according to the diagram provided on the slide.

On the Inside: Draw a diagram of each system under the appropriate flap and a written description of each system of government. Diagram Diagram Diagram Inside, students should (1) draw the diagram for the government on one flap and (2) write a description of the government on the second flap. Description Description Description

Unitary Federal Confederal Most Centralized Least Centralized Modern Examples: France United Kingdom Modern Examples: Canada United States Modern Examples: European Union

The Differences in Representative Democracies Comparing Parliamentary and Presidential Systems The Differences in Representative Democracies

Parliamentary System Voters Prime Minister Selects/ Removes Parliament Appoints Elects Cabinet In most countries with representative democracies, they have a parliamentary system in place. Parliament, which has both legislative and executive function (because they make and enforce the laws), is elected by the people. Members of Parliament then appoint the Prime Minister, who serves as the head of the government. The Prime Minister appoints members of the cabinet who then run various ministries, or departments, of government. Different parliamentary systems may have different organizational structures in different countries. The main distinction between parliamentary and presidential systems is the selection processes and functions of the head of government/chief executive, as well as the distribution of power in different branches of government. These systems do have a separate judicial system that is not outlined in this presentation. Voters

Appoints with Senate approval Presidential System Legislative Branch Executive Branch Congress House Senate President Appoints with Senate approval In a Presidential system, the President is elected by the voters (either directly or indirectly, i.e. electoral college). They serve as the chief executive/head of the executive branch and are responsible for executing, or carrying out, the law. The legislative and executive branches of government are independent of one another, each holding their own power and responsibilities. Different presidential systems may have different organizational structures in different countries. The main distinction between parliamentary and presidential systems is the selection processes and functions of the head of government/chief executive as well as the distribution of power in different branches of government. These systems do have a separate judicial system that is not outlined in this presentation. *Some appointments require approval by the legislative branch Elects Elects Cabinet Voters

Florida’s Government Voters Legislative Branch Executive Branch Florida Legislature House Senate Governor On the state level, the Governor is directly elected by the voters. S/he serves as the chief executive/head of the executive branch in Florida and is responsible for executing, or carrying out, the law. The legislative and executive branches of government are independent of one another, each holding their own power and responsibilities. Florida has a separate judicial system that is not outlined in this presentation. Elects Elects Cabinet Voters Elects

Checking for Understanding Remember that systems of government are about how power is distributed between central governments and smaller state/regional governments, not within the governments .