Government

Citizen Participation Autocratic/ Autocracy Oligarchic/ Oligarchy Democratic/ Democracy Definition Characteristics:

Autocratic/ Autocracy Oligarchic/ Oligarchy Democratic/ Democracy Examples Picture

Citizen Participation Different governments decide a citizens’ role in government differently The government can share none, little, or most of its power with its citizens

3 main ways governments determine citizen participation . . . autocratic oligarchic democratic

rule by one OLIGARCHIC rule by all AUTOCRATIC rule by one OLIGARCHIC rule by the few DEMOCRATIC rule by all

Citizen’s Role in Government Autocratic (one) Oligarchic (few) Democratic (all) MOST citizen participation LEAST citizen participation

How Governments Determine Citizen Participation High Participation High Participation Select Citizens’ Participation General Citizens’ Participation Government Power Citizen Participation Government Power Government Power Citizen Participation Low or No Participation Low or No Participation Low or No Participation Autocratic Oligarchic Democracy

Autocratic One person (ex. King, Emperor, Czar) possesses unlimited power The citizen has limited, if any, role in government

Autocratic cont. Ruler gets power through inheritance or ruthless use of military & police power The oldest form of government One of the most common forms of government Remy, Richard C., United States Government- Democracy in Action (Columbus, OH: Glencoe, McGraw-Hill, 2006) 10

Examples of Autocratic Gov’ts Totalitarianism & Dictatorships Ideas of a single leader glorified Gov’t tries to control all parts of social & economic life People lack the power to limit their rulers Examples- Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Sudan Remy, Richard C., United States Government- Democracy in Action (Columbus, OH: Glencoe, McGraw-Hill, 2006) 11

Examples of Autocratic Gov’ts Absolute Monarchy King, queen, or emperor has unlimited power Position is usually inherited (from parents or other relatives) People lack the power to limit their rulers Absolute monarchs are rare today but from the 1400s to the 1700s they ruled most of Western Europe Example - King of Saudi Arabia Remy, Richard C., United States Government- Democracy in Action (Columbus, OH: Glencoe, McGraw-Hill, 2006) 12

Oligarchy Government by the few (a few powerful individuals make decisions) A small group exercises control, especially for corrupt and selfish purposes The citizen has a very limited role

Political disagreement is usually suppressed (sometimes violently) Oligarchy The ruling group gets its power from military power, wealth, religion or a combination. Political disagreement is usually suppressed (sometimes violently) Remy, Richard C., United States Government- Democracy in Action (Columbus, OH: Glencoe, McGraw-Hill, 2006) 14

Examples of Oligarchy Theocracy (Iran) a government run by religious authority A Deity (god) is recognized as the highest ruler The Deity's laws are interpreted by religious experts (priests, mullahs, etc.) CIA World Factbook Notes and Definitions 15

Examples of Oligarchy Communism (China) Gov’t plans & controls the economy a single party holds power state controls are forced NO private ownership of property All goods are to be equally shared by the people (ex. classless society) CIA World Factbook Notes and Definitions 16

WARNING! Autocracy & Oligarchy Sometimes claim they rule for the people. In reality, the people have very little say in both types of government. Example - may hold elections with only one candidate or control the results of elections Example - even when these governments have a legislature (branch that makes laws), they often only approve decisions made by the leaders. Remy, Richard C., United States Government- Democracy in Action (Columbus, OH: Glencoe, McGraw-Hill, 2006) 17

Democracy Citizens vote on government representatives & on specific issues People have the most power

Presidential Democracy Parliamentary Democracy Definition: Characteristics: Examples PICTURE:

2 main forms of democratic governments . . . Parliamentary: parliament (legislature) elects prime minister Presidential: citizens elect president

Presidential Democracy Different branches of government (executive, legislative, judicial) are equal in power Executive branch independent from the legislature (ex. president elected by citizens not legislature) Remy, Richard C., United States Government- Democracy in Action (Columbus, OH: Glencoe, McGraw-Hill, 2006) 21

Examples of Presidential Democracy Republic (U.S., Kenya, South Africa, India) the people elect representatives to govern and make laws

Parliamentary Democracy Legislature makes most decisions Executive (Prime Minister) elected by the legislature instead of by the citizens Example - Israel Remy, Richard C., United States Government- Democracy in Action (Columbus, OH: Glencoe, McGraw-Hill, 2006) 23

Examples of Parliamentary Democracy Constitutional Monarchy (Japan) Monarch (king or queen) must follow the laws of the constitution monarch is usually a figure-head, the real power rests with the legislature (Parliament/Congress) CIA World Factbook Notes and Definitions 24