Types of Government Direct Democracy Communism Monarchy Republic Dictatorship Theocracy
Monarchy Definition: Rule by a single person who inherits power Power can be absolute or limited
Who has power? King or Queen
People’s Rights Limited monarchy--constitution protects rights Absolute monarchy--king is dictator
Examples: Past - King Louis XIV of France (absolute) Current - Queen Elizabeth II of England (constitutional)
Map of current monarchies Red - absolute Green - constitutional Pink - traditional
Dictatorship Absolute power is concentrated in one person/group
Who has power? A person/group that takes over by force or charisma
People’s Rights Freedoms can be given or taken away at the leader’s whim.
Examples: Past - Adolph Hitler of Germany Current - Kim Jong Il of North Korea
Communism System of single-party rule with the end goal of absolute equality
Who has power? One political party, headed by its leader Eventually, gov’t should fade away
People’s Rights Value group rights over individual rights (ex. no private ownership)
Examples: Past - Soviet Union Current - Cuba
Theocracy Religious rule (no separation of church and state)
Who has power? A person or group that acts as a religious authority Sometimes the leader is said to be able to communicate with god or is actually a god him/herself.
People’s Rights Depends on what your holy book says.
Examples: Past - Ancient Egypt Current - Vatican
Map of current theocracies
Direct Democracy The people make all decisions for themselves through majority rule
Who has power? The majority
People’s Rights The majority decides which rights are allowed or denied to certain groups
Examples: Past - Ancient Athens Current - None (New England town hall mtgs)
Republic People elect politicians to serve as their representatives in gov’t
Who has power? Representatives and the people who elect them
People’s Rights Usually rights are protected by a constitution
Examples: Past - Ancient Rome Current - U.S.A.
Map of current republics
What the founding fathers really thought about it Democracy What the founding fathers really thought about it
Benjamin Franklin "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!"
What now? Hey guys! What’s for lunch?
Thomas Jefferson A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where 51% of the people may take away the rights of the other 49%.
John Adams That the desires of the majority of the people are often for injustice and inhumanity against the minority, is demonstrated by every page of the history of the world.
James Madison Democracy was the right of the people to choose their own tyrant.
Alexander Hamilton Real liberty is never found in despotism or in the extremes of democracy...
OMG! The United States is NOT A Democracy
The United States is A Republic
Democracy Republic All people vote for representatives to do their everyday voting for them Majority does NOT rule when their will goes against the principles of the Constitution Rule by elected representatives in different branches All people vote on all things Majority always rules Rule by the people
James Garfield The people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature....
What happens when we let the majority vote on the rights of minorities?
What about today?