Myers Government Systems

Myers Add these things to your notes section of your notebook Government: an organization that sets up laws State: a region that shares a government Dependency: a region that belongs to another state Nation-State: a state that is independent from other states City State: Small city centered state (Ancient Rome) Empire: States that contain several countries Constitution: a set of laws that define and/or limit government power

Myers Number your paper from 1-10

Myers Kim Jong Il North Korea Stephan Harper Canada Gordon Brown England Raul Castro Cuba Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Iran Vicente Fox Mexico Barack Obama USA President Hu China 6 Jalal Talibani Iraq 8 10 Prime Minister Netenyahu Israel

Myers Color coded information Yellow Text = Name of government White Text = Definitions Red Text = Where it can be found in the world Green Text = Decision Making

Myers Absolute Monarchy One ruler who rules for life – holds all power Power is inherited Controls all the land, money, soldiers, and makes the laws Found in ancient Egypt, Maya, Aztec

Myers Absolute Monarchy Decision Making Ruler may consult advisors – but makes his or her own decisions

Myers Constitutional Monarchy King or queen inherit their positions No real power to rule or make laws Elected representatives make the laws The people hold the power to elect representatives Found in Great Britain, Canada, and Norway

Myers Constitutional Monarchy Decision Making Elected officials create laws much in the same way as a republican democratic society The monarch makes public appearances and acts as symbol of the country

Myers Communism Communal leadership- leader is not elected but holds the power One political party Government doesn’t allow criticism (executed or jailed) and you can’t vote Government controls farms and businesses Found in North Korea, Vietnam, China, former Soviet Union, and Cuba

Myers Communism Decision Making Premier (leader) meets with council Premier makes all decisions – knowing no criticism is allowed

Myers Dictatorship One person rules Leader is not a king or queen, and is not elected Leader has absolute power – and power is usually taken and kept by force Saddam Hussein’s Iraq Most communist states

Myers Dictatorship Decision making It is the leader’s decision and it is unquestioned

Myers Theocracy Governed by religious leader The religion guides the creation of all laws Only one religion allowed Found in Iran

Myers Theocracy Decision making Leader meets with council – usually religious advisors Religious law is referenced Decision is made and is final Power shared between leader and religious text

Myers Direct Democracy People living in small groups such as states or counties All adults take part in decisions Found in Colonial New England and many smaller political bodies

Myers Direct Democracy - Decision Making All adults vote directly for the issue or candidate Not for a representative who makes the decisions The individual holds the power

Myers Democratic Republic People vote for representatives The representatives vote on issue for the people The people hold power to elect reps. Reps power limited to will of the people Found in the United states

Myers Democratic Republic - Decision Making Representative, who was elected, makes decisions based on his or her philosophy

Myers Anarchy No rules No government No elected officials No law enforcement Chaos Not found in a specific country – it is the state of absence of government

Myers Anarchy Decision making Take care of yourself There are no decisions or laws to be made No one has power

Myers Scenarios A new issue has arisen in the your school SCHOOL UNIFORMS! You and your group must decide a principal would handle the new issue of school uniforms if the school was run like a(n):

Myers Political Systems Row 1 – Absolute monarchy Row 2 – Constitutional Monarchy Row 3 – Communist/Dictatorship Row 4 – Theocracy Row 5 – Direct Democracy Row 6 – Democratic Republic

Myers Scenarios You and a group of friends are trying to decide where to go out to eat for dinner. You and your row must decide how to decide where to go to eat of your group of friends were part of one of these governments:

Myers Political Systems Row 1 – Communist/Dictatorship Row 2 – Democratic Republic Row 3 – Direct Democracy Row 4 – Constitutional Monarchy Row 5 – Absolute monarchy Row 6 – Theocracy

Myers For your homework tonight Using printer paper Divide both front and back into 4 squares Title each square with one of the 8 political systems Draw a picture to define the political system

Myers For Example Dictatorship What I say goes…don’t you dare disagree!