Types of Government Defining, Classifying and Comparing

The 3 Major Types Autocracy: Autocracy: Oligarchy: Oligarchy: Democracy: Democracy:

Autocracy Dictatorship: Gov’t ruled by an individual without hereditary ascension, often militarily based. Dictatorship: Gov’t ruled by an individual without hereditary ascension, often militarily based. Example: Iraq under Saddam Hussein Example: Iraq under Saddam Hussein Monarchy: Gov’t headed by a King/Queen through hereditary title. Monarchy: Gov’t headed by a King/Queen through hereditary title. Absolute: Government where the king or queen has complete and total power over all aspects of his/her subjects' lives. Absolute: Government where the king or queen has complete and total power over all aspects of his/her subjects' lives. Example: France under Louis XIV Example: France under Louis XIV Constitution: Government in which a King/Queen acts as the head of state of a written constitution. Constitution: Government in which a King/Queen acts as the head of state of a written constitution. Example: United Kingdom Example: United Kingdom

Oligarchy Government in which power effectively rests with a small elite segment of society distinguished by royal, wealth, intellectual, family. Often with distorted election process. Government in which power effectively rests with a small elite segment of society distinguished by royal, wealth, intellectual, family. Often with distorted election process. Example: 20 th South Africa under white rule. Example: 20 th South Africa under white rule.

Democracy The true power lays with the people. The true power lays with the people. Examples: Examples: Direct: Exists in only small areas. Each individual has a direct say/direct vote. Direct: Exists in only small areas. Each individual has a direct say/direct vote. Examples: Class room vote or some small town hall meetings. Examples: Class room vote or some small town hall meetings. Representative: Most common. People elect someone to understand the issues and vote for the people they represent. Representative: Most common. People elect someone to understand the issues and vote for the people they represent. Example: United States Example: United States

Parliamentary Systems Type of representative democracy used in most democracies. Type of representative democracy used in most democracies. Many parties - due to either no election districts (Israel) or multi-person districts. Many parties - due to either no election districts (Israel) or multi-person districts. Majority party or coalition party (several smaller parties combined to form the majority) have control of the government. Majority party or coalition party (several smaller parties combined to form the majority) have control of the government. Executive (president or prime minister, or both) is selected by majority or coalition party. Executive (president or prime minister, or both) is selected by majority or coalition party. Some have a unicameral parliament. (ex – Greece, Finland, Israel) Some have a unicameral parliament. (ex – Greece, Finland, Israel)

Red – constitutional monarchies Orange – parliamentary republics where parliamentary is superior to head of state Turquoise – parliamentary republics where head of state is superior to parliament

Comparing Governments- Discussion Questions What do you see as the strengths of each form of government? What do you see as the strengths of each form of government? What do you feel are the weaknesses of each form of government? What do you feel are the weaknesses of each form of government?

Economic Theories Main Systems Affecting Governments

Different Views of the Following: Ownership of Property Ownership of Property Principle of Operation Principle of Operation Wages Wages Profits Profits Government’s role/involvement Government’s role/involvement Amount of Competition Amount of Competition Production Decisions Production Decisions

Main Types of Economic Government Theories Communism Socialism Capitalism

Capitalism Ownership of Property: Private, most businesses not governmentally owned (or limited government ownership). Ownership of Property: Private, most businesses not governmentally owned (or limited government ownership). Principle of Operation: Free market system with open competition, accumulation of wealth is possible and heavily encourages investment. Principle of Operation: Free market system with open competition, accumulation of wealth is possible and heavily encourages investment. Example: United States (but we are not Example: United States (but we are not purely capitalistic)

Continued… Wages: Will also vary depending on educational levels, type of work, and the amount of skill required. Wages: Will also vary depending on educational levels, type of work, and the amount of skill required. Profits: Vastly ranges depending on type of business or services offered. Profits: Vastly ranges depending on type of business or services offered.

Capitalism Continued Government’s role/involvement: Laissez-faire (hands off). Examples when they do get involved is when a monopoly develops or when economic conditions dictate their involvement. Government’s role/involvement: Laissez-faire (hands off). Examples when they do get involved is when a monopoly develops or when economic conditions dictate their involvement. Creation of low income programs to provide aid or relief. Creation of low income programs to provide aid or relief. Example: Food Stamps, Welfare Example: Food Stamps, Welfare Also when gov’t regulations are needed to protect the consumers. Also when gov’t regulations are needed to protect the consumers. Example: FDA and EPA Example: FDA and EPA

Continued… Amount of Competition: Unlimited Competition, sometimes markets can become supersaturated. Amount of Competition: Unlimited Competition, sometimes markets can become supersaturated. Example: Gas Stations and fast food Example: Gas Stations and fast food Production Decisions: Entirely up to the owner based on demand for products. Can increase or decrease production as they see fit. Production Decisions: Entirely up to the owner based on demand for products. Can increase or decrease production as they see fit.

Capitalism Issues BANK

Side effect of modern capitalism

Socialism Ownership of Property: Some public ownership (or cooperative ownership) of land, factories and other means of production. Ownership of Property: Some public ownership (or cooperative ownership) of land, factories and other means of production. Principle of Operation: The idea that everybody shares and that the distribution of wealth and opportunities is more equal. Principle of Operation: The idea that everybody shares and that the distribution of wealth and opportunities is more equal.

Socialist Communes

Continued… Wages: Everybody makes the same due to the idea of sharing equally all profits and products. Wages: Everybody makes the same due to the idea of sharing equally all profits and products. Profits: Harder to accumulate wealth; people usually get enough for everyone to live well but extravagantly. Profits: Harder to accumulate wealth; people usually get enough for everyone to live well but extravagantly.

Socialism Continued Government’s role/involvement: Controls raw materials used in production of goods, aides in distribution of products and wages, may also operate certain industries and provide social welfare programs. Government’s role/involvement: Controls raw materials used in production of goods, aides in distribution of products and wages, may also operate certain industries and provide social welfare programs. Amount of Competition: Limited due to the fact that everyone shares and is in it together. Amount of Competition: Limited due to the fact that everyone shares and is in it together. Production Decisions: Dictated by the needs of the people and regulated by the government. Production Decisions: Dictated by the needs of the people and regulated by the government.

Capitalism to Socialism

Communism Ownership of Property: The State owns the land, businesses, raw materials and transportation. Ownership of Property: The State owns the land, businesses, raw materials and transportation. Principle of Operation: The gov’t makes the decisions for the nation’s economy with the idea of meeting the basic needs of the people. Principle of Operation: The gov’t makes the decisions for the nation’s economy with the idea of meeting the basic needs of the people.

View of Communism

Continued… Wages: Enough for people to survive and provide the basic means for their family. Wages: Enough for people to survive and provide the basic means for their family. Profits: Goes to the state (or communist party leaders) Profits: Goes to the state (or communist party leaders)

Communism Continued Government’s role/involvement: Gov’t controls all aspects including the mass media. Government’s role/involvement: Gov’t controls all aspects including the mass media. Amount of Competition: Limited since all businesses are owned and operated by the gov’t. Amount of Competition: Limited since all businesses are owned and operated by the gov’t. Production Decisions: Government officials make all decisions on what to produce, how much and then how to distribute those goods throughout the nation. Production Decisions: Government officials make all decisions on what to produce, how much and then how to distribute those goods throughout the nation.

Russian Breadlines under Communism

Dangers of Communism

For Discussion Are there any particular aspects of these forms that appeal to you? Which ones? Which ones don’t?