Forms of Government

There is a disparity between developed and developing countries…why? 1) Environment 2) Politics & government 3) ___________________ 4) ___________________ 5) ___________________

Forms of Government Government = institutions and processes that societies create & use to organize affairs Who holds power? What roles do the people have? How are people in power chosen? How are decisions and laws carried out? How much power is given to those who govern?

CENTRALIZED Decisions made by central authority Autocracy  ultimate power in hands of one person DECENTRALIZED Power divided between central authority & smaller political units  Federal structures = smaller pol. units have powers over own affairs (but within larger gov’t) Forms of Government

MONARCHY One person rules  Can be autocratic King, Queen, Prince, Emir, Sultan, Emperor, Tzar, Shah, Pharaoh Forms of Government REPUBLIC No monarch Ranges from democracies to oligarchies to dictatorships (from decentralized to centralized/autocratic)

ABSOLUTE Monarch has all power (unlimited) People have no/little power MONARCHIES CONSTITUTIONAL Monarch’s powers are written in a constitution People have some involvement LIMITED Monarch’s powers limited to only ceremonial functions People have more involvement

DEMOCRACY Power rests w/people System where majority rules REPUBLICS (non-monarchies) OLIGARCHY Rule by the few Some people have power (others have little/no power) Junta, theocratic oligarchy, aristocracy DICTATORSHIP Absolute power rests w/person (who is not monarch) People have little/no power

Direct Democracy  All citizens participate  No representatives: citizens vote on everything!

Representative Democracy  All citizens participate BUT…  People elect representatives who vote on laws for the citizens  Representatives answer to the people (elections)  Can have Constitution

Federal Republic  Division of powers among national & local gov’t  Local gov’ts have some autonomy  Power rests w/voters who elect representative  Central gov’t restricted

Rule by few Can be a…. OLIGARCHY JUNTA Small group of military officers has power

Dictatorship  One person has power  By FORCE, not inherited  Dictators have absolute control over lives of their citizens  People have little to no voice  North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Il is considered a dictator  Totalitarian, authoritarian, despotism, military dictatorship, Fascism, Communism, etc.

Theocracy  “Theo” means “god” in Greek  THEO-cratic = ruled by god or higher power  Leaders ( autocratic or oligarchic ) are usually religious leaders and society uses religious law to settle its disputes  Example: The Islamic Republic of Iran is a modern theocracy that uses Muslim religious beliefs as a guide.

Anarchy  No government at all…

What is Political Culture? Political Culture is the combination of culture and government. Societies have specific cultural beliefs which affect the way they structure their governments and laws.

Governments, Politics, & Culture What is a “state”?

Government, Politics, & Culture What is a state? Ppl living in defined territory, organized politically, highest authority (sovereignty)

Government, Politics, & Culture 1. Population: must have people 2. Territory: Must have land with recognized boundaries 3. Sovereignty: Has supreme and absolute power within its own territory 4. Government: Every state has a Government 5. Recognition by other states  Characteristics of a State

Government, Politics, & Culture Why isn’t Illinois actually a state? Refer to the characteristics of a State. Can you think of a better term for Illinois?

Government, Politics, & Culture What is a Nation? – Body of people unified by culture (language, religion, history) – No political org., sovereignty, formal territorial boundaries Examples of Nations – Palestinians – Cherokee – Tibetans – Chinese – Kurds

Government, Politics, & Culture Nationalism: the belief that a people’s greatest loyalty should not be to a king or an empire but to a nation of people who share a common culture and history. Membership in a Nation is based on a feeling of belonging. This feeling often leads to Nationalism.

Government, Politics, & Culture Not all Nations have states. When a Nation does have a state, it is known as a Nation-State Homogenous Nation States- Mainly One Nation in the State. Heterogeneous Nation State- Contains Significant Numbers of other Nations

Source plans/who-rules