Africa: Governments SS7CG1; SS7CG2

Citizen Participation in Govt.

In each country, the people have different rights to participate in the government. – In some countries, any citizen can run for office or vote in elections. – In other countries there are restrictions placed on who can run for office and who can vote. – There are also countries where no citizen can vote and there are no elections. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION

TYPES OF GOVERNMENTS Autocratic Oligarchic Democratic

AUTOCRACY Oldest form of government. One of the most common forms of government. Maintain power through inheritance or ruthless use of military and police power.

AUTOCRACY Has a single ruler with unlimited power. Citizens have no ability to participate in the selection of the ruler or the creation of laws. Positive: Decisions can be made quickly. Negative: Needs of the people may be ignored.

AUTOCRACIES OF THE WORLD

OLIGARCHY “Rule by a Few” = country is ruled by a small group of people. Compared to Autocracies, more people are involved in the decision-making process. Citizens still do not participate in the government. Leaders get power through military, wealth, religion, or social status.

DEMOCRACY The people are in charge of the government because they can VOTE! All citizens have the opportunity to be leaders, vote for leaders, and vote for laws. All citizens participate in the decision-making process. All groups are represented. Negative: May be slow moving because all citizens must meet together to discuss and vote on issues.

*This is a “Polity Data Series Map” It tries to measure a country’s true democracy in government. It gives scores of -10 to +10. The countries in the lightest pink have the highest democracy score; darker colors have lower scores.

HOW GOVERNMENTS DETERMINE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION Low or No Participation AUTOCRACY OLIGARCHY DEMOCRACY High Participation

Parliamentary vs. Presidential Democracy PARLIAMENTARY: – Legislative and Executive Branches are the same. – Power is in the Parliament. – People elect Parliament; Parliament elects leaders. PRESIDENTIAL: – Legislative and Executive Branches are separate. – Power is divided between Federal and State governments. – People elect both the Legislative and Executive Branch leadership.