Vocabulary totalitarian regime, authoritarianism, aristocracy, theocracy, oligarchy, anarchy, democracy, direct democracy, legislature, initiative, referendum, republic, popular sovereignty, democratic republic, representative democracy, universal suffrage, majority rule, majority, limited government, Chapter 1.2

Forms of Government Chapter 1.2

Types of Government Totalitarian Regime – Authoritarianism – Government controls all aspects of the political and social life of a nation or where government is controlled by one ruler – Examples North Korea and Cuba Aristocracy – “Rule by the best” ruled by members of the upper class – Examples – Great Britain prior to 1999 and Nigeria Chapter 1.2

Types of Government Theocracy – “Ruled by God”; in practice ruled by self-appointed religious leaders – Example – Islamic Republic of Iran; Islamic State Oligarchy – ‘ruled by the few’ – Example: Russian Federation; United States? Anarchy – Condition of no government – Example - Somalia Chapter 1.2

Direct Democracy as a Model Direct Democracy – A system in which the people make decisions directly rather than by elected representatives Ancient Athens, Greece Small communities Chapter 1.2

Athenian Democracy Most important feature was the Legislature – Government body responsible for making laws Composed of all citizens (approximately 6,000) – Only men (women, foreigners, and slaves not citizens) Requires high level of participation! Chapter 1.2

Athenian Democracy Direct democracy is highly unstable – Can lead to mob rule! Athenians believed that well informed citizens would always make the right decisions? Chapter 1.2

Modern Day Direct Democracy Initiative- procedure by which voters can propose a law or a constitutional amendment Referendum – legislature refers a law or amendment to the people for approval Recall – procedure allowing the people to vote to dismiss an elected official from state office. Chapter 1.2

Dangers of Direct Democracy Founding fathers believed in a government based on the “consent of the people” – Distrustful of anything that looked like mob rule Devised a system of institutions to filter the popular will through elected officials. Chapter 1.2

A Democratic Republic Republic – form of government where sovereign power rest with the people – Popular sovereignty Democratic Republic – elected representatives make and enforce laws Representative Democracy – same as above but may retain the monarchy in a ceremonial role. – Quirk a republic cannot have vestigial king! Chapter 1.2

Principles of Democratic Government Universal Suffrage – right of all adults to vote Majority Rule – greatest number of citizens in any political unit should elect the officials and determine policy. Chapter 1.2

Constitutional Democracy Key Concept : limited government – A government in which powers are limited by a written constitution Without a written plan – political decisions may be based on the whims or ambitions of individuals in government Chapter 1.2

Summary Questions – Submit on Edmodo Distinguish the major features of direct democracy and representative democracy. Chapter 1.2