Political Systems and Economic Systems

Political Systems Countries can have a variety of political systems. They include:  Direct Democracy  Representative Government  Monarchy  Dictatorship

Direct Democracy Sometimes called “pure democracy” People gathered to vote on laws in ancient Athens and Rome. Very difficult to do in large numbers. People may not know much about the issues they vote on. States and towns in the U.S. use ballot questions to get the public’s vote on important issues.

Representative Government Often called a “republic.” The people elect representatives to make the laws. Citizens must pay attention to vote smartly, but do not need to be experts on every law. Examples are U.S, Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom U.S. House of Representatives

Monarchy Ruler inherits the throne by birth. Citizens do not have a right to decide laws. Fewer monarchies in the last 100 years. Jordan, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia are examples. Others, such as United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, and Japan, are now democracies with monarch as ceremonial leader. Jordan’s King Abdullah

Dictatorship One person or one party holds total power to govern. Citizens have few rights and don’t make decisions. Dictators sometimes call themselves “president” and hold elections, but it is just for show because no one else is allowed to run. Examples: Cuba, North Korea, Libya, Egypt, China Iraq’s Former Dictator Saddam Hussein

How do dictators keep power? Dictators can use their armies to arrest or attack protesters. Dictators often promise a better life, especially for the poor. Many countries have never had democracy, so they are used to having dictators. Some dictators get support from other countries, such as Soviet Union’s support for Fidel Castro in Cuba. Fidel Castro of Cuba

What is economics? The study of how goods and services are produced, distributed, and consumed. The people who make goods or services are called “producers.” The people who buy goods or services are called “consumers.”

3 Different Economic Systems 1. Traditional 2. Market/Free Enterprise/Captialism 3. Command

Traditional Economy People find food for themselves and trade for needed goods. No companies or governments involved This system is found among herders or small farmers

Market Economy Sometimes called “capitalism” or “free- enterprise system” People own companies and decide what to produce to make consumers happy. Business owners can earn big profits or can lose their money if a business fails. Some businesses sell stock to get more capital to invest. New York Stock Exchange

Command Economy The government makes economic decisions about what should be produced, how the g/s should be produced, and for whom. Two types of command economies are socialism and communism. Workers arrive at a factory in the old Soviet Union in 1929.

Command Economies In socialism, the government runs some industries, such as oil, and uses profits to pay for health care, education. Ex. Venezuela In communism, the government runs all industries, owns all property, sets wages, and prices, and people must do as they are told. Ex. North Korea Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez

Communism vs. Capitalism Capitalists say that people have no reason to do a good job in communism because everyone gets the same pay. Products are boring and poorly made. Communists say that capitalism is unfair to the poor because people at the top of the company get rich while workers get low wages. They also say capitalists wipe out little companies and destroy the environment to get money.

Communism vs. Capitalism The Cold War from between U.S. and Soviet Union was based on getting nations to line up on the communist side or capitalist side. Today Russia allows some capitalism. Communist China also allows some capitalism. Factory workers in China

Putting Politics & Economics Together Communist countries have been dictatorships in which leaders have tried to control all aspects of the country. But not all dictators are Communists. Some want capitalist companies to come in and create jobs Ex. Batista in Cuba before Castro. Democracies are sometimes capitalist and sometimes socialist. Voters may elect a leader who promises to help the poor through socialism. Or voters may prefer capitalism as a way to create more jobs.