Government in Africa (Part 1) November 12, 2014

Ways that Government systems distribute power There are 3 different ways that governments can distribute power: There are 3 different ways that governments can distribute power: Unitary: the central government possesses most of the decision-making power Unitary: the central government possesses most of the decision-making power Confederation: Local governments or individual states possess more power than a weak central government Confederation: Local governments or individual states possess more power than a weak central government Federal: Power is split between a central government and individual state governments. There is often a constitution that defines the powers of each government. Federal: Power is split between a central government and individual state governments. There is often a constitution that defines the powers of each government.

Ways that Government Systems Determine Citizen Participation Autocratic: Government in which one person possesses unlimited power and the citizen has little, if any, role in the government Autocratic: Government in which one person possesses unlimited power and the citizen has little, if any, role in the government Oligarchic: Government by a few, and the citizen has a very limited role Oligarchic: Government by a few, and the citizen has a very limited role Democratic: Government where the supreme power is held by the people, and usually exercised through a system of periodically held free elections Democratic: Government where the supreme power is held by the people, and usually exercised through a system of periodically held free elections

Two Types of Democratic Governments Presidential Democracy: A system of government where the president is the head of government and is constitutionally independent of the legislature Presidential Democracy: A system of government where the president is the head of government and is constitutionally independent of the legislature Parliamentary Democracy: A system of government where the real power lies with a cabinet made up of legislators. This group is responsible to the legislature. There may be a prime minister that is elected by the legislature Parliamentary Democracy: A system of government where the real power lies with a cabinet made up of legislators. This group is responsible to the legislature. There may be a prime minister that is elected by the legislature

Kenya Kenya’s government is a republic Kenya’s government is a republic Their government is ruled by a president and a one- house legislature, called the National Assembly Their government is ruled by a president and a one- house legislature, called the National Assembly Since Kenya is a republic, they distribute power in the federal style and determine citizen participation in the style of a presidential democracy Since Kenya is a republic, they distribute power in the federal style and determine citizen participation in the style of a presidential democracy Role of the citizen in Kenya: all citizens over the age of 18 can vote Role of the citizen in Kenya: all citizens over the age of 18 can vote They vote for the president and half of the National Assembly They vote for the president and half of the National Assembly The other half of the National Assembly is appointed by the president The other half of the National Assembly is appointed by the president

South Africa South Africa’s government is a republic South Africa’s government is a republic They have a president and a two-house legislature, called the National Assembly They have a president and a two-house legislature, called the National Assembly South Africa distributes power in the federal style and determine citizen participation in the style of a presidential democracy South Africa distributes power in the federal style and determine citizen participation in the style of a presidential democracy All citizens over the age of 18 are allowed to vote All citizens over the age of 18 are allowed to vote They vote for most of the National Assembly They vote for most of the National Assembly The National Assembly then elects the president The National Assembly then elects the president

Standard of Living in Africa The governments of various countries play a part in how the people of that country are able to live The governments of various countries play a part in how the people of that country are able to live Remember, your standard of living is directly tied to your literacy Remember, your standard of living is directly tied to your literacy The higher the literacy rate, the higher the standard of living usually is The higher the literacy rate, the higher the standard of living usually is The government can affect a citizen’s ability to be educated in many countries in Africa The government can affect a citizen’s ability to be educated in many countries in Africa

Kenya’s literacy and standard of living Kenya has a literacy rate of about 87% Kenya has a literacy rate of about 87% The government has made the improvement of education a priority in the country The government has made the improvement of education a priority in the country In larger cities, both boys and girls are given access to an education In larger cities, both boys and girls are given access to an education However, in rural areas, only boys are educated However, in rural areas, only boys are educated Many parents still follow the traditional view that girls only need to get ready for marriage Many parents still follow the traditional view that girls only need to get ready for marriage The government is working to get parents to realize the value of educating all children The government is working to get parents to realize the value of educating all children

Sudan’s literacy and standard of living Sudan has been involved in a 50 year civil war between the Muslim northern half of they country and the non-Muslim southern half of the country Sudan has been involved in a 50 year civil war between the Muslim northern half of they country and the non-Muslim southern half of the country This finally resulted in the creation of the country of South Sudan in 2011 This finally resulted in the creation of the country of South Sudan in 2011 Sudan’s national literacy rate is about 61% Sudan’s national literacy rate is about 61% As with Kenya, children living in cities, both boys and girls, have the best chance of getting an education As with Kenya, children living in cities, both boys and girls, have the best chance of getting an education In rural areas, many girls are excluded because they are seen as only needing to get ready for marriage In rural areas, many girls are excluded because they are seen as only needing to get ready for marriage

South Sudan’s literacy and standard of living The 50 year civil war in Sudan did most of its damage to the southern part of the country – this is the part that became South Sudan in 2011 The 50 year civil war in Sudan did most of its damage to the southern part of the country – this is the part that became South Sudan in 2011 Many schools were left in ruins Many schools were left in ruins Even though South Sudan models its educational programs like Sudan does, the national literacy rate is only 27% Even though South Sudan models its educational programs like Sudan does, the national literacy rate is only 27% The literacy rate for females is the lowest in the world – 16% The literacy rate for females is the lowest in the world – 16% South Sudan’s government recognizes these problems and is working to improve the education system South Sudan’s government recognizes these problems and is working to improve the education system

Questions 1. What type of government does Kenya have? 1. What type of government does Kenya have? 2. Who is in charge of their government? 2. Who is in charge of their government? 3. How does Kenya distribute power? 3. How does Kenya distribute power? 4. How does Kenya determine citizen participation? 4. How does Kenya determine citizen participation? 5. Who has the right to vote in Kenya? 5. Who has the right to vote in Kenya? 6. Who are Kenyans voting for? 6. Who are Kenyans voting for? 7. What type of government does South Africa have? 7. What type of government does South Africa have? 8. Who is in charge of South Africa’s government? 8. Who is in charge of South Africa’s government?

Questions 9. How does South Africa distribute power? 9. How does South Africa distribute power? 10. How does South Africa determine citizen participation? 10. How does South Africa determine citizen participation? 11. Who has the right to vote in Kenya? 11. Who has the right to vote in Kenya? 12. Who are South Africans voting for? 12. Who are South Africans voting for? 13. How does literacy rate affect the standard of living in many countries? 13. How does literacy rate affect the standard of living in many countries? 14. What is Kenya’s government trying to get parents to realize about education? 14. What is Kenya’s government trying to get parents to realize about education? 15. Who was fighting a civil war in Sudan? 15. Who was fighting a civil war in Sudan? 16. Why are girls excluded from education in Sudan? 16. Why are girls excluded from education in Sudan? 17. Which country has the lowest literacy for girls? 17. Which country has the lowest literacy for girls?