Forms of Governments

Sponge #42 How do you think you performed on the History test? Is there anything you are still confused about pertaining to the History standards? If so, what?

Quick Test Review Let’s discuss some of the questions on the History test before we proceed to Government standards!!!!

Activator: Hmmm…Why do we need governments anyways?... Hmmm…Why do we need governments anyways?... Discuss with your elbow partner. (2 mins)

Why Do We Have Governments? All countries require governments to function. Governments provide laws, structure, public services, and national defense. There are different types of governments:

What Are We About to Learn? SS6CG4: The student will compare and contrast various forms of government. What Will You Be Able To Do? Describe the ways government systems distribute power: unitary, confederation, and federal.

To study governments, geographers look at the following: Systems – How the power is distributed. Types – Who rules and who participates.

Systems of Government are based on one question: How is the power distributed? There are three ways governments distribute power: Unitary Confederation Federal

Unitary One central government controls everything. Power is not shared between states, counties or provinces. Examples : United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, and Spain

Central Authority Unitary Ways Government Distributes Power Regional Authority

Confederation A voluntary association of independent states that agrees to follow a powerful central government. Nations can choose to follow or not follow the lead of the weak central government. Examples: Confederate States of America ( ), Russian Federation.

Central Authority Confederation Ways Government Distributes Power Regional Authority

Federal Power is shared by a powerful central government. States or provinces are given considerable self rule, usually through their own legislatures. Examples: United States, Germany

Federation / Federal Ways Government Distributes Power Regional Authority Central Authority Regional Authority

Ways Government Distributes Power Federal Unitary Confederation All key powers are held by the central government State/regional authorities hold most of the power Strong central government Weaker central government

Warm Up Let’s See What You Remember Identify the government system. WRITE THE STATEMENTS!!!! 1.) ______ voluntary association of independent states that agrees to follow a powerful central government. 2.) _____ power is shared by a powerful central government. 3.) _____ one central government controls everything.

Before We Move On…. Systems of Government are based on one question which is????????

Draw the Following Diagram UnitaryConfederationFederal

Sponge # 44 Read pages in CRCT workbook. 5 mins.

Hot Seat I placed sticky notes under some desks, please check to see whether you have a sticky note under your desk. If you have a sticky note under your desk, please raise your hand. You have to read and answer the question aloud.

Types of Government are based on one key question: Who governs (leader) and what is the citizen participation ? There are three types of governments: Autocracy, Oligarchy, and Democracy

Autocracy Government in which the power to govern is held by one person. Generally the power to rule is inherited or by military force.

Autocracy --Has a single ruler with unlimited power --Citizens have no ability to participate in the selection of the ruler or in the creation of laws --One benefit of this type of government is that decisions for a country can be made quickly However, the needs of the people may be ignored or unheard --The leader may make poor or selfish decisions that hurt the people

There are three forms of Autocracy. Autocracy DictatorshipAbsoluteMonarchyConstitutionalMonarchy

#1 Dictatorship The leader has not been elected and uses force to control all aspects of social and economic life. Examples: Adolf Hitler in Germany and Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union

#2 Absolute Monarchy A monarchy has a king, queen, emperor or empress. The power is usually inherited or passed down from family members. The monarch has absolute power meaning they can make all decisions without consulting anyone.

#3 Constitutional Monarchy Kings, queens or emperors share power with elected legislatures. Generally the Kings are nothing more than figureheads. The government is a democratic one that limits the monarchs power. Example: Great Britain * Figurehead-A person who is head of a group in name only, having no authority or responsibility.

Oligarchy --“rule by a few” = country is ruled by a small group of people A government in which a few people such as a dominant clan or clique have power. The group gets their power from either military, wealth or social status. Elections may be held but offer only one candidate. Examples: Greek city states

Oligarchy Elections may be held but offer only one candidate. Citizens do not participate in the government Examples: Greek city states

Democracy In a democracy, the government is “Rule by the people.” There are two forms of democracy Direct Democracy – People vote on all the issues. Representative Democracy – People elect representatives and give them the power to vote on issues. Example: United States

In a democracy…. Individual freedom and equality is valued. Free elections are held. Decisions are based on majority rule. All candidates can express their views freely. Citizens vote by secret ballot.

Democratic Governments There are two major forms of democratic governments: Parliamentary Presidential

Parliamentary Democracy Voters elect members to the Parliament (legislature) Parliament has two Houses: House of Commons: The Political Party with the most votes in the House of Commons chooses the Prime Minister, the government’s leader with no set length of term. House of Lords: Little power with most members being nobles having inherited their titles

Parliamentary Democracy – Citizens vote for members of the legislative branch, and then the legislature chooses the leader The citizens DO NOT get to directly choose the leader – They have to vote on members of legislature first, and then those representatives choose the leader – Head of government and head of state are TWO different people Examples: United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Australia

Presidential Democracy Voters elect legislators Voters elect (indirectly) the president. Therefore, in the presidential system voters have a more direct say about those who serve in two branches of the government : Legislative Executive Examples: U.S.A., Russia, Mexico

Presidential Democracy Unique thing about this type: there’s a separation of powers between the branches of government The leader is constitutionally independent of the legislature Example: the leader does not make the laws, the legislature does. Examples: U.S.A., Russia, Mexico

Parliamentary System Presidential System Executive Legislative Citizens Citizens Legislative Executive Elect Elect Select Elect

How Governments Determine Citizen Participation Democratic OligarchicAutocratic Government Power Citizen Participation Government Power General Citizens’ Participation Government Power Citizen Participation Select Citizens’ Participation High Participation Low or No Participation

Putting it all together…. The United Kingdom is an autocratic constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy and a unitary system. The United States is a presidential democracy with a federal system. What do those statements mean?

What do you remember? What are the three types of governments? What are the three systems of government?

How Governments Determine Citizen Participation Democratic OligarchicAutocratic Government Power Citizen Participation Government Power General Citizens’ Participation Government Power Citizen Participation Select Citizens’ Participation High Participation Low or No Participation

Ways Government Distributes Power Federal Unitary Confederation All key powers are held by the central government State/regional authorities hold most of the power Strong central government Weaker central government