SS7CG4 - The student will explain various forms of government SS7CG6 – The student will explain the structures of the national government in Southern and Eastern Asia

 Describe the ways government systems distribute power: unitary, confederation, and federal  Explain how governments determine citizen participation: autocratic, oligarchic, and democratic  Describe the two predominant forms of democratic governments: parliamentary and presidential  Compare and contrast the federal republic of India, the communist state of the People’s Republic of China, and the constitutional monarchy of Japan, distinguishing the form of leadership, and the role of the citizen in terms of voting rights and personal freedoms

 How do the unitary, confederation, and federal government systems distribute power?  How do autocratic, oligarchic, and democratic governments determine citizen participation?  What are the components of parliamentary and presidential government?  What distinguishes the form of leadership, public voting procedures and personal freedoms in the parliamentary democracy of the Federal Republic of India, the People’s Republic of China and Japan?

 Governments have three basic ways they can distribute power ◦ Unitary System  In this system, one central government has all the power and makes the laws, while also giving out smaller units like cities and towns other forms of power.  The central government as the final say on all decision making ◦ Federal System  In this system, the central government divides the power with smaller units, like a state  Power is given to the regional and local governments, but the central government deals with issues that affect the entire country ◦ Confederation System  In this system, each smaller unit has the final say on all decision making and laws  Central government only makes decisions when they affect the entire confederation  Rarest system in the world

 Autocracy ◦ “Rule by one” ◦ One leader holds all the power ◦ Citizens do not participate in any government choices (voting, taxes)  Oligarchy ◦ “Rule by few” ◦ Small group holds all the power  Usually the wealthy ◦ Only the powerful people have citizenship participation  Democracy ◦ “Rule by the people” ◦ Citizens hold the power ◦ Citizens participate in the government ◦ Citizens are all equal

Parliamentary Democracy Presidential Democracy  Power controlled by legislature ◦ Called Parliament  Headed by prime minister ◦ Has a cabinet ◦ Answers to the legislature and is chosen by the legislature  Government stays in power indefinitely ◦ Only way to lose power is if prime minster loses support of the majority party, which causes him to resign  Three branches of government with equal powers ◦ Executive, Legislative, Judicial  Checks and balances allows each branch to keep the other from having too much power  People elect the president, and he answers to his voters

 India’s government is a parliamentary system that resembles Great Britain. They have a legislative, judicial and executive branch, but the power is with the prime minister and the Council of Ministers. The legislative branch has 2 houses the Council of States and the House of the People. The Judicial branch has 26 judges and is called the Supreme Court. Indian citizens are allowed to vote at 18, and have freedom of religion, speech and assembly. Indians can join any political party and teach freely about their culture, religion and caste. INDIA – FEDERAL REPUBLIC

 China’s communist government has three branches of government as well. They have a ceremonial president, who is a figurehead leader, but is led by a Premier. He leads the State Council, which has executive powers. The legislative branch has 1 house, which is the National People’s Congress, or NPC and the judicial branch has the Supreme Court. The major political party in China is the CCP, or Chinese Communist Party. The CCP is the authoritarian in the government, meaning they have complete control. Citizens must be 18 to vote, but citizens freedoms and actions are determined by the government. The CCP determines who to vote for, what to say among other things. Citizens’ personal freedoms have been violated throughout history on a regular basis. China – Communist State

 Japan’s constitutional monarchy also has three branches and is set up with a parliamentary system. The executive branch has a Prime Minister and a cabinet called the Ministers of States, who are regular citizens. There is also an Emperor, but he is a figurehead. The legislative branch is called the Diet, which is 2 houses consisting of the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors. The judicial branch is separate and is a system set up around civil law, and is headed by the Supreme Court. Japan’s voting age is 20 years old, and voting is done by secret ballot. Japanese citizens have freedom of speech, religion, and equal education. Japan’s government is forbidden to have war and cannot have a military. Japan – Constitutional Monarchy