The Ideals of Government

 Based on Geographical Distribution of Power  Based on Relationship Between Legislative and Executive Branches  Based on Who Can Participate in the Governing Process

 Unitary system – political power is centralized in one authority  Federal system – power is shared between central gov’t and regional gov’ts  Confederate system – local gov’ts have most of the power

 Most common in the world; usually in small countries  No major powers, like power to tax  Examples – UK, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, New Zealand, Japan

 Division of power controlled by outside authority; central and local gov’ts have to agree  Typically in large countries  In U.S. nat’l gov’t shares power with gov’ts of 50 states  U.S. Constitution is outside authority  Examples – Canada, U.S., Mexico, Germany, Russia, India

 More political power rests with local gov’ts  No active confederate gov’ts now  European Union closest to Confederate gov’t  Confederate gov’ts in U.S. Under Articles of Confed. ( ) Confederate States of America ( )

 Gov’t classified as presidential or parliamentary  Presidential system (U.S.) Separation of powers between legislative and executive Function independently and hold equal power Legislature plays no role in choosing president President can veto, issue pardon Legislature has power to ratify treaties

 Parliamentary System (U.K.) No distinct separation of powers between executive and legislative Prime minister and cabinet make up executive branch Executive continues until no longer has confidence of majority in parliament See British Parliament in action: GkrHKcwvo GkrHKcwvo

 Dictatorship and Democracy  Dictatorship Oldest and most common Rulers don’t need to respond to will of people Types of Dictatorships  Autocracy – dictatorship by single person  Oligarchy – dictatorship by elite group  Authoritarian - exercise political control, cannot be challenged  Totalitarian - control all aspects of citizens’ lives

 Fascist Italy ( ), led by Benito Mussolini zITqk zITqk  Nazi Germany ( ), Adolf Hitlerhttps:// NbdWwQryS0 Hitlerhttps:// NbdWwQryS0  Soviet Union ( ), Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin qFFvA qFFvA  China (1949-present), Mao Zedong

 Supreme political power held by people  Types Direct (pure) – citizens vote on all laws and policies Indirect (representative) – voters choose representatives to make political decisions for them

 Head of state is king or queen = constitutional monarchy  Example: Great Britain  Head of state is elected = republic  Example: United States  **It is possible for citizens in a democracy to elect leaders who act like dictators