1. SS6CG4 - The student will compare and contrast various forms of government
SS6CG5 – The student will explain the structures of modern European government
GOVERNMENT OF EUROPE

2. ELEMENTS
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 the parliamentary system of the United Kingdom, the federal system of the Federal Republic of Germany, and federation of the Russian Federation, distinguishing the form of leadership and the role of the citizen in terms of voting rights and personal freedoms.
Describe the purpose of the European Union and the relationship between member nations

3. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
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?
How are the governments of the United Kingdom, Germany, and Russia different and how are these governments similar?
What is the purpose of the European Union?
What is the relationship of the member nations of the European Union?

4. DISTRIBUTION OF POWER
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 smaller units like cities and towns other forms of power.
The central government has 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

5. EXAMPLES OF GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS
UNITARY FEDERAL CONFEDERATION

6. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNMENT
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 (voting, taxes)
Citizens are all equal

7. EXAMPLES OF CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
Autocracy – Nazi Germany Oligarchy – U.S.S.R Democracy – United States

8. TYPES OF DEMOCRACY: PARLIAMENTARY VS PRESIDENTIAL
Parliamentary Democracy
Presidential Democracy
Power controlled by legislature
Called Parliament
Headed by prime minister
Has a cabinet
Answers to 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

9. EXAMPLE OF PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM

10. EXAMPLE OF PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM

11. GERMANY – FEDERAL REPUBLIC
Germany has a federal system and is led by a president and a chancellor. The president is a figurehead with no real power, while the chancellor holds power. He is chosen by Parliament. Germany has a bicameral, or two house, law making body. The houses are the Bundestag and the Bundesrat. Germany’s citizens have basic rights and freedoms, such as voting, free speech and free religion.

12. RUSSIA - FEDERATION
Russia has a federation where power is divided. The leader is the president, and second is the prime minister. Russia’s law makers are the Federal Assembly, and their two houses are the Federation Council and State Duma. Since Communism is now gone, Russia’s citizens have basic rights and freedoms, such as freedom of speech, religion and freedom of movement

13. U.K. – PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY
The United Kingdom has a parliamentary system, with a king or queen as its figurehead. They have no real power, and the power is held by a prime minister. The laws are made by Parliament, which has two houses, the House of Commons and the House of Lords. U.K citizens have most of the same rights as U.S. citizens, such as freedom of religion, freedom of press, freedom of speech, and voting rights.

14. THE EUROPEAN UNION
The European Union is a group of 28 European countries who work together for the good of Europe
Their goal is to promote trade, assist in social issues, provide protection for each other and to create peace
The Union has established its own court, it provides money to poorer nations, helping the environment with strict standards and improving trade between its member nations
Some member countries include the United Kingdom, Poland, France, Greece, Finland, Hungary, Sweden and Germany