1. Types of Government

2. The ancient Greek philosopher, Aristotle, classified governments by the number of rulers and by the principles under which they operated. He suggested there were three types of government. Democracy began in Ancient Greece.

3. Limited Government Everyone, including all authority figures, must obey the laws Constitutions, and other laws define the limits of those in power so they cannot take advantage of their elected, appointed, or inherited positions.

4. Unlimited Government Control is placed solely with the ruler and his/her appointees, and there are no limits imposed on his/her authority.

5. Rule by one person (unlimited govt.)

6. Absolute Monarchy a person who has absolute power over their people. A monarch rules by inherited right. (EX: Brunei, Saudi Arabia)

7. Dictatorship or Tyranny the ruler is absolute, often oppressive. The ruler/dictator satisfies his/her need for wealth or power anyway that they want. (Ex: Cuba, North Korea)

8. Rule by a few people

9. Aristocracy A government by a few people to make decisions for all. (unlimited govt.)

10. Oligarchy A small group of people who rule to increase their own wealth or power. (unlimited govt.) (Rule by few)

11. Communism Government which rules to eliminate wealth and poverty through control and ownership of all economic activities. (unlimited govt.) (ex: China, Cuba, Vietnam)

12. Fascism Is a strongly nationalistic government with control of all economic and social activities, but allows for private ownership of property. (unlimited govt.)

13. Totalitarianism Is government who claims control and ownership of all activities of the people (unlimited govt.) (ex: North Korea, China, Iraq)

14. Rule by many people

15. Constitutional Monarchy The king or queen’s power is limited by a written constitution. They typically share power with a parliament. Ex: United Kingdom

16. Direct Democracy People govern themselves. Each person is directly involved in making laws for the community, but every person must be present to make the laws. (limited govt.) ex. Ancient Greece

17. Democracy or Representative Democracy Government by the people: a type of govt. in which the supreme power comes from the people and exercised directly or by the elected representatives. (Ex: USA)

18. Republic Because nations have such large populations, citizens elect representatives with permission to make the laws for them and their direct democracy becomes a republic. An assembly of representatives can be a parliament, a council, a congress or a legislature. (limited govt.) (Ex: Chile, Cyprus, El Salvador, Poland)