1. Governments

2. Types of Govermnet You can have:
Unitary – all power reset with a central authority
Federal – a division of power between a central and several local governments.
Confederate – loose alliance that give power to a central authority

3. What is Political Geography?
The study of governmental systems from around the world

4. What is Government?
An organization that people set up to protect their community and to enforce its rules
Roles of the government:
To protect lives
To protect liberties
To protect property of members of the community
To provide services that the people cannot provide on their own

5. What are the different types of governmental systems?

6. Monarchy Ruled by a family headed by a King or Queen
The ruler inherits their power - when the ruler dies, power is passed to one of the monarch’s children or close relative
These monarchs (kings, sultans, emperors) surround themselves with followers and advisors who help them govern
Pros – Stability
Cons – Limits on Power

7. Constitutional Monarchy
Monarchs share power with an elected legislature
Parliament
Usually the monarch serves as the symbolic head of state while elected members of Parliament govern the country
Example: United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Jordan

8. Cambodia is a constitutional monarchy
Qaboos Bin Said Al Said – Sultan of Oman
Imperial household of Japan (ko shitsu) oldest continuous hereditary monarchy in the world. Akihito.
Queen Elizabeth - United Kingdom-constitutional monarchy
Sheikh Sabah Al‑Ahmad Al‑Jaber Al‑Sabah. Kuwait is a constitutional monarchy
Mswati III of Swaziland, Africa’s last absolute monarch in the world.
Cambodia‑Sihamoni
Cambodia is a constitutional monarchy

9. Dictatorship One individual holds complete political power
The leader either seizes control by force or is placed into a position of authority by others
the citizens have no influence over governmental policy and do not have the right to choose their own leaders
Pros – easy, quick to makes big changes
Cons – corruption, dissent is not allowed
Examples:
Former Saddam’s Iraq
Zimbabwe
Former Nazi Germany
Former Libya
Article for the Worst Dictators.
Theme for dictator page.

10. What do you think the colors of the map tell us about government(s) around the world? What do you think each color represents?

11. Countries marked in dark colors are authoritarian, and most often dictatorships. Most of current dictatorships are in Africa and Asia.

12. http://www. foreignpolicy

13. Communism
The state plans and controls the economy and a single - often authoritarian - party holds power
the elimination of private ownership of property or capital
Example: Cuba, People’s Republic of China, North Korea
Pros – Classless Society
Cons – lack of Freedom

14. Theocracy
Government run by religious leaders. It is an old form of government, like a monarchy.
Government claims to be directed by God or divinely blessed.
No legal separation between church and state
Citizens of other faiths are often excluded or expelled.
Ancient times rulers were often priests.

15. Examples of Theocracy throughout history.
In the Middle Ages, the head of the Catholic Church, the Pope, ruled extensive territories in Italy.
The Byzantine Empire was ruled by an emperor who was also head of the church.
Pharaohs of ancient Egypt were believed to be gods.
Iran, has both a theocratic and democratic government. The President and representatives are elected but are controlled by the Supreme Leader.
In early colonial times, Puritan ministers helped govern Massachusetts.
The Supreme Leader is an Islamic cleric appointed for life.

16. “Anarchy” or “Failed State”
Failed state interactive website.
Nobody in charge, only gangs and warlords.
Fueled by drugs or desire to control resources.
Happens when a country collapses.
Example: Somalia, parts of West Africa

17. Republic A republic is a government without a king or a queen.
Usually when a country overturns its monarchy it will become a republic.
Republics can be democratic, theocratic, or parliamentary.
An example would be the United States, which is a Democratic Republic

18. Branches of United States Government

19. Democracy Government authority is based on the will of the people.
People either vote on issues directly, or they elect representatives who make government decisions for them.
People have certain rights – whereas they can criticize the government freely.
There are two types that we see:
Direct Democracy
Representative Democracy/ Indirect Democracy

20. Direct Democracy
The very first known democracy was in ancient Greece in the 5th c BCE.
Democracy is Greek for “people-power.”
Citizens assembled to make decisions for their city-states.
They voted on these issues directly. This is where the term direct-democracy evolved from.

21. Representative Democracy/ Indirect Democracy
It is a democracy where different social groups elected their own representatives, who then met in assemblies.
Nobles were represented in the Senate
Government power was divided between two branches and voting was on various issues.
Romans were the first to develop the representative democracy.

22. Direct Democracy - in which citizens have direct and active participation in the decision making of the government.
Representative Democracy - citizens remain the sovereign power but political power is exercised indirectly through elected representatives.

23. Basic Concept of Democracy
A recognition of the fundamental worth and dignity of each person
A respect for the equality of all person
Majority rule and Minority rights
Necessity of compromise
Individual Freedoms

24. What is Democracy? Translate each quote into your own words:
“The basis of a democratic government is liberty.”
“Government of the people, for the people, by the people.”
“ I believe in democracy because it releases the energies of every human being.”
“ I believe that one day my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, bt by the content of their character.”

25. Alexis de Tocqueville
Alexis de Tocqueville was a French political philosopher. Only 26 years old, he was discouraged with the political corruption in France and intrigued with the notion of American democracy.
He wore a book, Democracy in America, which was the first impartial study of political institutions in the new nation.

26. He spent 9 months traveling throughout the U. S. visiting 17 states
He spent 9 months traveling throughout the U.S. visiting 17 states. Along the way he met the President Jackson and some of the most influential thinkers in US politics.
His biggest worry was majority rule. His own country had been through the French Revolution
He had every right to worry - majority rule went with slavery in the 1830s
He visited in 1831 – during Nat Turner slave rebellion which challenged the institution of slavery and launched the abolition movement in the U.S.

27. In his book Demcoracy in America, de Tocqueville described the challenges and opportunities facing our political system

28. Democracy What opportunities does democracy provide?
Life and Equality
What challenges does democracy face?
Tyranny of the majority

29. Since 1830s, what other groups have acquired the right to vote
Liberty and Equality
Tocqueville visited the U.S. just after Andrew Jackson was elected president. For the first time in modern history, the average white man with out property was allowed to vote. This was not allowed anywhere in Europe, not even England
Since 1830s, what other groups have acquired the right to vote

30. Race
In the 1830s, African- Americans certainly had no librrty or equality. Slavery existed side by side with democracy. Slavery and race relations had an impact on every aspect of life, law an society in the Untied States.
To what extent did slavery live up to the ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence?
In the 1830s, slavery set the stage for race relations for all people in the U.S. Is this still true today?

31. Majority Rule
In the 1830s the majority decided there was nothing wrong with slavery. While we believe in majority rule, we also understand Tocqueville's “main fear” Tyranny o the Majority

32. If Alexis de Tocqueville were in to visit the U. S
If Alexis de Tocqueville were in to visit the U.S. today, who would he talk to about the American political system?
Think political, think republican, democrats, media
What topics do you think he would be concerned with in this time period?