1. Political Classifications
Supranational “Governments”
National Governments
Governments by Mode of Succession
Governments by Type of Rule
Governments by Structure
Levels of Government
Branches of Government

2. Supranational Political Systems
Empires
e.g. British, Roman, and Ottoman
a major political unit having a territory of great extent or a number of territories or peoples under a single sovereign authority

3. Supranational Political Systems
Leagues
e.g. Baltic, Arab; also League of Nations
an association of nations or other political entities for a common purpose

4. Supranational Political Systems
Confederations
e.g. European Union
is a large state composed of many self-governing regions
has a very weak central government with little influence over the actions or policies of the member regions

5. Supranational Political Systems
Federations
e.g. Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
formed by a compact between political units that surrender their individual sovereignty to a central authority but retain limited residuary powers of government

6. Supranational Political Systems
United Nations
voluntary association of most of the world's nation-states
not a world government, does not make laws, and does not have its own police force or military

7. National Political Systems
Unitary Nation-States
e.g. Belgium, Bulgaria, France, The Netherlands, Japan, Poland, Romania, the United Kingdom, the Scandinavian countries, Spain, and many of the Latin-American and African countries
basically a single tier of government with varying degrees decentralization - some are decentralized so much as to resemble federal states, some allow limited regional rule, others have only token decentralization

8. National Political Systems
Federal Systems
political authority is divided between two autonomous sets of governments, one national and the other sub-national, both of which operate directly upon the people
Jot down a few examples of the world’s federations as the maps appear on the next few slides.

9. National Political Systems
Federations of the World

10. National Political Systems
Federations of North America

11. National Political Systems
Federations of South America

12. National Political Systems
Federations of Africa

13. National Political Systems
Federations of Europe

14. National Political Systems
Federations of Asia

15. National Political Systems
Federations of Oceania

16. Govts by Mode of Succession
Hereditary Succession
Succession by Constitutional Prescription
Succession by Election
Succession by Force

17. Govts by Mode of Succession
Hereditary Succession
e.g. western Europe monarchies, and some Arab nations
Often first-born son, then his first-born son, ….

18. Govts by Mode of Succession
Monarchies of the World
Currently there are 29 monarchs reigning over 44 countries
(QEII is Head of State for 16 countries)

19. Govts by Mode of Succession
Succession by Constitutional Prescription
e.g. United States
Next leader already specified by law

20. Govts by Mode of Succession
Succession by Election
e.g. Canada
Next person is chosen by party vote (a leadership convention) or general election

21. Govts by Mode of Succession

22. Govts by Mode of Succession
Succession by Force
e.g. Hitler’s Germany, Mussolini’s Italy

23. Levels of Government National/ Federal Sub-National/Provincial
Municipal
School Board

24. Levels of Government National e.g. Government of Canada www.canada.ca
Country

25. Governor General, Prime Minister, & Federal Cabinet
Levels of Government
Governor General, Prime Minister, & Federal Cabinet

26. Levels of Government National Powers and Responsibilities
National Defense
Unemployment Insurance
Postal Service
Trade Regulation
External Relations
Money and Banking
Citizenship
Indian Affairs
Criminal Law
plus anything else not identified in the
constitution

27. Levels of Government Sub-National e.g. Government of Ontario
Province, Territory, State (U.S), or Canton (Switz)

28. Lieutenant Governor, Premier, and the Provincial Cabinet
Levels of Government
Lieutenant Governor, Premier, and the Provincial Cabinet

29. Levels of Government Provincial Powers and Responsibilities
Property and Civil Rights
Administration of Justice
Education
Health
Welfare
Natural Resources
Licensing
Charities
Civil Laws
Municipalities

30. Levels of Government Municipal City of Toronto www.toronto.ca
City, Town, Township, Municipality

31. Levels of Government
Mayor John Tory and Council

32. Levels of Government Local Municipality Responsibilities
Only has powers that regional governments give them
Urban Planning
Fire Protection
Economic Development
Building Code
Property Standards
Water Distribution
Sewage Collection
Parks & Recreation
Libraries

33. Levels of Government
All three levels of government mentioned so far all share responsibilities in the areas of
Transportation
King’s Highways
Trans-Canada Highway, Ports, Airports, Pipelines, Railways
Regional Roads
City Streets
Policing
RCMP
OPP
DRPS
Laws and By-Laws

34. Levels of Government School Board e.g.Toronto District School Board
Number of School Boards in Ontario:
English Public 31
English Catholic 29
French Public 4
French Catholic 8

35. Levels of Government School Board Responsibilities
the hiring of school administrative staff,
the maintenance of buildings and property,
the provision of learning materials and resources for students,
the transportation of students,
the development of locally initiated courses and programs,
the provision of instructional support services, and
the development of policies to govern the operation of the school system.