1. GOVERNMENT STUDY GUIDE
Standards: The student will compare and contrast the various forms of government.
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 government: parliamentary and presidential.

2. Unitary Federal Confederation Governments can be:
HOW ARE POWERS DISTRIBUTED?
Countries must decide how to set up their government. Part of setting up a government is deciding how to organize and distribute power.
Governments can be:
Unitary
Federal
Confederation

3. The central government has all the power.
Unitary Government
The central government has all the power.
Has a constitution that tells duties, powers, and people of the central government.

4. Central government can give power to or take away power from lower levels of government.
Central government can even do away with the lower levels of government or choose their leaders for them.

5. of the Central government
Unitary Government
Central
Government
has all the power
The Local
Governments
are not separate,
but are smaller parts
of the Central government
Local Government
Local
Government
Local Government
Same as Central
Same as Central
Same as Central

6. Examples of unitary governments: France, United Kingdom, Spain, Belgium

7. Unitary Governments

8. Federal Government System
Has a constitution that tells duties, powers, and people of the central government.
Power is divided between the central government and the lower levels of government.

9. Federal Government System
Central government CANNOT take back the power of the states, do away with the lower levels of government, or choose their leaders.

10. Examples of Federal governments: United States, Germany, Australia, Canada

11. Federal Governments

12. Confederation
A group of states or communities that come together to support each other and work on their common problems.

13. Participants are voluntary, equal members
Confederation
formed by a treaty
Participants are voluntary, equal members
This is a first step toward creating a more powerful government
Members cannot act alone but must meet before taking action on an issue

14. Examples of Confederation: Switzerland, The Soviet Union, the Confederate States of America ( )

16. You try! Write the answer on your paper:
Select the word or phrase that describes a confederation.
Partners
Divided power
A strong federation
A strong central government

17. Write the answer on your paper:
What country in Europe has a federal government?
France
Germany
Great Britain
United States

18. Write the answer on your paper:
Explain one way a federal system and a unitary government are alike.
Explain one way a federal system and a unitary government are DIFFERENT.
Which type of government system is considered a first step toward creating a more powerful government?

19. Show What You Know
Let’s get in groups of three. Number yourselves one, two, and three.
Ones explain to the twos and threes how a unitary government system distributes power.
Twos explain to the ones and threes how a confederation government system distributes power.
Threes explain to the ones and twos how a federal government system distributes power.

20. Stop & Think
Turn to your elbow neighbor and tell them which form of government power you like best.
Don’t forget to tell them WHY this is your opinion!

22. Warm up:
Number your warm-up box Walk around the room and identify the six different country scenarios hanging on the wall as Unitary, Federal, or Confederation.

23. ONE
Since its 1988 constitution, Brazil has divided its country into twenty-six states and a central government district. The states are then broken into over 5,500 municipalities, which are like counties. All these political units have a local government that has its own laws and taxes. Brazilians vote for representatives at each level. The central government will not allow any states or municipalities to be independent or break away from the country’s national government.

24. TWO
For only three years beginning in 1836, the countries of Bolivia, North Peru, and South Peru attempted a government system in which the three countries created a loose union that shared power as well as ruled themselves. Neighboring countries, including Argentina and Chile, were alarmed about this new government and a war followed that ended this shared government system between Bolivia and Peru. .

25. THREE
Established in 1993, the European Union (EU) is an economic and political union of twenty-seven independent countries, or member states, which has a foundation from the European Economic Community. The EU has allowed a single free trade market where all member states are guaranteed freedom of movement of people, goods, services, and capital. Most EU countries have adopted a common currency, called the euro. While it is governed by the EU Commission and Parliament over the union’s common interests, each country still controls its independently-run government.

26. FOUR
Costa Rica is a peaceful, democratic republic where power is only given by the central government, based in San Jose, the capital city. The seven provinces have leaders, but the laws and taxes of the central government have full control over the regional division.

27. FIVE
Since its 1917 constitution, Mexico has had a central government based in its capital, Mexico City, and thirty-one states that also have their own state governments. Citizens vote for their representatives on three government levels: the central, state, and municipal governments.

28. SIX
Fidel Castro took power as dictator over Cuba and made it communist in 1959 after leading the Cuban Revolution. Under this government system, only one political party was in control and only one person, Castro, made all decisions for the citizens. The laws he established from Havana, the capital, were to be followed by the entire country.

29. Check your answers:
1. Federal
2. Confederation
3. Confederation
4. Unitary
5. Federal
6. Unitary

32. Citizen Participation
Citizens have different rights when it comes to participating in their government:
In some countries citizens are allowed to be in political office, vote for their leaders and vote on laws.
In other countries there may be a small group of people who have all the power--who are supported by wealthy people or the military—and from this group they select their own leader.
Some countries still have only one ruler. The ruler usually comes to power through a family bloodline (king or queen) or the person may be a dictator because they have military strength.

33. HOW DO CITIZENS PARTICIPATE IN THEIR GOVERNMENT?
AUTOCRACY
OLIGARCHY
DEMOCRACY

34. Autocracy
A form of government in which political power is controlled by one individual such as a monarch, dictator, emperor, etc. We’re going to talk about two kinds of autocracy…
Monarchs!
Dictators!

35. Ruler has unlimited power
Autocracy
Single ruler
Ruler has unlimited power
No one is elected. Citizens have no choice in choosing a ruler.
Citizens are not allowed to vote so no elections are held.
Examples: Czarist Russia, Cuba, North Korea

36. Monarchy
Rule by kings, queens, princes, and princesses… sometimes by other names, but always MONARCHS!
Leaders usually gain their power because their parents were rulers, too.
Some modern monarchies like Spain and Japan have constitutions.

37. Dictatorship
In a dictatorship, power is not inherited, but is acquired by force (military or political)
Dictators have absolute control over the lives of their citizens and usually people are not allowed to voice their negative opinions.
Hitler and Stalin were both considered dictators.

38. Autocracies of the World

39. Oligarchy “Rule by few” Power can be based on several things:
Military strength = Military Junta
Family power = Aristocracy
Religious control = Theocratic Oligarchy
Oligarchies can often come from or lead to other forms of government (like autocracies)

40. “Rule by the few“-small group of people are in control
Oligarchy
“Rule by the few“-small group of people are in control
The group only answers to each other when making decisions.
No one is elected outside the ruling group. The rulers are selected from the group members.

41. Oligarchy is from the Greek words for "few" and "rule”.
There is no citizen participation, people do not vote and no elections are held.
EXAMPLES:
African tribes
Medieval governments

42. Democracy Presidential
Any form of government in which political power is exercised by all citizens, either directly or through their elected representatives. There are two forms of Democracies…
Presidential
Parlimentary

43. Citizens of the country rule
Democracy
Citizens of the country rule
The voters within the country hold the power
Any citizen (few restrictions; age-jail time) can be elected to office
Any citizen (few restrictions) can vote for people who will rule.

44. Abraham Lincoln described democracy as a government “of the people, by the people, and for the people.”
Example: The United States, Canada

46. This Polity Data Series Map tries to measure a country’s true democracy in government. The countries in the lightest pink have the highest democracy score. The darker the color, the lower the score.
© 2014 Brain Wrinkles

47. Democracy Clips

48. FORMS OF
DEMOCRACY:
Parliamentary
Presidential

49. Presidential
A system of government in which the President is in charge of the day-to-day tasks of running the government and heads the military.
President is the symbol of the country AND runs the country.
President is elected by the people to serve a specific term.

50. President does not make laws.
Legislature makes laws.
Legislature is elected by people.
Examples: The United States, Latin American countries.

51. Parliamentary Common in Europe
Head of State (King or Queen) has ceremonial duties and serves as a symbol for the country.
King or Queen is NOT voted into office; they come from a family line of royalty.
The Prime Minister is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the country (running government) and controls the military.

52. Prime Minister leads Parliament –the lawmaking body
Prime Minister leads Parliament –the lawmaking body. Parliament selects the Prime Minister. Prime Minister can dissolve Parliament.
Examples: Most European nations, Canada, Great Britain, Germany.

53. Summary Video

54. Autocracy
Democracy
Oligarchy
Sure
Not
© 2014 Brain Wrinkles

55. Hold up the correct card for each “Who am I?” statement.
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56. I have a single ruler with absolute power.
Who Am I?
I have a single ruler with absolute power.
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57. In my country, the people are in charge because they can vote.
Who Am I?
In my country, the people are in charge because they can vote.
© 2014 Brain Wrinkles

58. I can be a dictatorship or an absolute monarchy.
Who Am I?
I can be a dictatorship or an absolute monarchy.
© 2014 Brain Wrinkles

59. The citizens have no participation in my government.
Who Am I?
The citizens have no participation in my government.
© 2014 Brain Wrinkles

60. I have a small group of people ruling my country.
Who Am I?
I have a small group of people ruling my country.
© 2014 Brain Wrinkles

61. I can be presidential or parliamentary.
Who Am I?
I can be presidential or parliamentary.
© 2014 Brain Wrinkles

62. Government Comic Strip
Read pg. 58 and the Venn diagram on pg. 138 in the blue
book.
Brainstorm with your group ideas for a comic strip representing your assigned form of democracy. Odd groups will do Presidential Democracy. Even groups will do Parliamentary Democracy. Make a rough draft of your ideas on notebook paper.
Individually, create a comic strip that represents how this form of democracy works. It must include the 6 boxes provided, but you may add more to the back if needed.
© 2014 Brain Wrinkles

63. Government Mascots
Create a mascot that will represent your group’s vocabulary word. *Can be a real OR made up thing!
Draw & color your mascot on the paper provided.
Be sure to give your mascot a creative name.
Write down at least 3 reasons why/how your mascot represents your group’s vocabulary word.
© 2014 Brain Wrinkles