1. Types of Governments

2. Democratic/Limited Government
Direct Democracy
Representative Democracy (presidential democracy, parliamentary democracy, or parl. dem. with a constitutional monarchy)
Constitutional Monarchy
Authoritarian/Unlimited Government
Absolute Monarchy
Dictatorship

3. Direct Democracy
People govern themselves by voting on issues directly & individually as citizens.
Ex. City-State of Athens in Ancient Greece (5th to 4th Century BC)
Parts of Switzerland

4. Thucydides
Pericles

5. Where is Switzerland??

6. Disadvantages of Direct Democracy
People must be interested and actively involved.
Complex policies may not be understood by all voters.
Practical in small communities, not large modern nations. Ex: towns in New England (a region in the USA)

7. Representative Democracy
People vote for representatives
This gives representatives the responsibility and power to make laws and run the government.
By voting, the people give the “power” to those representatives– people who represent their interests in government

8. Representative Democracy EXAMPLES
United States
France
Russia

10. Problems with Representative Democracy
Voter apathy (lack of concern)
* Only 61% of eligible people voted in 2008 presidential elections
Some countries, like Australia, have made voting compulsory: you MUST vote or you will be charged a fine
Divisive two-party systems (most countries have 3 or more major political parties)

11. Constitutional Monarchy
A monarch inherits the right to rule
BUT the monarch is limited by a lawmaking body elected by the people!

12. Constitutional Monarchy
The monarch has a ceremonial role in representing the government.
* LIMITED by the Constitution (laws)
Ex. The U.K., Sweden, Spain, Japan.

13. Absolute Monarchy
A monarch inherits their position and complete and unlimited power.
Usually claim that they have been chosen by God to rule.
Examples:
Historically: King Louis XVI (ruled France ) Currently: King Abdullah (ruled Saudi Arabia 2005 to present)

14. King Louis XIV

15. King Abdullah

17. Dictatorship
A single leader who holds extraordinary power that is not based on heredity (being born into a certain family).
Makes all laws & suppresses opposition
Examples:
1. Cuba: Fidel Castro
2. Germany :Adolf Hitler ( ),
3. Iraq: Saddam Hussein ( )

18. Fidel Castro

19. Adolf Hitler

20. Saddam Hussein

21. “President” or “King” (but really dictators in every sense of the term…)
Why?
Disputed “elections”
Disappearance of/threats to people in opposition
Restriction on media/Internet

22. This concludes the presentation on governments for Chapter 3
Is your chart complete?
Read on for further explanations of governments…

24. An extension on
other types
of Governments

25. Presidential Democracy
A type of representative democracy
Constitution separates the executive branch from the legislative and judicial branches (separation of powers).
Executive branch is led by a president
Ex. U.S.; Mexico; Brazil; Algeria; Indonesia.

26. Presidential System
Legislative:
Executive:
Judicial:
Makes Laws
Enforces Laws
Interprets Laws

27. Parliamentary Democracy
Constitution combines executive and legislative functions in the Parliament
Parliament is led by the Prime Minister, generally the leader of the majority party
Ex. Italy; Germany; Israel, India; Ethiopia.

28. Parliamentary System with Constitutional Monarchy
Legislative
Executive
Judicial
Makes Laws
Enforces Laws
Interprets Laws
Monarch