1. Government/Civics Domain Seventh Grade Social Studies

2. Compare & Contrast Various Forms of Government
Describe the ways government systems distribute power: unitary, confederation, and federal
SS6 - CG1a, CG4a, CG6a
SS7 – CG1a, CG4a, CG6a

3. Ways Government Distributes Power
Federal (Federation)
Ways Government Distributes Power
power is shared between central (national) and local (regional) government.

4. Ways Government Distributes Power
Federation / Federal
Ways Government Distributes Power
Local Authority
Local
Authority
Central Authority
Local
Authority
Local
Authority

5. South Africa USA India List of countries with Federal Governments (24)
Information site-

6. Unitary Ways Government Distributes Power
Power is held by one central authority.

7. Ways Government Distributes Power
Unitary
Ways Government Distributes Power
Local
Authority
Local
Authority
Central Authority
Local Authority
Local Authority

8. Ways Government Distributes Power
Confederation
Ways Government Distributes Power
power lies in independent, local authority.
(Politics)

9. Ways Government Distributes Power
Confederation
Ways Government Distributes Power
Local
Authority
Local
Authority
Central Authority
Local
Authority
Local
Authority

10. Sample Test Question
In Nigeria’s government, power is divided between Central and regional authorities. This is an example of which government type?
A. Unitary
B. Confederation
C. Federal
D. Parliamentary
Corresponds to
SS6- CG1a, CG4a, CG6a
SS7- CG1a , CG4a, CG6a

11. Ways Government Distributes Power
All key powers are held by the central government
Local
(State/regional) authorities hold most of the power
Unitary
Federal
Confederation
Strong central government
Weaker central government

12. Compare & Contrast Various Forms of Government
Explain how governments determine citizen participation: autocratic, oligarchic, and democratic.
SS6 - CG1b, CG4b, CG6b
SS7 – CG1b, CG4b, CG6b

13. Autocratic One person possesses unlimited power.
How Governments Determine Citizen Participation
One person possesses unlimited power.
The citizen has limited, if any, role in government.

14. How Governments Determine Citizen Participation
Forms of Autocratic Govts.
Absolute or Totalitarian Dictatorship
Ideas of a single leader glorified.
Government tries to control all aspects of social and economic life.
Government is not responsible to the people.
People lack the power to limit their rulers.
Examples- Saddam Hussein, Muammar al-Quaddafi, Mao Zedong, Kim Jong-Il
Remy, Richard C., United States Government- Democracy in Action (Columbus, OH: Glencoe, McGraw-Hill, 2006)

15. How Governments Determine Citizen Participation
Forms of Autocratic Govts.
Absolute Monarchy
King, queen, or emperor exercises the supreme powers of government/unlimited power.
Position is usually inherited.
People lack the power to limit their rulers.
Examples- King of Saudi Arabia.
Remy, Richard C., United States Government- Democracy in Action (Columbus, OH: Glencoe, McGraw-Hill, 2006)

16. Oligarchy
How Governments Determine Citizen Participation
small group of people have power, limited or no citizen participation.
• Example: Communist China .

17. How Governments Determine Citizen Participation
Oligarchy
The group gets its power from military power, social power, wealth, religion or a combination.
Political opposition is usually suppressed- sometimes violently.
Examples- Communist countries such as China.
Leaders in the party and armed forces control government.
Remy, Richard C., United States Government- Democracy in Action (Columbus, OH: Glencoe, McGraw-Hill, 2006)

18. Democracy
Democratic- power is held by the citizens who vote for laws directly or who choose representatives to vote for them (called a Republic).
Example of Republics: Israel, Turkey, India, Kenya, and South Africa

19. OAS Database Question - Corresponds to
Sample Test Question
What is a basic way citizens of a democratic nation can influence the government?
A. voting
B. working
C. obeying laws
D. consuming goods
OAS Database Question - Corresponds to
SS6- CG1b, CG4b, CG6b
SS7- CG1b , CG4b, CG6b

20. Compare & Contrast Various Forms of Government
Describe the two predominant forms of democratic governments: Parliamentary & Presidential
SS6 - CG1c, CG4c, CG6c
SS7 – CG1c, CG4c, CG6c

21. Parliamentary Democracy Citizen legislature cabinet Prime Minister
Describe the two predominant forms of democratic government: parliamentary and presidential
Parliamentary Democracy
executive power is held by a cabinet (group of people) chosen from the legislature. Usually led by a Prime Minister.
Citizen legislature cabinet Prime Minister
Example: Israel
Remy, Richard C., United States Government- Democracy in Action (Columbus, OH: Glencoe, McGraw-Hill, 2006)

22. Presidential Democracy
Describe the two predominant forms of democratic government: parliamentary and presidential
Presidential Democracy
Executive power is held by a President who is chosen separately from the legislature.
Citizen votes for both legislature and President
Remy, Richard C., United States Government- Democracy in Action (Columbus, OH: Glencoe, McGraw-Hill, 2006)

23. OAS Database Question - Corresponds to
Sample Test Question
In which system of government does the legislature elect the executive leader of the government?
A. democratic
B. communist
C. parliamentary
D. totalitarian
OAS Database Question - Corresponds to
SS6- CG1c, CG4c, CG6c
SS7- CG1c , CG4c, CG6c

24. Republic
Kenya and South Africa
A representative democracy in which the people's elected representatives, not the people themselves, vote on legislation.
CIA World Factbook Notes and Definitions

25. The voters choose their government representatives.
Federal Republic
India
A state in which the central government and the local governments both have their own separate powers
The voters choose their government representatives.
CIA World Factbook Notes and Definitions

26. Parliamentary Democracy
Israel
A political system in which the citizens vote for political parties to work in the parliament (legislature). The majority party of parliament then picks the cabinet and Prime Minister.
CIA World Factbook Notes and Definitions

27. Absolute Monarchy Saudi Arabia
A government in which the supreme power is held by a monarch who rules usually for life and by hereditary right
CIA World Factbook Notes and Definitions

28. Constitutional Monarchy • Example: Japan (Emperor, Diet)
monarch (King/Queen) is limited in power by a constitution. Usually citizens can vote for a legislature that works with the monarch.
• Example: Japan (Emperor, Diet)
CIA World Factbook Notes and Definitions

29. Theocracy
Iran
God is the highest authority. All law and government workers are supposed to follow God’s law.
CIA World Factbook Notes and Definitions

30. Communist
China
all property and wealth are owned equally by all members of a classless society. In reality, the government controls the economy.
CIA World Factbook Notes and Definitions