1. What is Government

2. Government Government –
The formal definition = The institution through which a society makes and enforces its laws or public policies.
Informal definition – how a country operates
Each country’s government prioritizes things differently.

3. Recall
What types of government powers are most common? In our country we have THREE separate powers….
Legislative = Create laws
Executive = Enforce or execute laws
Judicial = Interpret and review laws

4. Forms of Government
Before we can understand our government, we need to know the different types of government
Most countries operate under a Constitution
Constitution = a written document that describes the role, organization, and functions of a country’s government
Form of government is the set-up of a country’s government. We have three forms of government .
There are also methods and systems for carrying out these forms of government

5. Forms of Government
Before we can understand our government, we need to know the different types of government
Most countries operate under a Constitution
Constitution = a written document that describes the role, organization, and functions of a country’s government
Form of government is the set-up of a country’s government. We have three forms of government .
There are also methods and systems for carrying out these forms of government

6. Forms of Government
UNITARY – a form of gov’t in which all the political power is given to the CENTRAL (National) gov’t – they do not have separate State/ Local gov’t
The centralized government determines how much power is given to state/local gov’t.
This is the most common form of gov’t in the World today
Ex: Great Britain

7. Forms of Government
Confederal (Confederate) – A form of gov’t in which there is NO strong Central gov’t. The political powers are divided loosely among states.
This is a VERY weak form of government
NO country today operates under a strictly Confederate style government
Ex: Civil War – Southern states succeeded and became a confederation
Articles of Confederation

8. Forms of Government
Federal – a form of government in which the political powers are divided among the Central (National) gov’t and the State gov’t. The Constitution gives the State gov’t powers that the Central gov’t CANNOT take away!!!
The States can establish their own Constitution & gov’t – as long as it does not go against the Central gov’t
Ex: The United States
U.S. was the first to use Federal Government

9. Recap Forms of Government
Which form of gov’t gives the political powers to the Central gov’t? The Central gov’t dictates how much powers the lower gov’t can have.
UNITARY
Which form of gov’t consists of a loose association of states with no/weak Central gov’t?
CONFEDERAL
Which form of gov’t combines the other two types of gov’t, and allows BOTH state and central powers to exercise rights?
FEDERAL

10. U.S.
We are a Republic - meaning the ultimate political power belongs to the PEOPLE!!!
How are we a Republic?
We use Democracy to carry out our Republican form of government – allow people to represent or vote on leaders – this is known as Representative Democracy – we vote on people to represent our ideas!
We have a Federal Government – meaning we have a National government and State/Local government that work together. Both have their own guidelines or Constitutions

11. Why does it matter?
Why does understanding different forms of government concern you?
As a good citizen it’s your responsibility to understand how other cultures operate.
Knowing how another country runs gives you a better understanding
The U.S. communicates with the rest of the world---we are NOT isolated! Even though we are our own country and no one tell us how to run our government, we still have to maintain peaceable relations with the rest of the world.

12. How gov’t is carried out
Different countries have different leaders and systems of carrying out government. We will discuss the most common systems used to carry out the THREE forms of gov’t – do not confuse the method/system with the form of government.
Parliamentary
Presidential
Monarchy
Dictatorship

13. Details
Within each form a government, there are bodies to help carry out government
Parliamentary System –– One body shares the Leg and Exec powers (sometimes judicial too). So, the same people who make laws also enforce them
Presidential System – Executive Powers are separate from Legislative powers– usually 3 separate branches of gov’t

14. Details Monarchy – a king/queen/emperor have the political power.
Absolute Monarchy – The figure still has full or majority of political power
Constitutional Monarchy – king/queen/emperor is seen only as figurehead and lack any real political power
Dictatorship – When an authoritative / militaristic person occupies political control of a country – does not listen to the will of the people Two Types
1. Autocracy – One leader
2. Oligarchy – A few leaders