1. A government is a body with the authority to
Distribution of Power
A government is a body with the authority to
make laws
enforce those laws
and interpret the laws.

2. the general welfare of its people
Distribution of Power
Governments oversee
the general welfare of its people

3. Governments distribute power through three basic systems.
Unitary
A confederation
Federal

4. Unitary Systems Give all the power to the central government
the central government delegates some duties to smaller political units like cities, but…
It retains final authority.

5. Some countries include…
Unitary Systems
Some countries include…
France
Italy
Japan
South Korea
Kenya

6. Confederation
A loose alliance of countries or other political units like states

7. Confederation
Each unit has final control of its laws and citizens.

8. Confederation
The central government makes decisions only on issues that affect the entire confederation.

9. Confederation can be unstable because
members often want to do things their own way

10. Confederation Examples The Confederate States of America
British Commonwealth of Nations

11. Federal
Divide power between the central government and the government of smaller political units like states.

12. Federal
Most federal systems give a lot of power to the lower governments to handle local affairs.

13. Federal
The central government handles issues that concern the entire country, like…
maintaining armed forces
negotiating treaties with foreign countries.

14. Some countries include…
Federal
Some countries include…
The United States
Canada
Mexico
Brazil

15. Let’s Review

16. Which government system gives all the power to the central government?
Confederation
Unitary
Federal

17. The Answer is
Unitary

18. Confederation Unitary Federal
Which system divides power between the central government and smaller units like states?
Confederation
Unitary
Federal

19. The Answer is
Federal

20. Confederation Unitary Federal
Which system is a loose alliance of countries or other political units like states?
Confederation
Unitary
Federal

21. The Answer is
Confederation