1. Power is divided between one central and several regional authorities.
Federation / Federal
Power is divided between one central and several regional authorities.
Regional Authority
Regional Authority
Central Authority
Regional Authority
Regional Authority

2. Central Authority Unitary Power is held by one central power:
Regions may have limited power given to them by the state
Regional Authority
Central Authority
Regional Authority
Regional Authority
Regional Authority

3. Less binding than a federation.
Voluntary association of independent states that often only delegate a few powers to the central authority.
Less binding than a federation.
Regional Authority
Regional Authority
Confederation
Regional Authority
Regional Authority
Central Authority

4. How Governments Determine Citizen Participation
High Participation
High Participation
Select Citizens’ Participation
General Citizens’ Participation
Government Power
Citizen Participation
Government Power
Government Power
Citizen Participation
Low or No Participation
Low or No Participation
Low or No Participation
Autocratic
Oligarchic
Democracy

5. Autocratic One person possesses unlimited power.
The citizen has limited, if any, role in government.

6. Autocracy The oldest form of government.
One of the most common forms of government.
Maintain power through inheritance or ruthless use of military and police power.
Types:
 Dictatorship
Monarchy

7. The citizen has a very limited role.
Oligarchy
Government by the few.
The citizen has a very limited role.
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.

8. May have a Prime Minister elected
Democracy
Parliamentary:
People vote for the Political party they feel best represents their views.
May have a Prime Minister elected
by the legislature.
Presidential:
A system of government in which the president is constitutionally independent of the legislature.
The executive branch exists separately from the legislature (to which it is generally not accountable).
Remy, Richard C., United States Government- Democracy in Action (Columbus, OH: Glencoe, McGraw-Hill, 2006)

9. Parliamentary Democracy:
Monarchy:
Saudi Arabia
King is the political leader by right of birth called hereditary monarchy.
Parliamentary Democracy:
Israel
People elect a political party which is represented in the Knesset (legislative branch) and the Prime minister is the leader
Theocracy:
Iran
Government in which a Deity (God) is recognized as the ruler. Usually has “representative” who speaks for God and acts as King. .
CIA World Factbook Notes and Definitions