1. Government Review Distribution of Power and Citizen Participation

2. Unitary One central Authority Controls EVERYTHING!!!
Power is not shared between states, counties, provinces
They can give power to the legislature….and then take it away
Assigns powers to areas
Could choose the governor or mayor

3. Countries with Unitary forms of Governments (2007)

4. Unitary Government Unitary System
Regional
Authority
Regional
Authority
Central Authority
Regional
Authority
Regional
Authority

5. Confederation Voluntary by nature it has a weak central government.
Very little power because members must agree on decisions that are made.
Decisions made may not be actual laws, unless the majority agree.
They are not common in the 21st century.
There’s no true way to enforce laws.
Some Examples:
United States (1777 – 1778
Iroquois League
Switzerland
OPEC EU

6. Confederation Regional Regional Regional Regional Central Authority

7. Federation
Power is divided between both the Central and Regional (states) authorities
Usually a Constitution describes the duties of both authorities.
Powerful Central but their power is limited
Can’t dissolve states or choose leaders of states
Many countries use it to distribute the power

8. Countries considered to have a Federal Government

9. Federation Federal Government Federal System
Regional
Authority
Regional
Authority
Central Authority
Regional
Authority
Regional
Authority

10. Oligarchy “Ruled by a Few”
Country or nation controlled by a small group of people
Average person has little say or right in the government
Decisions can be made quickly
Poor/selfish decisions made by leaders can work against other citizens well being
Examples:
South Africa (during much of the 20th century)
Communist China

11. Autocracy “Self Rule” Single ruler with unlimited power
Decisions can be made quickly
People have limited to no say in how government is run and can be ignored though
Two types of Autocracies:
Monarch
Dictatorship
Examples of Dictators:
Adolf Hitler
Joseph Stalin

12. Monarch
Dictatorship
Usually the Leader is BORN into it, there are 2 types of monarchs
King, Queens, Emperors are examples
No or few legal restraints = Absolute
Formally Limited = Constitutional
Inherited = Hereditary
System of voting = Elective
Usually the Leader takes the power by force
Most times they have a military background
Typically have a strong military/police force
Refuses to give choice to people because they are viewed as incompetent

14. Democracy Two Types: Presidential Parliamentary “Led by the People”
Country or Nation that receives its power from the people
ALL people have an opportunity to vote and are involved in the decision making
ALL people have an opportunity to lead
Slow to make decisions
Not all information that is given is correct or whole

16. Theocracy Typically an autocratic or oligarchic government
Current Examples:
Vatican City
Iran
Sikyong (Tibetan Parliament)
Typically an autocratic or oligarchic government
One or more religious leaders control the government
Religious beliefs influence laws and rules
Leader is believed to have a direct person connection with the divinity
Ancient Examples:
China
Byzantine Empire
Early Israel
Ancient Egypt

17. Parliamentary Voters elect members to the Parliament (legislature)
Parliament (legislature) has two Houses:
House of Commons: The Political Party with the most votes in the House of Commons chooses the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is the government’s leader who has no set length of term.
House of Lords: Little power with most members being nobles who have inherited their titles

18. Parliamentary vs. Presidential Democracy

19. Prime minister (leader/chief of state), is elected by the legislature, NOT by the people
Executive power is held by members of the legislature;
executive + legislative = one branch of government
Head of state has a ceremonial role,
Chief of state usually has the power
Examples: Israel, Zimbabwe, Japan, and Great Britain
2 separate
people

20. Presidential
The president and legislature are separate branches and powers are divided between them
President has two roles:
head of state & chief of state = ceremonial duties (role) + power
President is LIMITED to a set amount of terms they serve
Example: United States = two 4-year terms

21. Voters elect legislators Voters ALSO (indirectly) elect the president.
House of Representatives and Senate
Voters ALSO (indirectly) elect the president.
So…. in the presidential system voters have a more direct say about those who serve in two branches of the government :
Legislative
Executive

22. In Short….. Parliamentary Presidential Voters Voters Congress
(House & Senate)
Legislature
President
(Chief Executive)
Parliament
(Legislative Branch)
Prime Minister
(Executive Branch)