1. Types of Governments & Leaders
Bell Ringer Pre-Learning Activity
Take out a piece of paper and recreate the graphic below.
Add to your mind map by answering the following questions.
What kinds of governments exist? What kinds of leaders can be in charge of a country? Think about everything you’ve ever heard of or learned and add it to your mind map.
Types of Governments & Leaders

2. Who Rules?
Lesson Activities

3. à Where would you put theocracy on this chart?
Theocracy can apply to any of these!
à Where would you put theocracy on this chart?

4. Do You Know Your Forms of Government?
MINI-QUIZ
Do You Know Your Forms of Government?

5. A or B?
1. One person is in charge. A B 
Autocracy
Democracy

6. A or B?
2. Citizens often have no rights. A B
Democracy 
Dictatorship

7.  A or B? A B 3. Can exist with other forms of government.
Dictatorship 
Theocracy

8. A or B?
4. Led by a king or queen. A B 
Monarchy
Oligarchy

9. A or B?
5. Nobody is in charge. A B
Monarchy 
Anarchy

10. A or B?
6. Those in charge are military members who took over by force. A B 
Junta
Democracy

11. A or B?
7. Leader often shares power with other parts of government. A B 
Monarchy
Dictatorship

12. A or B?
8. Democracy where citizens elect others to serve in government. A B
Direct
Representative 

13.  A or B? A B 9. Citizens vote to elect their leaders. Democracy
Autocracy

14. A or B?
10. A small group rules the country. A B 
Oligarchy
Democracy

15.  A or B? A B 11. People do not answer to any leader or government.
Oligarchy 
Anarchy

16.  A or B? A B 12. God and religious law are the government authority.
Theocracy
Anarchy

17. A or B?
13. The group with power can be based on race or social class. A B
Monarchy 
Oligarchy

18. A or B?
14. Democracy where citizens participate in lawmaking themselves. A B 
Direct
Representative

19. Identify That Government!
ACTIVITY A
Identify That Government!

20. representative democracy
SWITZERLAND
Citizens elect representatives to sit in two different lawmaking assemblies. But citizens also vote several times a year to decide on laws. Citizens can vote to propose their own laws or undo laws passed by their representatives. All citizens may vote directly on these laws.
Forms of Government:
__________________________________
and
representative democracy
direct democracy

21. representative democracy
SOUTH AFRICA
From , official policy in South Africa gave white people all the political power. Even though the majority of South Africans were black, non-whites could not influence government. White South Africans elected representatives to sit in a lawmaking body.
Forms of Government:
__________________________________
and
oligarchy
representative democracy

22. NORTH KOREA
One man leads North Korea and controls its government. He also controls its ruling political party. The ruling party chooses candidates for an Assembly, and citizens vote. The candidates do not have opponents, so citizens have no choices.
Form of Government:
__________________________________
dictatorship

23. SAUDI ARABIA
Saudi Arabia is led by a king. The king appoints a Council of Ministers to help govern, but there are no elections. Saudi Arabia’s Basic Law states that the country’s constitution is the Islamic holy book the Qur’an and other religious traditions.
Forms of Government:
__________________________________
and
monarchy
theocracy

24. representative democracy
DENMARK
The people of Denmark elect representatives to sit in Parliament, a lawmaking body. The Queen of Denmark heads the country, but she only has a small role in government. The government is led by a Prime Minister, who is appointed from among the elected representatives.
Forms of Government:
__________________________________
and
monarchy
representative democracy

25. representative democracy
BRAZIL
Brazil is led by a president who is elected by the citizens. Citizens in Brazil elect a new president every four years. Citizens also elect representatives to serve in two different legislative bodies.
Form of Government:
__________________________________
representative democracy

26. ACTIVITY B
True or False?

27. True or False?         Denmark / Saudi Arabia Switzerland
1. A monarchy can be like a dictatorship or it can be part of a democracy.
m True
m False
Example or Reason:
2. A dictatorship can also be a democracy.
3. A democracy can have both representative and direct characteristics at the same time.
4. An oligarchy can include representative democracy.
5. A government can be both a monarchy and an anarchy at the same time.
6. Theocracy can co-exist with monarchy.
7. Theocracy can co-exist with democracy.
8. An oligarchy can be like a dictatorship.
Denmark / Saudi Arabia 
Citizens get no say in a dictatorship 
Switzerland 
In South Africa, some got to vote 
Monarchy and anarchy are opposites! 
Saudi Arabia 
In Iran, citizens vote 
Under a junta, citizens often have few rights

28. ACTIVITY C
Vocabulary Crossword

29. Vocabulary Crossword T D H R E P R E S E N T A T I V E C O D O A T C E
Across
3. Type of democracy where citizens elect leaders to represent them in government
7. A small group that rules a country after taking it over by force
9. One person has all the power
10. Type of democracy where citizens are involved in day-to- day government
Down
1. Recognizes God as the ultimate authority in government and law
2. One leader has absolute control over citizens’ lives
4. Citizens hold the political power
5. A small group of people has all the power
6. People are not subject to any nation or government
8. A king or queen rules the country D H R E P R E S E N T A T I V E C O D O A T C E L J U N T A R M I A T A O G M R O C C A O C R Y R R N H S A U T O C R A C Y H C H R D I R E C T Y Y C P H Y

30. Graded Assignment (Expression of Claim):
Why do societies create governments? (1-2 Paragraphs)
(Extra credit)
You may choose to write additional paragraphs answering the questions below
Assuming 850 people survived the plane crash, which type of government would you recommend for the island? In your rationale, be sure to discuss both the advantages and disadvantages of the type of government you chose. (1-2 paragraphs)
Would your decision be different if fewer people survived the crash? Why or why not? (1 paragraph)
If the island’s population grew quickly over the next few generations, would you recommend changing the form of government? Why or why not? (1 paragraph)