1. Types of government
Government: the organization that people set up to protect their community and to enforce its rules

2. Monarchy
Main characteristic of a monarchy is that the ruler inherits power
Monarchs fulfill their role as supreme ruler by surrounding themselves with followers and advisors who help them govern
Rule by Divine Right
In older forms of monarchy, the ruler claimed absolute power
Claimed to hold this power by “divine right”, or the will of God
Ordinary people had no rights or freedoms, except those that the monarch allowed.
Constitutional Monarchy
In recent times, monarchs have shared power with an elected legislature
Subjects enjoy traditional, protected rights
Great Britian is an example

3. Republic A government without a king or queen
Often will choose representatives to make decisions
The United States is a republic

4. Democracy Government authority is based on the will of the people.
Direct Democracy:
Invented by the Greeks in ancient Athens
Democracy is a greek word that means “people-power”
People voted on issues directly
Representative Democracy:
Developed by the Romans
People elected representatives that met in assemblies
The United States has a Representative Democracy

5. Dictatorship
A system of government in which a single person or small group exercises complete power over others.
A dictator does not inherit their power like a king, they either seize control by force or are placed into a position of authority by others.
Sometimes the military will sometimes seize power and establish a dictatorship
Citizens in a dictatorship have few rights
Main advantage of a dictatorship is that decisions can be made quickly

6. Dictatorship: Example
Robert Mugabe was elected as President of Zimbabwe
He quickly became a dictator who used police to block opponents from voting
He even arrested and tortured opponents

7. Totalitarian Systems
Dictators will often establish totalitarian systems in which the government controls all aspects of individual life
People can only belong to organizations controlled by the government
No separate political parties, labor unions, or other organizations
Government controls or prohibits all churches and religious groups
One leader or political party maintains total control over all aspects of society
Government controls all television, radio, and newspapers
All dissent is suppressed and citizens are terrorized by secret police.
People who oppose the government are arrested and sent to labor camps or killed

8. Theocracy A government run by religious leaders
Claims to be directed by God, or divinely blessed
No legal separation between church and state
Citizens of other faiths are often excluded or expelled
Iran’s Theocracy:
Muslim religious leaders seized power in Iran in 1979
Iranian Constitution emphasizes the importance of religion and Islamic law (sharia law)
Has a Theocratic and democratic government
Voters elect the President and representatives to the legislature but these officials remain subject to the control of Iran’s Supreme Leader
The Supreme Leader is the head of government, even above the elected President
The Supreme Leader interprets religious law, can dismiss the President, and can declare war.
Iran’s Supreme Leader:
Ayatollah Khamenei
Iran’s President:
Hassan Rouhani

9. Let’s Act it Out!!! Thomas Jefferson – Democracy
Joseph Stalin – Dictator
Louis XIV - Monarchy