1. Political Understandings of Europe
SS6CG4: The student will compare and contrast various forms of government.
SS6CG5: The student will explain the structure of modern European governments.

2. What is government?
Definition: The system or form by which a community or other political unit is governed. The study of government of states and other political units. The organization that is the governing authority of a political unit.
Legislators (law-makers)
Administrators
Control a state/country
Organization
How state policy is enforced
To govern
To manage

3. Different governments
Aristocracy
Autocracy
Communist state
Confederation
Democracy
Empire
Federation
Monarchy
Oligarchy
Parliamentary state
Presidential
Republic
Theocracy
Tyranny

4. Forms of government in the world
What do you recognize about the types of government all over the world?

5. UNITARY Single national government has all the power.
There is no state or local government independent of the national government.

6. Ways Government Distributes Power
Unitary
Ways Government Distributes Power
Regional Authority
Regional Authority
Central Authority
Regional Authority
Regional Authority

7. List of Unitary States Italy Poland Portugal Spain Ukraine
United Kingdom
Information site- (This site has only been utilized to gather a list of countries that fall under a Unitary system. For a more extensive search we would suggest a research based site).

8. CONFEDERATIONS Made up of state governments or provinces.
Loose alliance between them.
Most of the power rests with the state governments or provinces.
The national government has some power, but not as much as the states.

9. Ways Government Distributes Power
Confederation
Ways Government Distributes Power
Regional Authority
Regional Authority
Central Authority
Regional Authority
Regional Authority

10. List of Confederations- Today
European Union and OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries)

11. FEDERAL
Have a strong national government that shares power with smaller state governments.
Most of the power is in the hands of the national government, but some authority is reserved for the states.
The United States has a federal form of government.
The federal (national) government shares power with fifty state governments.

12. Ways Government Distributes Power
Federation / Federal
Ways Government Distributes Power
Regional Authority
Regional Authority
Central Authority
Regional Authority
Regional Authority

13. List of countries with Federal Governments (24)
BELGIUM
GERMANY
RUSSIA
SPAIN
UNITED STATES
Information site-

14. Federal government 3 branches

15. Ways Government Distributes Power
All key powers are held by the central government
State/regional authorities hold most of the power
Unitary
Federal
Confederation
Strong central government
Weaker central government

16. Questions—Power and how it is distributed?
On a blank piece of paper #1-6 and write Unitary, Confederation, or Federal for your answer. Spell out the word
1. In this form of government power is shared with smaller governments (provinces/states).
2. In this form of government the power is in the smaller state governments or provinces.
3. This type of government is where you would most likely see a dictatorship.
4. In this type of government most of the power is in the hands of the national government, but some power is reserved for the states.
5. In this type of government the national government has all the power?
6. In this type of government there is no state or local government independent of the national government.

17. How government systems distribute power
A unitary government does NOT distribute power
A confederation’s power is with the state governments or provinces.
A federal government shares power with smaller states.

18. Sample test question
In Nigeria’s government, power is divided between Central and regional authorities. This is an example of which government type?
A. Unitary
B. Confederation
C. Federal
D. Parliamentary

19. How governments determine citizen participation
Autocracies-Ruled by a dictator
Oligarchies-Ruled by a small group
Democracies-Citizens have a voice in their government

20. Autocracies(Autocracy)
Ruled by a dictator
Citizens do not have much say
Ruler usually do what he/she wants
Does not need the approval of the people
Leaders rule until they die, are overthrown, or decide to resign from office
Many rule for years, or even decades.

21. Speaking of dictators…
World's 13 deadliest dictators

22. Oligarchies (Oligarchy)
Governments that are ruled by a small group
Elite families, military officers, religious leaders and/or members of the upper class have a say in how the government is run
Citizens who are outside the ruling group have very little to say

23. Democracies (Democracy)
Citizens have a voice in their government
Citizens elect leaders and often get to vote on laws
If the people do not like their leaders, they can vote to replace them
Many people think the United States is a democracy, but it is a REPUBLIC (If anything the United States is a Federal Presidential Constitutional Republic)—NOT a democracy
People of ALL classes who are qualified citizens are allowed to vote and have a say in their government

24. Practice questions
Who of the following would be the head of government in an autocracy?
President
Dictator
Prime Minister
Members of the upper class

25. Practice questions
Steven lives in a country where one national government has all the power. It sounds like Steven lives under which form of government?
Unitary
Federation
Confederation
State

26. Forms of Democratic Government
Parliamentary Democracy
Presidential Democracy

27. Parliamentary Democracy
Most of the power rests with the legislative body or parliament
The parliament selects government ministers
The parliament elects a prime minister who serves as both the leader of the legislature and the nation’s head of government.
Role of the citizens?
Have a say through parliamentary elections
Elect members of parliament who will then choose government leaders
There is often a head of state (King or Queen) but they have very little power.

28. Presidential Democracy
Power is divided between the legislature and an executive, usually called the president
Role of the citizens?
People elect their legislators and the president separately
The president and the legislature have different powers and they work together, but neither has authority over the other.

29. Practice question
Which of the following is the best description of a prime minister?
An executive independent of the legislative branch
An autocratic ruler
The leader of an elite ruling class
A head of government elected by members of a legislature