1. An introductory overview
Political Systems
An introductory overview

2. Where they came from Early human societies
Needed something to unify them
Focus effort
Provide structure
Governments
At its basic form, provides these in exchange for authority

3. Common political systems
Rule by one
One person yields all the government’s power
Monarchies
Dictatorships
Autocracies
Rule by few
An elite class yields the majority of the gov’t’s power
Oligarchies
Rule by many
The government derives its power from the majority
Democracy
Republics

4. Issues with political systems
Levels of corruption corrupt government efficiency
Monarchs can become tyrannical
All that power in two hands can be bad
Oligarchs can become self-serving
They can maintain a status quo of social division
Democracies/republics can be abused
Misinformation, manipulation, and abuse of the system

5. Economic Systems
An introductory overview

6. What economies are 1) Accumulation of resources Humans desire goods
Goods require resources to make
2) Places of exchange
Resources turn into goods to be sold
The exchange drives this engine
This engine is the economy
Those who drive the economy
Are those who control the means of production

7. Types of economic systems
Traditional
Basic economic system tied to land and culture
Minimal waste and socially stable, as everyone has a role
Command
Economic production controlled by central authority
Issues with predicting demand and corruption
Market
Economic activity dependent upon individuals
Varying amounts of regulation
Mixed
Elements of command/market economies
Like US social programs in a capitalist economy