1. Unit 1 U.S. Government Honors Stater
Types of Government
Unit 1
U.S. Government Honors
Stater

2. Government Structures
Section 1

3. 3 Basic Systems of Dividing Power
Confederal
States:
share power equally
are independent but agree to work together
Little or no central gov’t
Example?

4. 2. Unitary Central gov’t holds all power
Local offices follow central gov’t’s laws/decisions
Most common modern form of gov’t

5. 3. Federal Power shared b/t federal & state gov’t
Smallest unit = local gov
All units influence each other

6. In which system of government would states function independently of each other?
solitary
unitary
federal
confederal

7. Rule by One or a Few
Section 2

8. Autocracy Rule by ONE leader Dictatorship Monarchy
Usually gains power through force
Use of propaganda
Has absolute power
Monarchy
Power passed through family
May have absolute power
Constitutional monarchy - figurehead

9. Oligarchy Rule by a FEW (small, elite group) Communism Theocracy
Ruled by a political party
Gov’t ownership of property
Theocracy
Rule by religious leaders
Claim divine authority
Religious laws

10. Which statement best characterizes a dictatorship?
The leader shares power, if necessary.
The leader maintains power through force.
The leader inherits power through birth.
The leader is blessed by the church.

11. Rule by All
Section 3

12. Democracy Rule by the PEOPLE Direct democracy
All citizens vote on policies
Limits?
Size of group
Complexity of gov’t

13. Representative Democracy
Citizens elect leaders to make decisions
Parliamentary system
Leader of party with most seats becomes prime minister
Presidential system
Citizens vote for a president, not a party
Separate executive & legislative branch

14. The best explanation as to why direct democracy would not work well in the U.S. is that
the use of direct democracy would make debate on issues by individuals too difficult.
the population of the United States is too large.
Ancient Greece was smaller and less geographically diverse than the United States.
voting is not mandatory in the United States.

15. Group Assignment
Research one modern example of each of the following types of governments. Give 2-3 reasons why you know the country has that type of government.
Dictatorship
Monarchy
Communist
Theocracy