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Forms of Governments
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To study governments, geographers look at the following:
Types – Who rules and who participates? Systems – How the POWER is distributed?
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Types of Government are based on one key question: Who governs and what is the citizen participation? There are three types of governments: Autocracy, Oligarchy, and Democracy
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Autocracy Government in which the power to govern is held by one person. Generally the power to rule is inherited or by military force. Types of Autocracy.
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#1 Dictatorship The leader has not been elected and uses force to control all aspects of social and economic life. Examples: Adolf Hitler in Germany and Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union
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#2 Absolute Monarchy A monarchy has a king, queen, emperor or empress.
Brunei, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Vatican City. A monarchy has a king, queen, emperor or empress. The power is usually inherited or passed down from family members. The monarch has absolute power meaning they can make all decisions without consulting anyone.
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Oligarchy A government in which a few people such as a dominant clan or clique have power. The group gets their power from either military, wealth or social status. Elections may be held but offer only one candidate. Example: Greek city states Caudillos - those who owned large estates throughout the land. Sparta
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Democracy In a democracy, the government is “Ruled by the people”
There are two forms of democracy Direct Democracy – People vote on all the issues. Representative Democracy – People elect representatives and give them the power to vote on issues. Example: United States
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In a democracy…. Individual freedom and equality is valued.
Free elections are held Decisions are based on majority rule. All candidates can express their views freely. Citizens vote by secret ballot.
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Democratic Governments
There are two major kinds of democratic governments: Parliamentary Presidential
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Parliamentary Democracy
Voters elect members to the Parliament (legislature) Parliament has two Houses: House of Commons: The Political Party with the most votes in the House of Commons chooses the Prime Minister, the government’s leader with no set length of term. House of Lords or Senate: Little power with most members being nobles having inherited their titles.
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Presidential Democracy
Voters elect legislators Voters elect (directly) the president. Therefore, in the presidential system voters have a more direct say about those who serve in two branches of the government : Legislative Executive
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Parliamentary System Presidential System
Executive Executive Legislative Select Elect Elect Legislative Elect Citizens Citizens
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Systems of Government are based on one question: How is the power distributed?
There are three ways governments distribute power: Unitary Confederation Federal
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Unitary One central government controls everything.
Power is not shared between states, counties or provinces. Examples : United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, and Spain
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Ways Government Distributes Power
Unitary Ways Government Distributes Power Regional Authority Regional Authority Central Authority Regional Authority Regional Authority
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Confederation A voluntary association of independent states that agrees to follow a powerful central government. Nations can choose to follow or not follow the lead of the weak central government. Examples: Confederate States of America ( ), Russian Federation.
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Ways Government Distributes Power
Confederation Ways Government Distributes Power Regional Authority Regional Authority Central Authority Regional Authority Regional Authority
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Federal Power is shared by a powerful central government.
States or provinces are given considerable self rule, usually through their own legislatures. Examples: United States, Germany
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Ways Government Distributes Power
Federation / Federal Ways Government Distributes Power Regional Authority Regional Authority Central Authority Regional Authority Regional Authority
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How is the power distributed?
All key powers are held by the central government State/regional authorities hold most of the power Unitary Confederation Federal Shared power Strong central government Weaker central government
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Putting it all together….
The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy and a unitary system. The United States is a presidential democracy with a federal system. What do those statements mean?
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What do you remember? 1. What are the three types of governments? 2. What are the three systems of government?
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What do you remember? 3.What are two major kinds of democratic governments? 4. T or F Parliamentary democracy has Two Houses. Name them. 5. Which Democratic system allows the citizens to elect the two branches of government? Name them.
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