1. Forms of Government
Mr. Scheel Civics, Unit 1

2. Anarchy Plato linked Democracy to Anarchy State of Nature - Hobbes
No government; rule by no one
State of Nature - Hobbes
Can happen if central gov’t is destroyed
Ex: Somalia
Plato linked Democracy to Anarchy
Political Cartoon Depicting “Red Anarchy”

3. Aristocracy/Oligarchy
Rule by small group of society’s elites
Unlimited power in the hands of few
Ex:

4. Communist
State ownership and control of property and means of production
Gov’t controls economic policy
What is produced
How it is produced
Who gets it
Single party
Purpose to achieve classless society where all goods shared equally by the people
Ex: USSR, China, Vietnam, Cuba

5. Confederation
Alliance of independent states united by a weak central government.
Central government has select, limited powers
Ex: EU, CSA, Articles of Confederation

6. Democracy Rule by majority/Rule by the people. Direct or Indirect
Ex: USA

7. Dictatorship Rule by one Single, non-elected leader.
Uses force to keep control.
Ex: Nazi Germany

8. Fascist Centralized gov’t headed by a dictator Violently nationalist
Individual is subordinate to the state
Gov’t controls the economy
Associated with community decline and victimhood
Ex: Italy during WWII

9. Monarchy Rule by one Can be limited or unlimited
Unlimited- monarch has absolute power
Limited- example is constitutional monarchy with a democratic gov’t and parliament
Ex:
UK – Constitutional
Japan - Constitutional
Saudi Arabia - Absolute

10. Military Junta Rule by a small group of military leaders
Usually overthrow prior government
Unlimited power
Rule by force
Ex: South Vietnam, Fiji,
Madagascar

11. Republic Gov’t made up of elected representatives of the people.
Indirect Democracy
No monarch
Head of country is usually a president.
Ex: USA

12. Socialist Authoritarian or democratic Gov’t ownership of economy
Gov’t says what is produced, how it is produced, and who gets it.
Ex: East Germany

13. Theocracy
Rule on behalf of a set of religious ideas or as a direct agent of a religion.
Ex: Vatican City, Iran, Tibet (Dalai Lama)