1. Government classifications: Governments are classified two ways
Power Distribution- What part of the government has the power to make decisions.
Citizen Participation- How the people of a country participates in running the country.
*Governments are divided into central government and regional (Local & state) governments.

2. Key Terms Head of State Head of Government
Represents the state (country) at official ceremonies but not involved in day-to-day politics
Top leader who manages day-to- day activities of the government

3. Power Distribution
Unitary – the Central government holds nearly all the power in making laws and how the government operates (Example: Saudi Arabia)
Federal – power is shared between the central and local/regional governments (Example: Israel)
Confederation – local governments have all the power and the central government depends on the local governments for its existence (Example: OPEC or Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries)

5. Ways Government Distributes Power
Regional Authority
Regional Authority
Central Authority
Regional Authority
Regional Authority

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

7. Ways Government Distributes Power
Regional Authority
Regional Authority
Central Authority
Regional Authority
Regional Authority

8. Role of Citizen – Who rules
Autocratic – One ruler has absolute power to do whatever he wishes and makes whatever laws he chooses. Citizens have little to no rights and cannot vote for which laws are made (Ex: Saudi Arabia)
Oligarchy – “government by the few” Small groups (sometimes political parties) have the power. Citizens again have little to no rights except to go along with the small group’s decisions. (Ex: Iran)
Democratic – The people have the power to create laws and VOTE for who they want to govern. (Ex: Israel)

9. Presidential vs. Parliamentary
Head of Government is directly elected by the citizens
Executive branch is SEPARATE from the Legislative branch
Presidents have set terms with specified years
Head of Government is elected by the legislative branch
The Executive branch is COMBINED with the legislative branch
This is because the Prime Minister is elected from the Legislative Branch (Parliament)
Prime Ministers can be in power for as long as their political party is in power

10. Democracy
Monarchy
Dictatorship
Theocracy
Oligarchy
How leaders take Power
People’s Freedoms
Economic Control
Country with this government

11. Iran Elected Passed Down Take power by force or are elected
Democracy
Monarchy
Dictatorship
Autocracy
Theocracy
Oligarchy
How leaders take Power
Elected
Passed Down
Take power by force or are elected
Religious leaders are approved
Through tradition or by force
People’s Freedoms
Many
Vary
Few
Economic Control
Little government control
Control by Government
Control by government
Country with this government
Israel (A true Republic)
Saudi Arabia
Iraq (was), Sudan, North Korea
Iran, Afghanistan under the Taliban
Iran