1. World Political Systems
Types of Governments

2. Political Systems
Nearly 200 independent countries exist in the world today!
They vary greatly in size, military power, natural resources, economic importance, and many other ways.
200 Countries in 200 Years !!!
(Click on Link to view video!)

3. Each of these 200 countries, however, has 4 specific characteristics that DEFINE it as a country:
TERRITORY
POPULATION
SOVEREIGNITY
GOVERNMENT

4. Terms to Know: 1. TERRITORY
Territory-Includes the land, water, & natural resources within its boundaries.
Modern countries range in size from Russia (6.5 million square miles) to the Vatican City (.17 square miles).
The total area of the US is 3.7 million square miles!

5. HOW??? TERRITORY continued…
Several factors play an important role in how a nation defines the boundaries that separate it from other nations.
HOW???
*Natural divisions, such as rivers & mountains, often serve as boundaries.
*Also, a nation’s boundaries can shrink or expand as a result of wars & conquests.
*In addition to thru negotiations as a result of international treaties and agreements.

6. Terms to Know: 2. POPULATION
The size of the population does NOT determine the existence of a country.
Remember…some countries such as Canada & Australia, have VAST land areas that are largely unpopulated…while Japan and the Netherlands are small in terms of land area but extremely densely populated.
As citizens of a nation, people are usually assured of protection by their government. In return citizens usually must pay taxes, serve in the military, or carry out other obligations to the government.

7. Terms to Know: 3. SOVEREGNITY
Definition: A nation’s freedom from outside control.
A sovereign country is one that can rule itself by establishing its own policies and determining its own course of action.
How can geographic factors help and/or hurt a nation defend/maintain its sovereignty?

8. ISLAND-United Kingdom
MOUNTAINS-Switzerland
HARSH WEATHER-Russia
PLAINS/FLAT LAND-Poland

9. Terms to Know: 4. GOVERNMENT
Though there are many countries in the world, there are only a few kinds of political systems.
Each system can be classified according to its structure and its basis of authority.

10. 3 Types of AUTHORITY
UNITARY
FEDERATION
CONFEDERATION

11. 1. Unitary System Strong central government.
Local government has little power.
All decisions of state are at the national level.
Dictatorships; Totalitarian regimes.
Ex. Japan & United Kingdom

12. 2. Federation
National governments and local governments share the power.
Usually has more than one branch of government.
Ex. United States

13. 3. Confederation Local government has most of the political power.
National government has little power or responsibility.
Ex ’s Southern States during the Civil War

14. Now, you are going to define, in your OWN words, the SOURCE of authority in governments:
Use page 92 & 93 in your textbook to define & give details of the following on the back of your notes:
AUTHORITARIAN
DICTATORSHIP
TOTALITARIANISM
MONARCHY
DEMOCRACY

15. Video
Click on the following link (and/or type the address into your web browser) to video videos on the United Nations: