1. Governments

2. What is Government?
Government is the people and groups within a society that have the authority to make laws, to make sure they are carried out, and to settle disagreements about them.

3. How do governments distribute power?
Unitary – central government has all the power
Confederation – states control a weak government
Federal – power is SHARED between central government and states

4. Federal
comprising a number of partially self-governing states or regions united by a central ("federal") government
Power is shared/divided between central government and states

5. Federal Governments

6. Unitary Government
Most states in the world have a unitary system of government.
Power is held by one central authority.

7. Unitary Governments

8. Confederation
Voluntary association of independent states that often only delegate a few powers to the central authority
Tend to be established for dealing with critical issues such as defense or foreign affairs
Usually don’t last long

9. How do citizens participate in the government?
Autocratic/Autocracy – little to no citizen participation
Oligarchic/Oligarchy – group of people have input
Democratic/Democracy – all citizens have the right to participate

10. Autocratic/Autocracy
the political power is held by a single, self-appointed ruler
one person holds all the power, without the participation, or sometimes even the consent, of the people; citizen has limited, if any, role in government
Ruler maintains power through inheritance or ruthless use of military and police power

11. Oligarchic/Oligarchy
Government by the few; sometimes a small group exercises control, the average citizen has a limited role
Also compared with Communism
Members of this high social class claim to be, or are considered by others to be, superior to the other people because of family ties, social rank, wealth, or religious affiliation

12. Parliamentary Democracy
Executive power vested in a Cabinet
Cabinet composed of members of the legislature
May have a Prime Minister elected by the legislature

13. Presidential Democracy
Separation of power between different branches of the government
Executive branch exists separately from the legislature
President is constitutionally independent from the legislature

14. Republic People elected representatives
Those representatives vote on legislation, not the people themselves

15. Democratic/Democracy
power of the people
all members of the society (citizens) have equal access to power
all members (citizens) enjoy universally recognized freedoms and liberties

16. Democratic Governments
The palest blue countries get a score above 9.5 out of 10 (with Sweden being the most democratic country at 9.88), while the black countries score below 2 (with North Korea being the least democratic at 1.03).

17. Absolute Monarchy Supreme power is placed in the hands of a monarch
Monarchs usually rule for life or pass power down hereditary lines
Examples are Kings, Queens, Prince, and Princesses

18. Constitutional Monarchy
Monarch does not hold supreme power
The Monarch is guided by a constitution
The constitution spells out clear rights, duties, and responsibilities for the Monarch

19. Countries with Monarchies

20. Theocracy A Deity/religious leader is recognized as supreme ruler.
The Deity’s laws are interpreted by a leader
Government subject to religious authority
Examples: Iran, Vatican City

21. Communist The government plans and controls the economy
Single party control
No private ownership of property
All goods equally shared among the people

22. Dictatorship One ruler holds absolute power Leader rules by force
Typically the Dictator limits the citizens’ freedom
Example: North Korea