1. Ways Government Distributes Power
Power divided between the central and regional governments
All key powers are held by the
central government
State/regional authorities hold most of the power
Unitary
Federal
Confederation
Strong central government
Weaker central government

2. Autocracy (Autocratic) (Citizen Participation)
Political power is held by a single self-appointed ruler with unlimited power.
Focus is to control all aspects of the political process
Maintain power through inheritance or violent use of military and police power.
The oldest and most common forms of government.
The citizen has limited, if any, role in government.

3. Forms of Autocratic Governments
Absolute or Totalitarian Dictatorship
Ideas of a single leader glorified.
Government is not responsible to the people.
People lack the power to limit their rulers.
Government tries to control all aspects of social & economic life.
Examples – Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Joseph Stalin
Absolute Monarchy
Monarch exercises the supreme powers of government with unlimited power.
Position is usually inherited.
Absolute monarchs are rare today. From the 1400 – 1700’s they ruled most of Western Europe.
Examples- King of Saudi Arabia

4. Oligarchy (Citizen Participation)
A government in which a few people have power.
Especially for corrupt and selfish purposes.
The group gets its power from military power, social power, wealth, religion or a combination.
Political opposition is usually suppressed- sometimes violently.
The citizen has a very limited role.
Examples- Communist countries such as China.

5. Autocracy & Oligarchy Review
Sometimes claim they rule for the people.
In reality, the people have very little say in both types of government.
Examples . . .
May hold elections with only one candidate or control the results in various ways.
Even when these governments have a legislature or national assembly, they often only approve decisions made by the leaders.
Remy, Richard C., United States Government- Democracy in Action (Columbus, OH: Glencoe, McGraw-Hill, 2006)

6. Democracy In a democracy, the government is elected by the people.
Everyone who is eligible to vote has a chance to have their say over who runs the country.
How is it different from an Autocracy or Oligarchy?
Democracy – public involvement
Oligarchy – government controlled by particular social class or group
Monarchy/Dictatorship – government controlled by a single person
A democracy is determined either directly or through elected representatives.

7. 2 Types of Democratic Countries
Parliamentary
Head of the executive branch is chosen from the legislature.
Prime Minister is accountable to their party in the legislature.
Stays in power as long as their party stays in power.
Example Great Britain.
Presidential
Democratically elected position
Independent of the legislature
A president presides over an executive branch that is separate from the legislature
Examples USA, Mexico

8. Summarizing Activity
Working with your partner, decide which forms of government would fit the following situations:
After a civil war, an individual takes total control of the government; she has no experience in leading a government. She disbands the national congress and retains all power in government to herself.
Dictatorship
The new President elect wins the election by a landslide. Over 90% of the citizens vote for the new leader.
Presidential Democracy
A family in a remote area of Africa has taken control of a native tribe. Power has been passed down between several generations and continues to remain within this family.
Oligarchy
The new Prime Minister wins election narrowly due to his political party barely gaining enough seats in Parliament.
Parliamentary Democracy