2. Formations of Governments Types of Government Democracy

3. Objectives
Be able to explain the difference between a UNITARY system of government and a FEDERAL system of government
Be able to identify and explain what a constitution is
Be able to explain the difference between a nation with a constitution and a nation that has a constitutional government
Be able to identify major types of government
Be able to determine the difference between a direct democracy and an indirect or representative democracy

4. Unitary vs. Federal Unitary Sytem Federal System
All key powers & authority given to a national or central government
Federal System
Divides the powers of government between the national (federal) government and state or provinces
Each level of government has some sovereignty
United States is has a federal system

5. Constitutions & Government
A plan that provides the rules for government
Organizes the structure of government and how it operates
Sets goals and purposes of government and the ideals of a Nation’s people
Provide the supreme law for states and their governments
Constitutional governments are governments that have the authority to limit the power of the those who govern (limited government)

6. Constitutions compared United States vs. China
The U.S. has a constitutional government in which the authority of our government is limited by checks and balances and separation of powers
People’s Republic of China has a constitution, but the central government has complete control and basically unlimited power

7. The U.S. Constitution organizes our government into 3 branches of government
Each of the branches have separate but mostly equal powers and perform checks and balances on each other

8. China Tiananmen Square protests of 1989:
Students wanted more democracy

10. In a Unitary system of government who maintains control?
Unitary system: all powers and authority are given to the central, or national government
-North Korea
In a Federal system of government?
Federal system: power is divided between national (federal) government and state/provincial governments
-United States

11. Major Types of Government
Governments are classified according to who governs the state.
Coming from ideas of ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle
1) autocracy- rule by one person
2) oligarchy- rule by a few persons
3) democracy- rule by many people

13. www.constitutioncenter.org/timeline/flash/ass... /////// 1999

14. Autocracy Gov’t is in the hands of a single person
Most have their position by inheritance or ruthless use of military power.
Totalitarian dictatorship- the ideas of a single leader are glorified & gov’t controls all aspects of social and economic life.
Monarchy- king, queen or emperor exercises the supreme powers of gov’t.

15. Autocracy
Absolute monarchs have complete and unlimited power to rule their people
Constitutional monarchs- monarchs share gov’t powers with elected legislators or are mainly ceremonial leaders of their gov’t

16. Oligarchy
Oligarchy- a small group holds power, usually gets power from wealth, military power, social position or combination
Today most communist gov’t are oligarchies
Oligarchies usually suppress all political opposition

17. Democracy Democracy comes from Greek “demos” and “kratia” or “kratos”
Demos = people
Kratia or kratos = rule
Direct democracy- the people govern themselves by voting on issues individually as citizens. Exists in small societies
Indirect or representative democracy consists of representatives elected by the people to make laws and run the government

18. Direct vs. Indirect or Representative Democracy
Which type of democracy does the U.S. have?
Indirect or Representative Democracy
Why isnt the U.S. a direct democracy?

19. Characteristics of Democracy
Gov’t works to secure an equal opportunity for people to develop their own abilities
Majority rule with minority rights-
Gov’t based on majority rule through the people’s elected representatives, but respects the rights of minorities
laws made usually represent the will of the majority, but the rights of individuals in the minority should still be protected
Gov’t based on free and open elections
Political parties choose candidates for office, and once candidates are elected, should represent the peoples’ wishes, or ideals

20. Quick Quiz
A government in which all powers and authority are given to the central, or national government is known as:
Federal
Unitary
Democracy
None of the above

21. A plan that provides the rules for government and organizes the structure of government and how it operates is known as a:
constitution
monarchy
oligarchy
Autocracy
None of the above

22. 3. All of the following are types of governments EXCEPT:
Democracy
Autocracy
Oligarchy
Constitution
None of the above

23. 4. A government that has the authority to limit the power of the those who govern (limited government) is known as:
China
North Korea
Constitutional government
Autocracy

24. In a ____________ democracy the people govern themselves by voting on issues individually as citizens. Exists in small societies
In a _____________ democracy representatives elected by the people to make laws and run the government