1. Sixth Grade Social Studies
Government
Sixth Grade Social Studies

2. Compare & Contrast Various Forms of Government
Describe the ways government systems distribute power: unitary, confederation, and federal
SS6 - CG1a, CG4a, CG6a

3. Unitary Ways Government Distributes Power
Gives all the power to one central government/authority.
Central government has final authority over all decisions.
Unitary central governments are stronger than federal central governments - why?
Many countries have unitary governments, including: Great Britain, France, Italy, Cuba and Bolivia

4. Ways Government Distributes Power
Unitary
Ways Government Distributes Power
Regional Authority
Regional Authority
Central Authority
Regional Authority
Regional Authority

5. Ways Government Distributes Power
Confederation
Voluntary association of independent states/countries
Often only delegate (give) a few powers to the central authority
Secure some common purpose – but each unit has final control of its own laws/citizens
Agree to certain limitations on their freedom of action
States retain considerable independence
Less binding than a federation
Why can a confederation be unstable?
Because members often want to do things their own way!

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

7. List of Confederations
Iroquois Confederacy (1090–present)
European Union and OPEC
Historic confederations
United States of America under the Articles of Confederation (1781–1789)
Confederate States of America, (1861–1865)

8. Ways Government Distributes Power
Federal (Federation)
Power is divided between one central government and the government of smaller political units like states.
Most federal systems give a lot of power to lower governments to handle local affairs
The central government handles issues that concern the entire country (armed forces, negotiating treaties, etc)
Countries with a federal government include the United States, Canada, Australia, Mexico, Venezuela and Brazil

9. Ways Government Distributes Power
Federation / Federal
Ways Government Distributes Power
Regional Authority
Regional Authority
Central Authority
Regional Authority
Regional Authority

10. Review! Match each phrase to the correct government system –each system will have two phrases
Unitary System
Confederation
Federal System
France is an example
Loose alliance
Political units control their own laws
Central govt divides power
Central govt has all power
United States is an example
France is an example
E. Central govt has all power
B. Loose alliance
C. Political units control their own laws
D. Central govt divides power
F United States is an example

11. Sample Test Question
In Mexico’s government, power is divided between central and regional authorities. This is an example of which government type?
A. Unitary
B. Confederation
C. Federal
D. Parliamentary
Corresponds to
SS6- CG1a, CG4a, CG6a

12. Sample Test Question - Answer
In Mexico’s government, power is divided between central and regional authorities. This is an example of which government type?
A. Unitary
B. Confederation
C. Federal*
D. Parliamentary
Corresponds to
SS6- CG1a, CG4a, CG6a

13. Compare & Contrast Various Forms of Government
Explain how governments determine citizen participation: autocratic, oligarchic, and democratic.
SS6 - CG1b, CG4b, CG6b

14. How Governments Determine Citizen Participation
High Participation
High Participation
Select Citizens’ Participation
General Citizens’ Participation
Government Power
Citizen Participation
Government Power
Government Power
Citizen Participation
Low or No Participation
Low or No Participation
Low or No Participation
Autocratic
Oligarchic
Democracy

15. How Governments Determine Citizen Participation
Autocracy
One leader holds complete power – citizens have limited, if any, role in government
Oldest form of government
An autocracy is the opposite of a democracy
Maintain power through inheritance or ruthless use of the military and police power
Examples –
Dictatorship (Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Joseph Stalin)
Absolute Monarchy (king/queen/emperor…King of Saudi Arabia)

16. How Governments Determine Citizen Participation
Oligarchy
Government by the few - control rests with a small group of people with power
The group gets its power from military power, social power, wealth, religion or a combination
Citizen has a limited role.
Example: apartheid system in South Africa, where a small group of whites held power over the black majority from 1948 to 1994 and Communist China where leaders in the communist party and armed forces control the government

17. How Governments Determine Citizen Participation
Autocracy & Oligarchy
Sometimes they claim they rule for the people
In reality, the people have very little say in both types of government:
Example: May hold elections with only one candidate or control the results in various ways
Example: Even when these governments have a legislature or national assembly, they often only approve decisions made by the leaders

18. How Governments Determine Citizen Participation
Democracy
The people hold supreme power
Usually, people exercise their power by electing officials (voting!!)to represent them
All citizens have equal rights to participate in government regardless of their position or wealth
Examples: The United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Great Britain

19. Review. Read the statements by political leaders below
Review!! Read the statements by political leaders below. Write A if they head an autocratic government, O if they head an oligarchy and D if they head a democracy.
“I am proud to serve as president of a country where everyone has equal rights.”
“My wealth and position will keep me in power in this society.”
“I will imprison anyone who criticizes my government. I am in total control.”
“There is no reason to explain our position to the people. We are in control here.”
“Where can I register to vote for the presidential election?”

20. Review. Read the statements by political leaders below
Review!! Read the statements by political leaders below. Write A if they head an autocratic government, O if they head an oligarchy and D if they head a democracy.
“I am proud to serve as president of a country where everyone has equal rights.” D
“My wealth and position will keep me in power in this society.” A
“I will imprison anyone who criticizes my government. I am in total control.” A
“There is no reason to explain our position to the people. We are in control here.” O
“Where can I register to vote for the presidential election?” D

21. Sample Test Question
What is a basic way citizens of a democratic nation can influence the government?
A. voting
B. working
C. obeying laws
D. consuming goods
SS6- CG1b, CG4b, CG6b

22. Sample Test Question - Answer
What is a basic way citizens of a democratic nation can influence the government?
A. voting*
B. working
C. obeying laws
D. consuming goods
SS6- CG1b, CG4b, CG6b

23. Compare & Contrast Various Forms of Government
Describe the two predominant forms of democratic governments: Parliamentary & Presidential
The main difference between the two main forms of democracy is the relationship between the legislative and executive branches of government.
SS6 - CG1c, CG4c, CG6c

24. Parliamentary Democracy
Describe the two predominant forms of democratic government: parliamentary and presidential
Parliamentary Democracy
The Legislature (Parliament) controls the power.
The majority party in the legislature forms a government headed by a prime minister, who is chosen by the legislature.
The prime minister and his cabinet are members of the legislature, and the prime minister answers to the legislature (fusion of powers).
The govt will stay in office for a specified period unless the prime minister loses support of the majority in the legislature on an important vote. If that happens, the prime minister must resign and elections are held immediately.
Examples: Canada, Great Britain, Australia

25. Presidential Democracy
Describe the two predominant forms of democratic government: parliamentary and presidential
Presidential Democracy
The President is constitutionally independent of the legislature.
The executive and legislative branches are separate bodies elected independently by the citizens (separation of powers).
There are checks and balances where each branch can overrule the other.
The president answers to the voters, not to the legislature.
The people elect the president and elections are held at set intervals.
Examples: The United States, Brazil and Mexico

26. Review Place check marks next to the items that fit each government system.
Parliamentary
Presidential
Legislature controls power
Separation of powers
Prime minister
President
Leader answers to people
Leader answers to legislature
Checks and balances
Elections are held if leader forced to resign
Leader elected by the people
Legislature controls power
Separation of powers
Prime minister
President
Leader answers to people
Leader answers to legislature
Checks and balances
Elections are held if leader forced to resign
Leader elected by the people

27. Sample Test Question
In which system of government does the legislature elect the executive leader of the government?
A. democratic
B. communist
C. parliamentary
D. totalitarian
SS6- CG1c, CG4c, CG6c

28. Sample Test Question - Answer
In which system of government does the legislature elect the executive leader of the government?
A. democratic
B. communist
C. parliamentary*
D. totalitarian
SS6- CG1c, CG4c, CG6c

29. Sample Test Question
Which statement about Great Britain's parliamentary system of government today is true?
A. Members of both houses of Parliament are elected for life.
B. The queen decides which laws Parliament will debate.
C. Members of Parliament do not belong to political parties.
D. The prime minister is not directly chosen by voters.
SS6- CG1c, CG4c, CG6c

30. Sample Test Question - Answer
Which statement about Great Britain's parliamentary system of government today is true?
A. Members of both houses of Parliament are elected for life.
B. The queen decides which laws Parliament will debate.
C. Members of Parliament do not belong to political parties.
D. The prime minister is not directly chosen by voters.*
SS6- CG1c, CG4c, CG6c

31. Sample Test Question
In most democratic countries, the government is divided into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. In Canada, the legislative branch is the
A. Parliament
B. prime minister
C. Supreme Court
D. governor general
SS6- CG1b, CG4b, CG6b

32. Sample Test Question - Answer
In most democratic countries, the government is divided into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. In Canada, the legislative branch is the
A. Parliament*
B. prime minister
C. Supreme Court
D. governor general
SS6- CG1b, CG4b, CG6b

33. Compare & Contrast Various Forms of Government
Compare the federal-republican systems of Brazil and Mexico to the dictatorship of the Cuba, distinguishing the form of leadership and the role of the citizen in terms of voting and personal freedoms.
SS6CG2

34. Brazil – Federal Republic
Federal = Government divides power between the national (federal) and local (state) governments
Republic = Decisions are made by elected officials who represent the people
Brazil’s leader is a president elected by the citizens
President serves a 4 year term
Voting is mandatory for citizens between 18 and 70 who can read
Brazil’s citizens enjoy personal freedoms like freedom of speech and freedom of assembly

35. Mexico – Federal Republic
Federal = Government divides power between the national (federal) and local (state) governments
Republic = Decisions are made by elected officials who represent the people
Mexico’s leader is a president elected by the citizens
President serves a 6 year term and has more power than the other branches of government
Mexico’s citizens enjoy personal freedoms like freedom of speech and freedom of assembly

36. Cuba – Communist Dictatorship
Communist = The government plans and controls the economy and a single party (the communist party) holds power
Dictatorship = A ruler or small group have all the power
Cuba has a president, but he is a dictator with absolute authority who was not originally elected by the Cuban citizens – he seized power in 1959

37. Cuba – Communist Dictatorship
Cuba’s president controls all aspects of Cuban life through the Communist Party and the people he chooses to put in govt positions.
Cuba’s citizens can “vote” BUT they can only vote for candidates selected by the only political party, the Communist Party.
Cuban citizens do NOT have personal freedoms like freedom of speech.
Cuba does not have free trade or enterprise.

38. Review!! Answer TRUE or FALSE for each question:
Brazil’s government leader is an elected president.
Mexico’s leader is a prime minister.
Cuba’s leader is a dictator who seized power.
In Brazil, you don’t have to vote if you don’t want to.
Citizens have freedom of speech in Mexico and Brazil.
There are many political parties in Cuba.
Cuba has “free elections” where anyone can run for office.
You can say anything you want about the government in Cuba.
TRUE!
FALSE!
TRUE!
FALSE!
TRUE!
FALSE!
FALSE!
FALSE!

39. Sample Test Question
Which term describes how political power is distributed in Brazil?
A. aristocratic
B. confederation
C. federal
D. unitary
SS6CG2

40. Sample Test Question - Answer
Which term describes how political power is distributed in Brazil?
A. aristocratic
B. confederation
C. federal*
D. unitary
SS6CG2

41. Sample Test Question
What type of government does Mexico currently have?
A. communist
B. monarchy
C. parliamentary democracy
D. Presidential democracy
SS6CG2

42. Sample Test Question - Answer
What type of government does Mexico currently have?
A. communist
B. monarchy
C. parliamentary democracy
D. presidential democracy*
SS6CG2

43. Sample Test Question
What statement about political parties is true about Cuba?
A. There are many political parties.
B. There is only one legal political party.
C. The leader of the political party cannot be president.
D. Those running for office many not be in the Communist Party.
SS6CG2

44. Sample Test Question - Answer
What statement about political parties is true about Cuba?
A. There are many political parties.
B. There is only one legal political party.*
C. The leader of the political party cannot be president.
D. Those running for office many not be in the Communist Party.
SS6CG2