1. The Basics of Geography Part 8 Political Features

2. Politically, the term STATE is used to describe an independent place that occupies a specific territory and has full control of its affairs. Sometimes we also call it a COUNTRY. Politically, the term STATE is used to describe an independent place that occupies a specific territory and has full control of its affairs. Sometimes we also call it a COUNTRY. NATION refers to a group of people with a common culture living in a territory and having a strong sense of unity. When a nation and a state occupy the same territory, we often call it a NATION-STATE. There are some nations without a state, such as the Kurds. NATION refers to a group of people with a common culture living in a territory and having a strong sense of unity. When a nation and a state occupy the same territory, we often call it a NATION-STATE. There are some nations without a state, such as the Kurds.

3. The Kurdish People of the Middle East have always to have their own state or country.

4. Types of Government All countries must choose a type of government, or else there would be anarchy. ANARCHY is the total absence of government rule, law, and any type authority. It can lead to complete chaos and mob rule. Whatever type of government a country has, it must deal with issues that have to do with the territory and people of the state.

5. Democracy or Republic Citizens hold political power either directly or through elected representatives. In ancient Athens in Greece, all citizens were required to vote. Today, in the United States, we use voting to elect men and women to be our representatives and speak out for us. It would be too complicated if every American had to stop and vote on every single issue.

6. Monarchy A ruling family headed by a king or queen holds the political power. They may or may not share that power with citizen groups such as Parliaments like Great Britain has.

7. Dictatorship An individual or group holds complete political power over the people. Fidel Castro of Cuba and Kim Jong-iL of North Korea.

8. Communism In this government and economic system, nearly all political power and economic power is held by the government in the name of the people. You are promised great things and to be taken care of, but your individual freedoms and liberties are limited. 6 countries still officially practice this type of government. Although during the Cold War years between 1945-1990, there were many more.

10. Characteristics and Boundaries The size of a country can help determine its wealth and power. It might have a lot of natural resources or a big population that can get a lot of things done. However, Great Britain, a smaller country achieved one of the greatest empires the world has known. Keep in mind that large countries also need to worry about defending longer borders and longer stretches of sea coasts as well. The size of a country can help determine its wealth and power. It might have a lot of natural resources or a big population that can get a lot of things done. However, Great Britain, a smaller country achieved one of the greatest empires the world has known. Keep in mind that large countries also need to worry about defending longer borders and longer stretches of sea coasts as well.

11. The shape of a country may determine its relationship with other countries, how it is governed, and how goods are moved. The shape of a country may determine its relationship with other countries, how it is governed, and how goods are moved. Germany Is Compacted Chile Is Elongated Japan Is Fragmented

12. A country’s location means a great deal. For instance, a country may find itself more isolated from the world. A country’s location means a great deal. For instance, a landlocked country may find itself more isolated from the world. A LANDLOCKED country has no direct outlet to the sea and must find other ways to build connections with the rest of the world to get goods in and out the country. A LANDLOCKED country has no direct outlet to the sea and must find other ways to build connections with the rest of the world to get goods in and out the country. Bolivia and Paraguay, both in South America are examples of landlocked countries. Bolivia and Paraguay, both in South America are examples of landlocked countries. However, tiny Singapore lies in the shipping lanes between southern and eastern Asia, and has become a very wealthy trading port. However, tiny Singapore lies in the shipping lanes between southern and eastern Asia, and has become a very wealthy trading port.

13. Bolivia has mountains, lakes, and rivers, but no way to get to the Pacific or Atlantic Oceans. It must work with its neighbors.

14. Singapore is located in the key shipping and trading zone of Southeast Asia.

15. Most countries are protective of their borders or boundaries. They usually want to make their own laws, and control things like natural resources. There are two basic types: NATURAL BOUNDARIES are based on physical features such as rivers, lakes, or chains of mountains. Example: our Rio Grande River border with Mexico. ARTIFICIAL BOUNDARIES are usually fixed lines, following latitude or longitude. Example: our 49°N border with Canada.

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17. Regional Political Systems Countries often divide into smaller units to make governing easier. Countries often divide into smaller units to make governing easier. For instance, they may break up into things like states and provinces. For instance, they may break up into things like states and provinces. They may further break into cities, towns, and villages. They may further break into cities, towns, and villages. Countries may often join together in international political, military, or economic units. The largest political unit, is the United Nations with nearly 200 member countries in it.

18. Urban Geography The term RURAL refers to life in the country, or in small villages, while URBAN refers to city dwelling. During the last two centuries, the number of people living in cities has skyrocketed. The built up areas around a city are called SUBURBS, while the central city and several suburbs form a METROPOLITAN AREA.

19. The dramatic rise in the number of cities and the changes in lifestyle that result is called URBANIZATION. Today, some cities are enormous in physical area and have populations exceeding 10 million residents. They are known as mega-cities. In 1950, New York City was the only mega-city with over 10 million people. Today, there are at least 25! The largest in the world is Tokyo, Japan with a combined mega-city, metropolitan population of 33,800,000!

21. City Locations Cities have developed around the world for a variety of reasons. Many were founded along good transportation routes such as on a lake, river, or on the coast. Others were founded near the sources of natural resources. Whatever their geographic advantage, cities serve as economic bases, attracting businesses and workers.

22. Located at the start of the Ohio River, Pittsburgh is in the heart of Pennsylvania’s coal country.

23. Chicago developed as a shipping and trading center on the Great Lakes.

24. Starting out as a little village before the Gold Rush, San Francisco is now a major Pacific Coast port.

25. Salt Lake City – “The Crossroads of the West”

26. Salt Lake City is right in the middle of the 11 western states, and has been a major center of transportation, travel, and trade since the 1850s.

27. Some cities grow as centers of business and finance, while others may be home to manufacturing and industry. Still others may serve as tourist destinations, or combinations of these. A city’s core is called its central business district (CBD), and often has expensive property values. That is one reason the birth of the SKYSCRAPER happened. Chicago and New York City were where the skyscraper was born.

28. From 1931-1972, the Empire State Building was the tallest structure on earth. Check It Out

29. What the new World Trade Center will eventually look like. Check It Out

30. The Chicago Spire was just being started when the current economic recession started. If completed at 2000 feet tall, it will be North America’s tallest skyscraper.

31. The Burj Dubai, in the Middle Eastern city of Dubai, is the tallest man-mad structure on earth. When it opened in January 2010, it topped out at over 2,700 feet. Check It OutCheck It Out

32. The rest of a city outside the downtown area is usually divided into the following three zones: RESIDENTIAL – Which usually includes single-family housing and apartments. INDUSTRIAL – Factories and warehouses for making and storing goods. COMMERCIAL – Used by businesses for buying and selling goods.

33. Other Functions of Cities Shopping Shopping Entertainment Entertainment Recreation Recreation Educational Opportunities Educational Opportunities Cultural Activities Cultural Activities Religious and Social Services Religious and Social Services Government Services Government Services

34. Economic Systems An ECONOMY consists of the production and exchange of goods and services among a group of people. Economies operate on a local, regional, national, and international level. The way people produce and exchange goods and services is called an ECONOMIC SYSTEM. In the world today, there are four basic types of economic systems.

35. Traditional Economy or Bartering In a TRADITIONAL ECONOMY, goods and services are traded without exchanging money. This is also known as “bartering”.

36. In a COMMAND ECONOMY production of goods and services is determined by a central government, which usually own the means of production. Production does not necessarily reflect what the consumers want. They will make what the government tells them to. The old Soviet Union had this kind of economy.

37. In a MARKET ECONOMY production of goods and services is determined by demand from consumers. This is also called a demand economy or CAPITALISM.

38. In a MIXED ECONOMY, there is a combination of command and market economies which provides goods and services so that all people will benefit.

39. For an economy to survive, it needs NATURAL RESOURCES. Renewable – Can be replaced through natural processes such as trees or seafood. Non-renewable – Cannot be replaced once they have been removed from the ground. Includes fossil fuels, coal, gemstones, and some metals. Inexhaustible – These are resources used for producing power that include sunlight, geothermal heat, winds, and tides.

40. Infrastructure Along with needing natural resources, an economy needs INFRASTRUCTURE, or basic support systems in order to be successful. Along with needing natural resources, an economy needs INFRASTRUCTURE, or basic support systems in order to be successful. These basic support systems include: power, communications, transportation, water, sanitation, and educational systems. These basic support systems include: power, communications, transportation, water, sanitation, and educational systems.

41. Measuring Development Countries of the world are all at different levels of development. Currently the countries of North America, Western Europe, and Japan are the most economically developed, with nations such as China making great strides. Countries of the world are all at different levels of development. Currently the countries of North America, Western Europe, and Japan are the most economically developed, with nations such as China making great strides. PER CAPITA INCOME – the average amount of money earned by each person in a country. GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT (GNP) – the total value of all goods and services produced by a country. Also measured as Gross Domestic Product, Gross National Income.

42. Top Per Capita Income Nations 1. Luxembourg -- $37,499.20 1. Luxembourg -- $37,499.20 2. Switzerland -- $36,987.60 2. Switzerland -- $36,987.60 3. Japan -- $35,474.10 3. Japan -- $35,474.10 4. Norway -- $35,053.30 4. Norway -- $35,053.30 5. United States -- $33,070.30 5. United States -- $33,070.30 6. Denmark -- $30,191.50 6. Denmark -- $30,191.50 7. Iceland -- $27,473.80 7. Iceland -- $27,473.80 8. Sweden -- $25,105.50 8. Sweden -- $25,105.50 9. United Kingdom -- $24,486.70 9. United Kingdom -- $24,486.70 10. Austria -- $23,824.10 10. Austria -- $23,824.10

43. Top Gross National Income Nations 1. United States -- $9.78 Trillion 1. United States -- $9.78 Trillion 2. Japan -- $4.52 Trillion 2. Japan -- $4.52 Trillion 3. Germany -- $1.94 Trillion 3. Germany -- $1.94 Trillion 4. United Kingdom -- $1.48 Trillion 4. United Kingdom -- $1.48 Trillion 5. France -- $1.38 Trillion 5. France -- $1.38 Trillion 6. China -- $1.13 Trillion 6. China -- $1.13 Trillion 7. Italy -- $1.12 Trillion 7. Italy -- $1.12 Trillion 8. Canada -- $682 Billion 8. Canada -- $682 Billion 9. Spain -- $588 Billion 9. Spain -- $588 Billion 10. Mexico -- $550 Billion 10. Mexico -- $550 Billion