1. GOVERNMENT OF LATIN AMERICA
SS6CG1 - The student will compare and contrast various forms of government
SS6CG2 – The student will explain the structures of national governments in Latin America and the Caribbean
GOVERNMENT OF LATIN AMERICA

2. ELEMENTS
Describe the ways government systems distribute power: unitary, confederation, and federal 
Explain how governments determine citizen participation: autocratic, oligarchic, and democratic 
Describe the two predominant forms of democratic governments: parliamentary and presidential 
Compare the federal republic systems of the Federative Republic of Brazil and the United Mexican to the dictatorship of Republic of Cuba, distinguishing the form of leadership and the role of the citizen in terms of voting rights and personal freedoms

3. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
How do the unitary, confederation, and federal government systems distribute power?
How do autocratic, oligarchic, and democratic governments determine citizen participation?
What are the components of parliamentary and presidential government?
How do the federal governments of Brazil, Mexico, and Cuba differ?
What forms of leadership do the governments in Brazil, Mexico, and Cuba have, and how are the leaders of these countries chosen?
What level of voting rights and personal freedoms do citizens have in Brazil, Mexico, and Cuba?

4. DISTRIBUTION OF POWER
Governments have three basic ways they can distribute power
Unitary System
In this system, one central government has all the power and makes the laws, while also giving smaller units like cities and towns other forms of power.
The central government has the final say on all decision making
Federal System
In this system, the central government divides the power with smaller units, like a state
Power is given to the regional and local governments, but the central government deals with issues that affect the entire country
Confederation System
In this system, each smaller unit has the final say on all decision making and laws
Central government only makes decisions when they affect the entire confederation
Rarest system in the world

5. EXAMPLES OF GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS
UNITARY FEDERAL CONFEDERATION

6. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNMENT
Autocracy
“Rule by one”
One leader holds all the power
Citizens do not participate in any government choices (voting, taxes)
Oligarchy
“Rule by few”
Small group holds all the power
Usually the wealthy
Only the powerful people have citizenship participation
Democracy
“Rule by the people”
Citizens hold the power
Citizens participate in the government (voting, taxes)
Citizens are all equal

7. EXAMPLES OF CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
Autocracy – Nazi Germany Oligarchy – U.S.S.R Democracy – United States

8. TYPES OF DEMOCRACY: PARLIAMENTARY VS PRESIDENTIAL
Parliamentary Democracy
Presidential Democracy
Power controlled by legislature
Called Parliament
Headed by prime minister
Has a cabinet
Answers to the legislature
Government stays in power indefinitely
Only way to lose power is if prime minster loses support of the majority party, which causes him to resign
Three branches of government with equal powers
Executive, Legislative, Judicial
Checks and balances allows each branch to keep the other from having too much power
People elect the president, and he answers to his voters

9. EXAMPLE OF PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM

10. EXAMPLE OF PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM

11. BRAZIL – FEDERAL REPUBLIC
Brazil has a federal system and is led by a president who has a four year term. The president is elected by the citizens. Brazil has a bicameral, or two house, law making body called the National Congress. The houses are the Chamber of Deputies and the Federal Senate. Brazil’s citizens have basic rights and freedoms, such as voting, free speech and free assembly, but it is mandatory for citizens between the ages of 18 and 70 to vote.

12. MEXICO - FEDERATION
Mexico also has a federal system, and the leader is the president, who serves six years. The president has more power than the other branches of government. The law-making group has two houses, the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. Like Brazil, it is mandatory to vote once you turn Citizens of Mexico have free speech, free religion and free assembly.

13. CUBA - REPUBLIC
Cuba is led by a president who is the total ruler and authoritarian. He leads the only political party, the Communist Party. The law-making group is the National Assembly of People’s Power, and it has one house, the Council of States. Together the Council and Communist party make laws and control the economy. Citizens must vote starting at 16, but can only vote for who the party wants. Citizens do not enjoy personal freedoms and can be jailed for their actions.