1. © 2011 Clairmont Press

2. Part I: Distribution of Power

3. Distribution of Power A government’s power can be described as being distributed in one of the following ways:  Unitary  Federation (Federal)  Confederation

4. Unitary In a unitary form of government, a central government operates the entire government. The national level government has the power to grant local areas to govern itself.  However, they can also dissolve this granted power. Unitary government systems are found in the United Kingdom and Cuba.

5. Unitary Local Areas Local Areas Local Areas Local Areas The key powers of government are held by the central government.

6. Confederation A voluntary unification of different sovereign states or countries. The central government does not hold the most power. Instead, each member holds the power. There are advantages and disadvantages to a Confederation.  Advantages: individual states can hold on to their own laws and beliefs, larger market for economy, common currency, and better defense.  Disadvantages: difficult to have common national laws, finances, and foreign policy. There are instances in U.S. history when a confederation existed.  Articles of Confederation (before to the Constitution of the U.S.)  Confederate States of America (southern states during the Civil War)

7. Confederation Note how the power flows from each individual state and the central government has little power on its own. LocalAreas LocalAreas LocalAreas LocalAreas

8. Federal In a federal government, power is divided between a central or national level of government and other levels of government. The basic levels of government in our nation are federal (national), state, county, city. Other Federal nations may use terms like territories, provinces, and parishes. Each level is granted unique powers to collect taxes and create and enforce laws.

9. Federal Governing power is shared between the national government and the local government (states or provinces). LocalAreas LocalAreas LocalAreas LocalAreas

10. Distribution of Power in Government Think of power distribution on a continuum from strong central control to weak central control. Strong central government UnitaryConfederationFederal Weak central government

11. The Organization of Government United States The Constitution of the United States is an agreement between the government and the citizens. Federal Government Executive President is elected by the citizens Legislative Upper House is the Senate Lower House is the House of Rep. Judicial Federal Court System Supreme Court State Government Executive Governor is elected by the people Legislative Upper House is the Senate Lower House is the State House of Rep. Judicial State Court System State Supreme Court Local Government Executive Mayor Legislative City Council Judicial City Court

12. Part II: The Role of Citizens

13. Citizens Participation In each country, the people have different rights to participate in their government. How do citizens participate? Voting rights Representing Ruling Working Elect Represent Work for Government Citizens Make Laws Govern Set Budgets Representatives Carry out laws Lead Executives

14. Citizen Participation Governments allow varying degrees of citizen participation.  Autocracy  Oligarchy  Democracy  See chart on next slide for visual aid.

15. Citizen Participation Democracy Every Citizen May Participate Power is in the People Who Vote in Free Elections Oligarchy A Select Group Exercises Control Autocracy One Supreme Ruler Dictators, Emperors, Absolute Monarchs, Czar, Caesar The larger the rectangle, the greater the role of the citizen in government.