Formation & Types of Governments

1. Formation & Types of Governments

2. Types of Government Systems • 1st thing we will look at is how governments are broken into regional systems • Unitary System • Federal System • Confederacy

3. Unitary System • All key powers are located in the national or central governments • Does not mean just one level of government, rather central government has the power to create lower levels • Example: Great Britain

4. Federal System • Divides government between a national and/or state/provincial governments • Each level of government has power with National powers being supreme • Ex- United States of America

5. Confederacy • Loose union of independent states • Power is controlled by local/state governments with little power given to a central government • No modern example, The United States tried this under the Articles of Confederation.

6. Framework for Governmenta Constitution • A plan that provides the rules for government • Ideals that the people bound by the constitution believe in and share • It establishes the basic structure of government and defines the government’s powers and duties • It provides the supreme law for the country

7. Principles of Government Types of Governments? • Autocracy • Oligarchy • Democracy

8. Principles of Government Autocracies • Power and authority to rule held by one person • Totalitarian dictatorships (examples…) • Monarchies- Absolute & Constitutional(examples…) • Pros & Cons…

9. Principles of Government Oligarchies • Power and authority to rule is held by a small group of individuals • (Examples…)

10. Principles of Government Democracies • From the Greek demos (people) and kratia (to rule). Thus ~ rule by the people Too simple & naïve • Democracy is a system of government in which people select policy makers so that policies reflect the will of those governed. (explain…)

11. Principles of Government Two forms of Democracy • Direct democracy allows the people the authority to govern themselves directly • People make and vote on policies in forums • Only exist in small communities today

12. Principles of Government Two forms of Democracy • Representative democracy people select representatives and give them authority to make laws and run the government • Also known as: republic, indirect democracy and constitutional republic • Still in all, power ultimately rests with the public • Legitimacy and Revolution?