Formations of Governments Types of Government Democracy

2. Formations of GovernmentsTypes of GovernmentDemocracy

3. Objectives • Be able to explain the difference between a UNITARY system of government and a FEDERALsystem of government • Be able to identify and explain what a constitution is • Be able to explain the difference between a nation with a constitution and a nation that has a constitutional government • Be able to identify major types of government • Be able to determine the difference between a direct democracy and an indirect or representative democracy

4. Unitary vs. Federal • Unitary Sytem • All key powers & authority given to a national or central government • Federal System • Divides the powers of government between the national (federal) government and state or provinces • Each level of government has some sovereignty • United States is has a federal system

5. Constitutions & Government • Constitution: • A plan that provides the rules for government • Organizes the structure of government and how it operates • Sets goals and purposes of government and the ideals of a Nation’s people • Provide the supreme law for states and their governments • Constitutional governments are governments that have the authority to limit the power of the those who govern (limited government)

6. Constitutions comparedUnited States vs. China • The U.S. has a constitutional government in which the authority of our government is limited by checks and balances and separation of powers • People’s Republic of China has a constitution, but the central government has complete control and basically unlimited power

7. The U.S. Constitution organizes our government into 3 branches of government Each of the branches have separate but mostly equal powers and perform checks and balances on each other

8. China Tiananmen Square protests of 1989: Students wanted more democracy

10. Unitary system: all powers and authority are given to the central, or national government -North Korea In a Unitary system of government who maintains control? In a Federal system of government? Federal system: power is divided between national (federal) government and state/provincial governments -United States

11. Major Types of Government • Governments are classified according to who governs the state. Coming from ideas of ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle 1) autocracy- rule by one person 2) oligarchy- rule by a few persons 3) democracy- rule by many people

13. www.constitutioncenter.org/timeline/flash/ass... /////// 1999

14. Autocracy • Gov’t is in the hands of a single person • Most have their position by inheritance or ruthless use of military power. • Totalitarian dictatorship- the ideas of a single leader are glorified & gov’t controls all aspects of social and economic life. • Monarchy- king, queen or emperor exercises the supreme powers of gov’t.

15. Autocracy • Absolute monarchs have complete and unlimited power to rule their people • Constitutional monarchs- monarchs share gov’t powers with elected legislators or are mainly ceremonial leaders of their gov’t

16. Oligarchy • Oligarchy- a small group holds power, usually gets power from wealth, military power, social position or combination • Today most communist gov’t are oligarchies • Oligarchies usually suppress all political opposition

17. Democracy • Democracycomes from Greek “demos” and “kratia” or “kratos” • Demos = people • Kratia or kratos = rule • Direct democracy- the people govern themselves by voting on issues individually as citizens. Exists in small societies • Indirect or representative democracy consists of representatives elected by the people to make laws and run the government

18. Direct vs. Indirect or Representative Democracy • Which type of democracy does the U.S. have? Indirect or Representative Democracy Why isnt the U.S. a direct democracy?

19. Characteristics of Democracy • Gov’t works to secure an equal opportunity for people to develop their own abilities • Majority rule with minority rights- • Gov’t based on majority rule through the people’s elected representatives, but respects the rights of minorities • laws made usually represent the will of the majority, but the rights of individuals in the minorityshould still be protected • Gov’t based on free and open elections • Political parties choose candidates for office, and once candidates are elected, should represent the peoples’ wishes, or ideals

20. Quick Quiz • A government in which all powers and authority are given to the central, or national government is known as: • Federal • Unitary • Democracy • None of the above

21. A plan that provides the rules for government and organizes the structure of government and how it operates is known as a: • constitution • monarchy • oligarchy • Autocracy • None of the above

22. 3. All of the following are types of governments EXCEPT: • Democracy • Autocracy • Oligarchy • Constitution • None of the above

23. 4. A government that has the authority to limit the power of the those who govern (limited government) is known as: • China • North Korea • Constitutional government • Autocracy

24. In a ____________ democracy the people govern themselves by voting on issues individually as citizens. Exists in small societies • In a _____________ democracy representatives elected by the people to make laws and run the government