FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

Unit 2

Forms of Government

Type: Direct Democracy

Def: government in which all citizens have equal power

in decision making

Pros: 1.) Every Citizen has equal power.

2.) Everyone is involved in decision making.

3.) Broad base of loyalty and support.

Cons: 1.) Only works with small # of people.

2.) Time consuming – All citizens must give in-

put and debate.

• Example:

Modern Day

Switzerland

Attempting

Venezuela

Type: Representative Democracy

Def: government in which people elect representatives who hold the decision making power.

Pros: 1.) Citizens involved in decision making through representatives.

2.) Reps are aware their job depends on meeting the needs of their constituents.

3.) All elements of the population are represented.

4.) Reps are highly educated and can devote time to matters.

• Cons:

1.) Decision making is time consuming.

2.) Desire of reps to please everyone can

cripple system.

3.) Reps may not always agree wit the

people the represent

4.) Lack of citizenship involvement may

allow special interest groups to influence

or dominate reps

• Examples

America

Australia

Iraq

Canada

DOES DEMOCRACY REALLY

EXIST?• “A true democracy has

never existed and

never will.”

- Jean-Jacques Rousseau

• Society has too many

limits on people behavior

to be truly free

• Believed Community

should be placed above

indivudual freedoms.

Forms of Government

• Type: Autocracy

• Def: single person having unlimited power;

- can be a president, prime minister, or king,queen, or tsar.

Pros: 1.) Can rule quickly in an emergency.

2.) efficient

3.) Total control

4.) intelligent

Cons: 1.) Ignores others needs

2.) can be irrational

3.) no tie between leaders and doers

4.) use of force or threats.

• Example

Russian Tsars-

Catherine the Great

Forms of Government

• Type: Dictatorship

• Def: a country ruled by a single leader. The leader has not been elected

• - In a military dictatorship the army is in control

Pros: 1.) People united in loyalty to a dictator.

2.) No competition for trust and affection.

3.) React quickly in emergency,.

Cons:

1.) People afforded little or no individual liberty.

2.) Policies suit dictators needs only.

3.) Decision making has a narrow base-

• Examples

Adolf Hitler –

Nazi Germany

Saddam Hussein of

Iraq

before 2003

Current

• Kim Jong-il

– North Korea.

Forms of Government

Type: Oligarchy

Def: power is in the hands of a few persons

or a small group

- have the combined power of a dictator.

Pros: 1.) Decisions can be made relatively quickly.

2.) Provides expert leadership

3.) In theory, the most educated members of society.

Cons: SAME AS DICTATORSHIP

(Needs and wants of the people are not necessarily considered.)

Examples:

BCHS

Principals

- There are only 3 of them.

- They are highly educated.

- They meet to make important decisions

Examples

South Africa

apartheid

Type: Theocracy

Def: a religious group of officials that are in

charge.

- claim to rule on behalf of God of higher

power.

Pro’s: 1.) High morals

2.) High social welfare – wealthy

Con’s : 1.) Rule with fear

2.) Not everyone has equal voice.

3.) Could be based on superstition

4.) No diversity.

Example:

Current-

Iran

Vatican- Pope

Type: Monarchy

Def:

government ruled by a king or queen.

- Position held for life.

- Ruling position can be passed on to heirs.

Absolute Monarchy-

the ruler has absolute (or total power)

destined by God’s grace.

* Very rare today.

Constitutional Monarchy-

a democratic government has the real power.

Monarch’s power limited by constitution.

Pros: 1.) consistent

2.) No political bickering

3.) Clear line of succession.

Cons: 1.) dictatorship can be easily imposed.

2.) quality of hereditary

3.) difficult in modern world.

Examples:

Closest to an absolute

Saudi Arabia

Constitutional Monarch:

England

Type: Anarchy

Def: no government

- results after Civil War

- Anarchists believe government is bad

Capitalist

• In a capitalist or free-market country, people can own their own businesses and property. People can also buy services for private use, such as healthcare.

• Capitalism is not a true form of government, but is a form of economy that can only exist in a democracy.

• But most capitalist governments also provide their own education, health and welfare services. These are not true capitalist societies, but mixed market.

Communist

• In a communist country, the government

owns property such as businesses and

farms.

• Provides its people's healthcare, education,

and welfare.

• Typically, communist governments end up

with dictators.

Revolutionary

• If a government is overthrown by force, the new ruling group is sometimes called a revolutionary government.

• Soon, the new government establishes itself as one of the main forms of government (or starts a brand new category)