Systems of Governments

What Do You Know?

Name the city, county, state, and country you live in. Beside the name of each place, what is the leader of each kind of government is called?

City – Mayor

Gwinnett – County Commissioner

Georgia – Governor

United States – President

Why are there different levels in our government?

Why Do We Have Governments?

They are organized ways for creating laws/rules designed to protect the well-being of the general public and to help manage conflict.

They determine the power structure (who has the power) within a country.

In some countries, only one person or party maintains centralized control of the government, while in other countries power is shared between individuals and factions.

Why Do We Have Governments?

All countries require governments to function.

Governments provide laws, structure, public services, and national defense.

There are different types of governments:democracies republicsmonarchiesdictatorships

To study governments, geographers look at the following:

Types – Who rules and who participates.

Systems – How the power is distributed.

Systems of Government are based on one question: How is the power distributed?

There are three ways governments distribute power:UnitaryConfederationFederal

How Is Power Shared?

Federal

Confederation

Unitary

Image from Center of Civic Education. 2008Image from Center of Civic Education. 2008

Unitary

One central government controls everything.

Power is not shared between states, counties, or provinces.

Examples : United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Spain, and former Soviet Union

Unitary Diagram:

Unitary Governments of the World

(All countries in blue)

Confederation

Two Options: A. A voluntary or weak association of independent

states that agrees to follow a powerful central government.

B. Nations can choose to follow or not follow the lead of the weak central government.

Examples: Confederate States of America

( 1861-1865), European Union, Switzerland

Confederation Diagram:

Federal

Power is shared by a powerful central government.

States or provinces are given considerable self rule, usually through their own legislatures.

Examples: United States of America, Federal Republic of Germany

Should the national government, state government, or both have these

powers?List of Powers Shared in a Federal

GovernmentIssue driver’s licenses Make laws for the

environment

Collect taxes Conduct elections

Create marriage laws Punish law breakers

Declare war Create standards for schools

Make agreements with other countries

Defend the country

Coin money Protect citizen rights

Federal System Diagram:

Federal Governments of the World

(All countries in green)

Let’s Talk About IT!

• Let’s get in groups of three.• Number yourselves one, two, and three.

Ones explain to the twos and threes how a unitary government system distributes power.

Twos explain to the ones and threes how a confederation government system distributes power.

Threes explain to the ones and twos how a federal government system distributes power.

Written Summary: How is the power distributed politically?

Image from Center of Civic Education. 2008Image from Center of Civic Education. 2008