Direct Democracy

Referendums like Quebec 1980 and 1995 Switzerland

REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY

• Government in which people elect representatives who hold the decision making power. Large public elections only happen every 4-5 years.

• Example: USA or India (presidential democracy), Japan (parliamentary democracy)

• Canada is a parliamentary democracy

• combined with a monarchy called a Constitutional Monarchy

Representative Democracy

CanadaU.S.A

Germany 1990-present day

Constitutional MonarchyA system of government in which a monarch (king, queen, prince, duke, etc.) is bound by a constitution whereby his/her rights, duties, and responsibilities are spelled out in written law or by custom.

The monarch is not actively involved in policy formation or implementation (i.e., the exercise of sovereign powers by a monarch in a ceremonial capacity); rather, true governmental leadership is carried out by a cabinet and its head - a prime minister, premier, or chancellor - who are drawn from a legislature (parliament).

New Zealand Jamaica Denmark Canada Holland

Constitutional Monarchy

Japan

Canada Britain

Absolute Monarchy

The most famous example of an absolute monarch is Louis XIV. He ruled France 1643-1715. He was called the Sun King and he once said “L'État, c'est moi “(The state is me),

Louis XIV

ARISTOCRACY (OLIGARCHY)

• Form of government in which the power is in the hands of a few persons or a small group, who have the power of a dictator

• Often the rich and / or educated

• Example: South Africa (Apartheid), Ancient Greece

Florence (city in Italy)1300s-1700s

The Medici Family was one of the families that controlled the city

Oligarchy

Corporate Oligarchies occur when a few companies control a market

South Africa until 1994 was an oligarchy where the 20% white population controlled the country. The oligarchy was based on race and was called apartheid

COMMUNIST

• Where the government owns all land and property, as well as distribution of goods and wealth

• In theory, everyone is equal and works towards sharing the wealth

• Example: China and Cuba

Communism

Lenin Stalin

Union of Soviet Socialists Republic (USSR)(RUSSIA) 1917-1990

The People’s Republic of China 1949-present day

Tiananmen Square Massacre 1989

FASCISM / NAZISM

• Facism is an authoritarian government that believes the interests of the state (gov’t) are more important than those of an individual or society

• It seeks a type of national unity, usually based on, but not limited to, ethnic, cultural or racial attributes

• Example: Germany under Hilter, Italy

• under Mussolini

Fascism

Nazi Germany 1933-1945 underAdolph Hitler

Italy 1922-1943 underBenito Mussolini

THEOCRACY

• The government is controlled by religious leaders

• Religious beliefs and documents (ie. The bible and the Qur’an) will greatly influence how the government runs the country (ie. Laws and punishments)

• Example: Vatican City (Roman Catholic Church), Afghanistan (Taliban)

Theocracy Iran

Vatican CityTaliban in Afghanistan

CAPITALIST

• An economic / political system which trusts that competition between businesses will result in the best system.

• Capitalism relies on private businesses to control themselves, as opposed to a government controlled economy

• $$ Rules

• Example: USA

ANARCHY

• Absence of government; a state of lawlessness due to beliefs that people are inherently good and can organize themselves without government

• Example: 1970’s Punk Rock Movement (The Sex Pistols) Anarchy

• New Orleans after the 2006 Hurricane Katrina; Haiti after the 2010 Earthquake.

MILITARY DICTATORSHIP

• Power is in the hands of one individual, who usually has the support or control of the army (military)

• The army makes sure the people follow what the dictator says, using force when necessary.

• Example: Muammar al-Galdafi of Libya and Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan