FORMS OF FORMS OF GOVERNMENTGOVERNMENT

Classifying GovernmentsClassifying Governments

Who can participate in the governing process?Who can participate in the governing process? The geographic distribution of governmental The geographic distribution of governmental

power within the statepower within the state The relationship between the legislative The relationship between the legislative

(lawmaking) and the executive (law-(lawmaking) and the executive (law-executing) branches of government. executing) branches of government.

Who can participateWho can participate

To many people, the most meaningful of the To many people, the most meaningful of the classifications is the one the depends on the classifications is the one the depends on the number of person who can take in the number of person who can take in the governing process.governing process.

DemocracyDemocracy

Supreme political authority rests with the Supreme political authority rests with the people.people.

The people hold the sovereign power.The people hold the sovereign power. Government is only conducted by and with the Government is only conducted by and with the

consent of the people.consent of the people. Abraham Lincoln gave immortality to this Abraham Lincoln gave immortality to this

definition in his Gettysburg Address in definition in his Gettysburg Address in 1863:”government of the people, by the 1863:”government of the people, by the people, for the people.”people, for the people.”

DemocracyDemocracy

Can either be direct or indirect.Can either be direct or indirect. Direct democracy, also called a pure Direct democracy, also called a pure

democracy, exists where the will of the people democracy, exists where the will of the people is translated to public policy (law) directly by is translated to public policy (law) directly by the people themselves in mass meetings.the people themselves in mass meetings.

Does not exist on a national level.Does not exist on a national level. Usually can work in small communities.Usually can work in small communities.

DemocracyDemocracy

Also called a representative democracy.Also called a representative democracy. Indirect Democracy- representative Indirect Democracy- representative

democracy, a small group chosen by the democracy, a small group chosen by the people acts as the representatives to express people acts as the representatives to express the popular willthe popular will

These agents of the people are responsible for These agents of the people are responsible for day to day conduct of government.day to day conduct of government.

Held accountable to the people for that Held accountable to the people for that conduct, especially in periodic elections.conduct, especially in periodic elections.

DemocracyDemocracy

People can either express their satisfaction or People can either express their satisfaction or disapproval by casting ballots.disapproval by casting ballots.

Representative democracy is government by Representative democracy is government by popular consent.popular consent.

DemocracyDemocracy

Some people call the United States a republic.Some people call the United States a republic. Republic, sovereign power is held by those Republic, sovereign power is held by those

eligible to vote.eligible to vote. Political power is exercised by representatives Political power is exercised by representatives

chosen by and held responsible to those chosen by and held responsible to those citizens.citizens.

In a democracy people are the only source for In a democracy people are the only source for any and all of the government’s power.any and all of the government’s power.

DictatorshipDictatorship

Those who rule cannot be held responsible to Those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will of the people.the will of the people.

The government is not accountable for its The government is not accountable for its policies, nor for how they are carried out.policies, nor for how they are carried out.

It is the oldest, and it is certainly the most It is the oldest, and it is certainly the most common, form of government known to common, form of government known to historyhistory

DictatorshipDictatorship

Autocracy- is a government in which a single Autocracy- is a government in which a single person holds unlimited political power.person holds unlimited political power.

Oligarchy- is a government in which power to Oligarchy- is a government in which power to rule is held by a small usually self appointed rule is held by a small usually self appointed elite.elite.

All dictatorships are authoritarian- those in All dictatorships are authoritarian- those in power hold absolute and unchangeable power hold absolute and unchangeable authority over the people.authority over the people.

DictatorshipDictatorship

Modern dictatorships have tended to be Modern dictatorships have tended to be totalitarian.totalitarian.

They exercise complete power over nearly They exercise complete power over nearly every aspect of human affairs.every aspect of human affairs.

Their power embraces all matters of human Their power embraces all matters of human concern.concern.

Examples of DictatorshipsExamples of Dictatorships

Nazi Germany (1933-1945)Nazi Germany (1933-1945) Soviet Union (from 1917-until the late 1980’s)Soviet Union (from 1917-until the late 1980’s) People’s Republic of China (1949-present)People’s Republic of China (1949-present)

DictatorshipDictatorship

One person dictatorships are not that common today.One person dictatorships are not that common today. Example are Libya (Muammar al-Qaddafi) and some Example are Libya (Muammar al-Qaddafi) and some

Arab and African states.Arab and African states. Several groups are usually behind a dictator; army, Several groups are usually behind a dictator; army,

religious leaders, industrialists.religious leaders, industrialists. Typically are militaristic and power was gained Typically are militaristic and power was gained

through force.through force. After crushing opposition at home, these regimes mat After crushing opposition at home, these regimes mat

turn to foreign aggression to enhance the country’s turn to foreign aggression to enhance the country’s military power and prestige. military power and prestige.

Geographic Distribution of PowerGeographic Distribution of Power

Unitary GovernmentUnitary Government Federal GovernmentFederal Government Confederate GovernmentConfederate Government

Unitary GovernmentUnitary Government

All power held by a central agency.All power held by a central agency. Great Britain-Parliament holds all the powerGreat Britain-Parliament holds all the power All of the powers held by the government are All of the powers held by the government are

concentrated in the central government.concentrated in the central government. Power can be given to local governments but only Power can be given to local governments but only

those that that central government decides to give those that that central government decides to give them.them.

Most governments in the world are UnitarianMost governments in the world are Unitarian

Unitary GovernmentUnitary Government

All power is held by central government.All power is held by central government. The government might not have all the power.The government might not have all the power. In Great Britain the power held by the In Great Britain the power held by the

government is limited. It is both unitary and at government is limited. It is both unitary and at the same time democratic.the same time democratic.

Federal GovernmentFederal Government

Power of government is divided between Power of government is divided between central and local governments.central and local governments.

An authority superior to both the central and An authority superior to both the central and local governments makes this division of local governments makes this division of powers on a geographic basis.powers on a geographic basis.

In the US the National Government has In the US the National Government has powers and the 50 states have others.powers and the 50 states have others.

Division of power is set out in the constitution.Division of power is set out in the constitution.

Federal GovernmentFederal Government

Constitution stands above both levels of Constitution stands above both levels of government.government.

Can not be changed unless people acting Can not be changed unless people acting through both the National Government and the through both the National Government and the States agree to change.States agree to change.

Each of the 50 State governments is unitary Each of the 50 State governments is unitary and not federal in form.and not federal in form.

Confederate GovernmentConfederate Government

Alliance of independent states a central Alliance of independent states a central organization.organization.

The confederate government handles only The confederate government handles only those matters that member states assign to it.those matters that member states assign to it.

Most often they do not have the powers to Most often they do not have the powers to make laws that apply directly to individuals.make laws that apply directly to individuals.

Typically the power of this government is Typically the power of this government is limited to defense and trade.limited to defense and trade.

Example-European UnionExample-European Union

Confederate GovernmentConfederate Government

This type of government is rare in the modern This type of government is rare in the modern world.world.

EU has 25 members and was launched to find EU has 25 members and was launched to find a common currency and to coordinate foreign a common currency and to coordinate foreign defense.defense.

In our own historyIn our own history Articles of Confederation (1781-1789)Articles of Confederation (1781-1789) Confederate States of America (1861-1865)Confederate States of America (1861-1865)

Relationship Between Legislative Relationship Between Legislative and Executive Branchesand Executive Branches

Presidential Government- The executive and Presidential Government- The executive and legislative branches, are separate and independent and legislative branches, are separate and independent and coequal.coequal.

The President (chief executive ) is chosen The President (chief executive ) is chosen independently of legislatures.independently of legislatures.

Holds office for a fixed term.Holds office for a fixed term. Has broad powers, not subject to direct control of the Has broad powers, not subject to direct control of the

legislative branch. legislative branch. U.S. leading example of presidential government.U.S. leading example of presidential government. Most presidential systems found in the Western Most presidential systems found in the Western

Hemispehere. Hemispehere.

Parlimentary GovernmentParlimentary Government

Parliamentary Government- the executive is a prime Parliamentary Government- the executive is a prime minister or premiere and the official’s cabinet.minister or premiere and the official’s cabinet.

Prime minister’s cabinet are members of the Prime minister’s cabinet are members of the legislative branch, the Parliament.legislative branch, the Parliament.

Remains in office only as long as their policy and Remains in office only as long as their policy and administration have the support of the majority of administration have the support of the majority of Parliament.Parliament.

If vote of no confidence the Prime Minister and the If vote of no confidence the Prime Minister and the Cabinet must resign and new government is formedCabinet must resign and new government is formed

Parliamentary GovernmentParliamentary Government

Majority of the world’s governments are Majority of the world’s governments are Parliamentary.Parliamentary.

Avoids one of the major problems of the Avoids one of the major problems of the presidential form.presidential form. Prolonged conflict and sometimes deadlock Prolonged conflict and sometimes deadlock

between executive and legislative branches.between executive and legislative branches. On the other hand the system of checks and On the other hand the system of checks and

balances are not part of the Parliamentary system. balances are not part of the Parliamentary system.