Major Systems of Government and Economic Beliefs Political
Ideologies
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Questions to ask Who owns what in society? How is the
government organized? Where does power derive itself?
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Terms to Know Government - the exercise of political authority
over the actions and affairs of a political unit and people. Also,
the performance of certain functions for this unit or body. Economy
- the complex range of human activities concerned with the
production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services
Bureaucracy The excessive multiplication of and concentration of
power in, administrative bureaus or administrators. Federalism A
government clearly divided between national and local levels. Both
levels have powers reserved for them and them alone. Unitary
Government One national government that has all the power. Local
governments may exist, but they exist at the pleasure and will of
the national government.
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Two Cows To help explain the systems of government, and so that
you can compare them, were going to use the two cows system.
Basically, you will always start off with two cows. Sometimes, it
will be noted that your neighbor doesnt have a cow for himself.
What each government does in response should help you understand
how the government interacts with the people.
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Anarchy Absence of any form of political authority. Examples:
Occupy Wall Street
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Two Cows - Anarchy You have two cows, your neighbor has none.
He takes one from you because he wants one. You would go to the
police for help, but there arent any.
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Feudalism (9 th -15 th Century) A political an economic system
of Europe, based on the holding of all land in a fief or fee and
the resulting relation of lord to vassal and characterized by
homage, legal and military service of serfs, or peasants.
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Two Cows - Feudalism You have two cows. Your lord takes some of
the milk in exchange for protection. Your neighbor has no cows.
Your neighbor is in big trouble.
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Theocracy A government ruled by or subject to religious
authority. Examples: Vatican City (ruled by the Pope, head of the
Catholic Church) Tibet (ruled by the Dalai Lama, head of Tibetan
Buddhism)
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Two Cows - Theocracy You have two cows. They have both reached
Nirvana.
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Democracy A government by the people; a form of government in
which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised
directly by them. Republic A government by the people; power is
vested in the people and exercised by their elected agents in a
free electoral system. A defining characteristic is the absence of
a monarch; power comes only from the people. Examples: Ancient
Greece, some small towns or villages Examples: Ancient Rome, the
United States?
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Representative Democracy A type of democracy in which the
citizens delegate authority to elected officials.
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Two Cows Representative Democracy You have two cows. Your
neighbors dont have any. You and your neighbors pick someone to
determine exactly what youll be allowed to do with the milk.
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Capitalism An economic system in which investment in and
ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange of
wealth is made and maintained chiefly by private individuals or
corporations. Capitalism tends to oppose cooperatively or
state-owned means of wealth. Adam Smith: When an individual pursues
his self-interest, he indirectly promotes the good of society.
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Two Cows - Capitalism You have two cows. Your neighbor has
none. You sell one cow and buy a bull. You breed them, and sell
your neighbor a new cow for a profit.
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Welfare Capitalism Welfare capitalism refers either to the
combination of a capitalist economic system with a welfare state
or, in the American context, to the practice of businesses
providing welfare-like services to employees. A welfare state is a
concept of government where the state plays the primary role in the
protection and promotion of the economic and social well-being of
its citizens. It is based on the principles of equality of
opportunity, equitable distribution of wealth, and public
responsibility for those unable obtain the minimal definition of
the good life for themselves.
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Socialism A theory or system of social organization that
advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of
production and distribution in the community as a whole. Social
Democracy Advocating the things important to socialism within free
elections. Also supportive of reforms and regulations within
Capitalism, but still supportive of the concept of a Free Market in
general.
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Whats Mine is Yours And Whats Yours is Mine!
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Two Cows - Socialism You have two cows. The government takes
them and puts them in a barn with everyone else's cows. You have to
take care of all the cows. The government gives you as much milk as
you need.
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Bureaucratic Socialism A systems of social organization in
which all economic and social activity is controlled by a
totalitarian state. This government is dominated by a single
political party.
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Communism A theory or system of social organization based on
holding all property in common. Actual ownership is given to the
community as a whole, or to the state of behalf of the community.
Russian Communism A system of government in which the state plans
and controls the economy. A single, often authoritarian party holds
power, claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in
which all goods are equally shared.
Slide 22
Two Cows - Communism You have two cows. Your neighbor has none.
You have to take care of them, but the single-party government
takes all the milk to redistribute fairly. By the way, they define
fair.
Slide 23
Fascism A governmental system led by a dictator having complete
power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, controlling
al industry, commerce, and trade. There is an emphasis on
nationalism, and often racism.
Slide 24
Two Cows - Fascism You have two cows. The government takes
both, hires you to take care of them, and sells you the milk. Your
neighbor with no cows gets accused of being a religious minority,
and is taken away.