Who Rules?Who Rules?
GovernmentGovernmentWhen people decide to form the social When people decide to form the social
contracts that we call governments, they contracts that we call governments, they make many different decisions about how make many different decisions about how
their government will look. their government will look.
Who has the power?
Who has the power?
Who gets to participate
Who gets to participate
Where do the rulers get their power? Where do the rulers get their power?
What is Government?
• The people and groups of people that have the power to make the laws and see that they are obeyed.
You will obey me!
Understanding Government• Who has the power?
– How is power distributed within a:• Unitary System• Confederation• Federal System
• Who gets to participate?– What is the role of the citizen in the various types of
government?• Autocratic• Oligarchic• Democratic
Major Types of Government
Can you figure out the meanings of the different types of governments? Let’s break
the words apart! Part of word MeaningArch Root Chief, most important, rule,
having authority over
Mon-(mono) Prefix One, single, alone-cracy Suffix Rule or government by …
Theo - Prefix godDemo - Prefix People-cratic Suffix A person who takes part in or
is a member of a form of government
Auto- Prefix selfOlig- from Greek oligos Prefix A few or a little
Put it all together
Part of Word Meaning
Monarchy Mon + arch
Single + chief / ruler
Democracy Demo + cracy
= government by the people
Theocracy Theo +cracy
= government by god (or those given authority by god)
Oligarchy Olig+ arch
Government by a few
Anarchy
• There is no government• This can happen after a civil war in a country,
when a government has been destroyed and rival groups are fighting to take its place
• Anarchists -people who believe that government is a bad thing b/c it stops people from living their own lives
• Example … Rwanda during the genocide
Communism• A system of government in which the state
controls the economy– A single party holds all the power– Head is usually a dictator
• Citizens have no rights or voice in government they are often even told where to work &how much to get paid
• China is an example
Republic
• A form of government in which people rule through elected representatives
• Citizens-have a very active role in government through elections – help make governmental decisions
• Examples -US
Democracy Democracy
Any form of government in which political Any form of government in which political power is exercised by power is exercised by all citizensall citizens, either , either
directly or through their elected directly or through their elected representatives. representatives.
There are two kinds of There are two kinds of DemocraciesDemocracies… … Parliamentary!
Presidential
Parliamentary vs. Presidential
• There are two forms of democratic government– Parliamentary – Presidential
• The main difference between the two is the relationship between the legislative and executive branches
Parliamentary Democracy
• The legislature, Parliament, controls the power– Parliament is made up of representatives (elected
by the people)– Prime Minister (head of government) is chosen by
the majority party within the legislature and answers to the legislature (fusion of powers)
– Israel is an example of a Parliamentary Democracy
Presidential Democracy
• Executive and Legislative branches are separate bodies elected by citizens (separation of powers)
• There are checks and balances where each branch can overrule the other
• The president is elected by and answers to the voter not the legislature
• The United States is an example of a Presidential Democracy
Difference Between Democracy and Republic
• A republic is a representative form of government that is ruled according to a charter, or constitution.
• Democracy is a government that is ruled according to the will of the majority.
• Taken from:http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-difference-between-a-republic-and-a-democracy.htm
Difference Between Democracy and Republic
• The main difference between a republic and a democracy is the charter or constitution that limits power in a republic, often to protect the individual's rights against the desires of the majority. In a true democracy, the majority rules in all cases, regardless of any consequences for individuals or for those who are not in the majority on an issue.
• Taken from:http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-difference-between-a-republic-and-a-democracy.htm
Fill in the blanks to review DEMOCRACY!
The two forms of The two forms of democracy are __________ democracy are __________ and ___________________.and ___________________.
PresidentialPresidential
ParliamentaryParliamentary
In a democracy, all In a democracy, all __________ participate in __________ participate in
government. government. citizenscitizens
_________, controls the power parliamentary parliamentary
democracy. democracy.
ParliamentParliament
There are checks and balances where each branch can overrule the other, in a _________
democracy.PresidentialPresidential
Now that we’ve talked about
Parliamentary DEMOCRACY!
And
Presidential DEMOCRACY!
we can move on to forms of government where only one person is in control…
AutocracyAutocracyA form of government in which political power is A form of government in which political power is controlled by controlled by oneone individual such as a monarch, individual such as a monarch,
dictator, emperor, etc. dictator, emperor, etc.
We’re going to talk about two kinds of We’re going to talk about two kinds of autocracyautocracy……
Monarchs!
Dictators!
MonarchyMonarchyRule by kings, queens, princes, and princesses… Rule by kings, queens, princes, and princesses…
sometimes by other names, but always sometimes by other names, but always MONARCHS!MONARCHS!
Two Types: Two Types: Absolute: Absolute: Example –Saudi Arabia (very rare to have an absolute
monarchy today)Constitutional: Constitutional: A system of gov. in which the power is shared between the monarchy and an elected branch of gov.
Head of gov. is usually the head of the elected branch … usually the monarch serves a more symbolic role
DictatorshipDictatorshipIn a dictatorship, power is not inherited, but is In a dictatorship, power is not inherited, but is
acquired by force (military or political)acquired by force (military or political)
Dictators have absolute control over the lives of Dictators have absolute control over the lives of their citizens and usually people are not allowed their citizens and usually people are not allowed to voice their negative opinionsto voice their negative opinions
North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Il is considered a North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Il is considered a dictatordictator
What else? What else?
We’ve talked about We’ve talked about DEMOCRACIESDEMOCRACIES……
Democracy is…
rule by the people!
What else? What else?
… … and and AUTOCRACIESAUTOCRACIES… …
Autocracy is…
… rule by one!
… … but what other forms of but what other forms of government are there?government are there?
What else? What else?
What if, instead of everyone or just one person, a few people got
together to rule a nation?
Rule by Few!
OligarchyOligarchy ““Rule by few” Rule by few” Power can be based on several things:Power can be based on several things:
Military strength = Military JuntaMilitary strength = Military JuntaFamily power = AristocracyFamily power = AristocracyReligious control = Theocratic OligarchyReligious control = Theocratic Oligarchy
Oligarchies can often come from or lead to other Oligarchies can often come from or lead to other forms of government (like autocracies)forms of government (like autocracies)
TheocracyTheocracy
““Theo” means “god” in Greek… so if a Theo” means “god” in Greek… so if a government is THEO-cratic that means it is ruled government is THEO-cratic that means it is ruled by… That’s right! A god or higher power!by… That’s right! A god or higher power!
Leaders (Leaders (autocraticautocratic or or oligarchicoligarchic) are usually ) are usually religious leaders and society uses religious law to religious leaders and society uses religious law to settle its disputessettle its disputes
Example: The Islamic Republic of Iran is a modern Example: The Islamic Republic of Iran is a modern theocracy that uses the holy Islamic book, The theocracy that uses the holy Islamic book, The Qur’an, as its guide. Qur’an, as its guide.
WHEW! We had better
review…
Time for some “A or B!”
Democracy Democracy A B
Rule by everyone
Rule by no one
AutocracyAutocracyA B
Rule by one
Rule by few
MonarchyMonarchyA B
Never have constitutions
Power is inherited
DictatorshipDictatorshipA B
Always protect
freedom of speech
Have total
control
OligarchyOligarchyA B
Power is always
inherited
Come in many forms
TheocracyTheocracyA B
Power from a higher
being
Power taken
through force