Systems and types of government review

Types and Systems of Government Review

To study governments, geographers look at the following:

Types – Who rules and who participates.

Systems – How the power is distributed.

Types of Government are based on one key question: Who governs and what is the citizen participation?

There are three types of governments:Autocracy, Oligarchy, and Democracy

Autocracy

Government in which the power to govern is held by one person.

Generally the power to rule is inherited or by military force.

There are three

types of Autocracy.

#1 Dictatorship

The leader has not been elected and uses force to control all aspects of social and economic life.

Examples: Adolf Hitler in Germany and Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union

#2 AbsoluteMonarchy

A monarchy has a king, queen, emperor or empress.

The power is usually inherited or passed down from family members.

The monarch has absolute power meaning they can make all decisions without consulting anyone.

Absolute MonarchyAbsolute MonarchyOne-person rule. King or Queen has total control. Often thought One-person rule. King or Queen has total control. Often thought as a divine right to rule that is passed from generation to as a divine right to rule that is passed from generation to

generation.generation. ADVANTAGESADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

1.1. People may be united in their People may be united in their loyalty to a monarch since there loyalty to a monarch since there is no competition for trust and is no competition for trust and affection.affection.

2.2. In an emergency, a In an emergency, a monarch monarch can move quickly to take can move quickly to take action. No time is lost in action. No time is lost in debate or discussiondebate or discussion..

11.. People are often given no People are often given no individual liberties or civil individual liberties or civil rights.rights.

2. 2. A monarch’s policies suit A monarch’s policies suit his/her own needs. Needs of the his/her own needs. Needs of the people may be neglected.people may be neglected.

3.3. Decision making has a narrow base Decision making has a narrow base - can be flawed, wrong, dangerous. - can be flawed, wrong, dangerous. No one was willing to tell the emperor No one was willing to tell the emperor what they think of his new clothes…what they think of his new clothes…

#3 Constitutional Monarchy

Kings, queens or emperors share power with elected legislatures.

Generally the Kings are northing more than figureheads.

The government is a democratic one that limits the monarchs power.

Example: Great Britain

Constitutional MonarchyConstitutional MonarchyA government with a written plan, or constitution, that A government with a written plan, or constitution, that includes a monarch as a ceremonial leader and a includes a monarch as a ceremonial leader and a parliament or other legislature to make the laws.parliament or other legislature to make the laws.ADVANTAGESADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

1.1. Citizens are involved in decision Citizens are involved in decision making through their making through their representatives, lobbying, and representatives, lobbying, and voting.voting.

2.2. Representatives are aware their Representatives are aware their job depends on meeting the needs of job depends on meeting the needs of their constituents.their constituents.

3.3. More likely that all elements of the More likely that all elements of the population are represented.population are represented.

4.4. Monarch has almost celebrity status Monarch has almost celebrity status with the people. Are not held responsible with the people. Are not held responsible for unpopular decisions, yet can help form for unpopular decisions, yet can help form public opinionpublic opinion

11.. Decision making is time Decision making is time consuming. Desire of consuming. Desire of representatives to please everyone representatives to please everyone may cripple system.may cripple system.

2.2. Representatives may not always Representatives may not always agree with those they represent.agree with those they represent.

3.3. Lack of involved citizenry may Lack of involved citizenry may allow special interest groups to allow special interest groups to influence or dominate influence or dominate representatives.representatives.

Oligarchy

A government in which a few people such as a dominant clan or clique have power.The group gets their power from either military, wealth or social status.Elections may be held but offer

only one candidate.Examples: Greek city states

Democracy

In a democracy, the government is “Rule by the people”There are two forms of democracyDirect Democracy – People vote on all the

issues.Representative Democracy – People elect

representatives and give them the power to vote on issues.

Example: United States

Direct DemocracyDirect DemocracyGovernment in which all citizens Government in which all citizens have equal power in decision have equal power in decision making.making.

ADVANTAGESADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

1.1. Every citizen has equal power Every citizen has equal power in matters of government. Every in matters of government. Every citizen is involved in the decision citizen is involved in the decision making.making.

2.2. Since all citizens are Since all citizens are involved in decision making, involved in decision making, there is a broad base of support there is a broad base of support and loyalty.and loyalty.

33.. Individual liberties are Individual liberties are protected.protected.

1.1. Only works when a small Only works when a small number of people are involved. number of people are involved. Ability to gather all citizens in Ability to gather all citizens in one place is necessary.one place is necessary.

2.2. Decision making involving Decision making involving all citizens is time-consuming. all citizens is time-consuming. All citizens give in-put, debate, All citizens give in-put, debate, etc...etc...

REPUBLIC/REPUBLIC/Representative DemocracyRepresentative DemocracyGovernment in which people elect representatives who hold the Government in which people elect representatives who hold the decision making power.decision making power.

ADVANTAGESADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES11.. Citizens are involved in decision Citizens are involved in decision making through their representatives, making through their representatives, lobbying, and voting.lobbying, and voting.

2.2. Representatives are aware their job Representatives are aware their job depends on meeting the needs of their depends on meeting the needs of their constituents.constituents.

33.. More likely that all elements of the More likely that all elements of the population are represented.population are represented.

4.4. Generally, reps are educated and more-Generally, reps are educated and more-capable citizens who can devote time capable citizens who can devote time needed to solve complex problems.needed to solve complex problems.

11.. Decision making is time consuming. Decision making is time consuming. Desire of representatives to please Desire of representatives to please everyone may cripple system.everyone may cripple system.

2.2. Representatives may not always agree Representatives may not always agree with those they represent.with those they represent.

3.3. Lack of involved citizenry may Lack of involved citizenry may allow special interest groups to allow special interest groups to influence or dominate representatives.influence or dominate representatives.

In a democracy….

Individual freedom and equality is valued.

Free elections are held

Decisions are based on majority rule.

All candidates can express their views freely.

Citizens vote by secret ballot.

Democratic Governments

There are two major forms of democratic governments:ParliamentaryPresidential

In a parliamentary form of democratic government, the people vote for those who represent the political party they feel best represents their views of how the government should operate.

The legislature they elect, parliament, makes and carries out (enforces) the laws for the country.

The leader of a parliamentary form of government is usually chosen by the party that winds the majority of representatives in the legislature.

This leader is often called a prime minister or premier and is recognized as the head of the government.

The prime minister leads the executive branch of the government and must answer directly to the legislature for the actions and policies recommended.

In many parliamentary governments, a head of state (president or king/queen) serves as ceremonial leader

The actual work of the parliament is led by the prime minister, who represents the leading political party in the country.

He or she rules with the help of a cabinet, or group of advisors.

A prime minister may be voted out of office if the party he or she leads lose power

Presidential Democracy

Voters elect legislators

Voters elect (indirectly) the president.Therefore, in the presidential system voters

have a more direct say about those who serve in two branches of the government :

LegislativeExecutive

A A presidentialpresidential form of democratic government has a president, or chief form of democratic government has a president, or chief executive, that is chosen separately from the legislatureexecutive, that is chosen separately from the legislatureThe legislature passes the laws, and it is the duty of the president to see The legislature passes the laws, and it is the duty of the president to see that the laws are enforcedthat the laws are enforcedThe president holed power separately from the legislature, but he does The president holed power separately from the legislature, but he does not have the power to dismiss the legislature or force them to make not have the power to dismiss the legislature or force them to make particular lawsparticular lawsThe president is the official head of the governmentThe president is the official head of the governmentThe legislature does not have the power to dismiss the president, except The legislature does not have the power to dismiss the president, except in extreme cases when the president has broken a lawin extreme cases when the president has broken a lawThe president is BOTH the lead of state and the head of the governmentThe president is BOTH the lead of state and the head of the government

Parliamentary System

Presidential System

ExecutiveExecutive LegislativeLegislative

CitizensCitizensCitizensCitizens

LegislativeLegislative

ExecutiveExecutive

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Ele

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Sel

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Sel

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Elect

Elect

COMMUNISM

a theory advocating elimination of private property.

 a system in which goods are owned in common and are available to all as needed.

Typically a one party system in which all political power rest with the party (i.e. China).

TheocracyTheocracyA form of government in which God or a A form of government in which God or a deity is recognized as the supreme civil ruler. deity is recognized as the supreme civil ruler. Often religious institutional representatives Often religious institutional representatives (i.e.: a church), replaces or is mixed into the (i.e.: a church), replaces or is mixed into the civilian government. Can be an Oligarchy, civilian government. Can be an Oligarchy, Representative Democracy, and even a Representative Democracy, and even a Monarchy.Monarchy.

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

There are three ways governments distribute power:UnitaryConfederationFederal

Unitary

One central government controls everything.

Power is not shared between states, counties or provinces.

Examples : United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, and Spain

Unitary government system Unitary government system – – the central government holds the central government holds nearly all of the power.nearly all of the power.Local governments such as state or county systems may have some Local governments such as state or county systems may have some power at certain times, but they are basically under the control of power at certain times, but they are basically under the control of the central government.the central government.Central government has the power to change the way state or Central government has the power to change the way state or county governments operate or abolish them altogether.county governments operate or abolish them altogether.Some unitary governments have elected officials who, once elected, Some unitary governments have elected officials who, once elected, may make and enforce laws without taking the opinions of those at may make and enforce laws without taking the opinions of those at lower levels of government into consideration.lower levels of government into consideration.In a In a monarchymonarchy (area ruled by a king or emperor), the ruler and his (area ruled by a king or emperor), the ruler and his advisors make most of the advisors make most of the decisions – this is an example decisions – this is an example of a unitary governmentof a unitary governmentMost African countries Most African countries have Unitary governmentshave Unitary governmentsOther African countries Other African countries have kings but most of them are kings of have kings but most of them are kings of particular tribes or ethnic particular tribes or ethnic groups and do not play a major role in the groups and do not play a major role in the day to day government of the day to day government of the countriescountries

Confederation

A voluntary association of independent states that agrees to follow a powerful central government.

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

Examples: Confederate States of America

( 1861-1865), Russian Federation.

A A confederation government system confederation government system is one in which the local is one in which the local governments hold all of the power and the central government depends governments hold all of the power and the central government depends on the local governments for its existenceon the local governments for its existenceThe central government has only as much power as the local The central government has only as much power as the local governments are willing to givegovernments are willing to giveThe The United Nations United Nations is a good example of a confederationis a good example of a confederationThe United Nations can only offer advice and assistance when the The United Nations can only offer advice and assistance when the member nations agree to cooperatemember nations agree to cooperateThis organization is a regional group organized to help the member This organization is a regional group organized to help the member countries cooperate on economic matters, encourage, cultural exchanges, countries cooperate on economic matters, encourage, cultural exchanges, and to help keep peace and stability inand to help keep peace and stability inthe region.the region.

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, Germany

Federal government system – a political system in which power is shared among different levels of government.

The states have some powers that the federal government does not have such as the right to collect property taxes and determine sales taxes.

The national government (or central government) also has some powers that the state does not, such as the right to declare war and make treaties with foreign countries

In the Middle East, Israel is an example of a Federal government