Categories of Governments
Democratic vs. Authoritarian
Authoritarian governments are those in which all power lies in the
hands of one person or a small elite (select) group. Personal freedom is
limited through strict use of police power. Schools and religious groups are
carefully controlled. Free speech is not tolerated (allowed). The radio, press
and television systems are typically government-run. The government has usually
come to power as a result of a revolution, or by a coup d'etat,
usually by military force. The economic system is usually
controlled by the government as are the factors of production: land, labor & capital. Authoritarian
forms of government include: Totalitarian Dictatorship, Oligarchy
and Absolute Monarchy.
Democracy is government by
consent--the consent of the
citizens. In a democratic society, the people have sovereignty; ultimate power resides with them. Democracies have elections in which choices can be made, a
political party system, constitutional and legal protection of rights and liberties, and government
with limited power. Government is
based on the people's free expression of opinions. All people are supposed to
be treated equally under the law.
They have rights that cannot be taken away by government. Underlying these
basic ideas are the beliefs that governments are created by people, should
govern with the consent of the governed,
and that people have the right to change the government. The economic
system usually is free from control
of the government (at least in part).
These forms include: Direct and Representative Democracy, Constitutional Monarchy.
Excerpted
from: SIRS Knowledge Source
Directions: Read the list of characteristics below, and write
them in the correct box on the diagram that follows.
1.
China
2.
Cuba
3.
Americans elect
new President
4.
Saudi Royal
family quick to cut oil production
5.
Japanese
Parliament votes to shorten work day
6.
Bill debated in
Congress for 6 months
7.
North Korean
leader’s name is only one on ballot
8.
Germany
9.
Parliament
restricts power of the Queen
10.
Swiss citizens
vote on new school bond
11.
Zimbabwe
12.
Author publishes
book criticizing President
13.
Democrats and
Republicans to choose Presidential Nominees
14.
Sudanese
government bans all political parties
15.
Iran
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Authoritarian
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Democratic
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Comparing Political
Systems/Types of Government
Although every country’s political system may operate
differently, all political systems can be placed in two separate
categories: Democratic or Authoritarian. Democratic systems are based on a limited
form of government where the people
consent to be governed and the government’s protection of individual rights; these systems
include: Direct Democracy, Representative
Democracy, and Constitutional
Monarchy. Authoritarian systems are unlimited forms of government where there
are no limits on the power of the leader(s), power is usually taken and kept
through the use of force, and individual
rights are not protected; these systems include: Absolute
Monarchy, Oligarchy and Totalitarian Dictatorship.
Authoritarian Governments:
Absolute monarchy is rule by one
person who claims power from inheritance which means it is passed down from one
family member to another, or as God has picked them to rule. For thousands of
years, rule by monarchs (kings or
queens) was the common form of government. The monarch is often the head of the state and of the official
religion. Saudi Arabia and Jordan are both examples of absolute monarchs.
Oligarchy means rule by the few.
A small group governs the nation. Oligarchs
may be military leaders, political party
leaders, wealthy business owners or any other small group that gains control of
government. In oligarchies, one individual may officially lead the country, but
political power and decision making is in the hands of the group. For example, in China today, there is a
leader known as the Premier, however, the Communist Party actually runs the
country.
Dictatorship is rule by an
individual who holds complete, or totalitarian,
control over the government. Germany under Hitler,
Italy under Mussolini, and Franco's Spain were dictatorships. In dictatorships,
there may be some characteristics of democracy,
but they are meaningless. Elections are faked, and citizens are required to
vote without having any real choice between parties or leaders. Dictators usually surround themselves
with loyal followers. The state and the dictator are one and the same. In some
cases, a leader who originally represented an oligarchy becomes a dictator
when he or she gains enough personal power to be unchallenged. Joseph Stalin of
the Soviet Union and Mao Zedong of China became dictators when they gained
total control of the Communist parties that put them in power. Current examples include Kim Jong Un of North
Korea, and Raul Castro of Cuba.
Democratic Governments:
Direct democracy exists when the
citizens vote directly on government decisions.
In this system, the majority vote
of the citizens determines all government decisions. Direct
democracy is still practiced in some small New England towns as well as in
certain Swiss cantons (counties). Elements of direct democracy are also found in states where citizens can
propose, or start legislation.
Representative Democracy is the
more usual form of democratic government today. In this system, elected
legislators represent the people in making laws and deciding public issues.
These lawmakers are responsible to the people and may be removed from office
through regular elections. A government in which people elect representatives
is known as a republic. This is the system that we use in the United
States. Voters select through elections
who they wish to represent them at each level of government.
Constitutional Monarchy
is the limited type of Monarchy
where the ruler’s power is limited by a Constitution. The ruler usually has to consult an elected assembly of the people or
religious leaders. This type of
government evolved in England. Starting
with the Magna Carta, the English monarch’s power has been limited. Overtime a representative assembly evolved
and gained power over the Monarch. Today, England’s monarch has little power; most power resides in the elected body
known as Parliament.
Summarizing Political Systems/Types of Government
Directions: Using the information provided, complete the
chart below.
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Form of Government
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What is it?
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Advantages
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Disadvantages
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D
E
M
O
C
R
A
T
I
C
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Direct
Democracy
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Representative Democracy
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Constitutional Monarchy
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A
U
T
H
O
R
I
T
A
R
I
A
N
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Absolute Monarchy
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Oligarchy
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Totalitarian
Dictatorship
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Applying Political Systems/Types of
Government
Directions: Read each item below and decide
which Political System it best represents
(Direct Democracy,
Representative Democracy, Constitutional Monarchy, Absolute Monarchy,
Oligarchy, Totalitarian Dictatorship)
1. __________________ One person rules, usually
a military leader.
2. __________________ Power is inherited, the
leader has all the power.
3. __________________ A small group of people
has the power.
4. __________________ In Great Britain
Parliament and the Queen share power.
5. __________________ In Cuba a military leader
seized all the power.
6. __________________ A single royal family
rules like Saudi Arabia.
7. __________________ The United States where
elected officials make decisions for the people.
8. __________________ Germany held elections for
the legislature.
9. __________________ Power is inherited, but
shared with an elected legislature.
10. _________________ One political party rules
as a group such as the Communist party in China.
11. _________________ The ruler believes they
have the right to rule from God.
12. _________________ The power of the monarch is
limited by a legislative branch.
13. _________________ The people vote on all
government decisions.
14. _________________ Free and open elections.
END OF DOCUMENT
FORMS OF GOVERNMENT
Directions: Read the information below and complete the
activities that follow.
There are three basic forms of government that characterize
the way power is distributed or divided within a country: unitary,
federal and confederate. A country's
size often influences how it divides political power. In large countries, like
the United States , Canada , Australia ,
and Russia
Many small countries, such as England ,
France
Often small countries or political areas (states, regions,
provinces) will ally (become friends) with one another for the purpose of group
defense and trade. This alliance form of
government is known as a confederate
system. In this system each
political area or country remains independent or sovereign, but agrees to give up some power to a national
government to protect them and promote
trade.
The United
States Britain
When the United States
first broke from Great
Britain Annapolis ,
Maryland
In 1783 delegates met in Philadelphia to create this new Constitution; a federal system was created to distribute power between the states
and national government. The federal system provided for power to be
shared between the national and state governments, with the national government
having supremacy (power) over the
states. The national government was
given more power than it had under the confederate
system, including the power to tax.
Many states were unhappy with the federal
system; afraid that the federal
(national) government would become too powerful
Applying Forms of Government
Directions: Using the information from the previous page complete
the chart below.
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Form of
Government/Description
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Advantages
|
Disadvantages
|
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Directions:
Identify the form of Government for each of the following
characteristics; write the correct term in the space provided.
1. ____________________________ Strong
central government makes all decisions
2. ____________________________
Loose alliance of states
3. ____________________________ Power is
shared between national and state governments
4. ____________________________ Often
authoritarian
5. ____________________________ Weak or no
central government
6. ____________________________ Created
mostly for trade and defense purposes
7. ____________________________ Absolute
monarchies
8. ____________________________
Representative Democracies
9. ____________________________ Head of
state has complete control over the military
10. ____________________________ Most power
is retained (kept) by the states
11. ____________________________ The
colonies under the rule of King George III
12. ____________________________ The
newly free United States
13. ____________________________ The United States
14. ____________________________ Decision
making process is very quick
15. ____________________________
Can be very unstable
END OF DOCUMENT
Economic Systems and Theories
Many economic systems and theories have existed throughout history and
across the globe, however 4 basic systems can be identified; they include: Command,
Market, Mixed Market and Traditional. The three major economic theories are Communism, Socialism and Capitalism.
Traditional
economic systems are perhaps the oldest and are based on a
particular group’s customs and traditions.
These systems are often found in tribal communities, and remnants of a traditional economy can be seen in the
other types of systems. Resources are
owned by the tribe/tribal leaders and are allocated (given out) based on the
customs and needs of the group. Custom
dictates the economic opportunities within the community – for example if your
father was a bricklayer then the male sons would be bricklayers. Life is simpler in this system since
decisions are made for you. There is no
worrying about your career path or education; these have been predetermined by
custom. Often these traditional systems
can hold back economic growth. Customs
can sometimes come in the way of allowing better economic decisions to be made;
technology is rarely accepted in this economic system. Often these societies tend to be based on agrarian
(farming) economic activities.
A market economy allows
buyers and sellers or “the Market” to determine the answers to the basic economic
questions. By purchasing goods and
services buyers signal to sellers that more of these items should be produced. When buyers choose not to purchase an item
this signals to sellers that they should reduce production. Characteristics of this system include
private ownership, individual initiative/entrepreneurial spirit, free
enterprise, competition, freedom of choice and profit/loss. Capitalism
is the theory that supports this economic system. Under the Capitalist theory productive
resources are privately owned and operated.
Capital for production comes from private investors who want to make a
profit. Government may promote
competition and provide some public goods under this theory, but for the most
part stays out of the economy. As
capitalism evolved workers were often exploited due to lack of government
regulation. Basic necessities were not provided because
people were expected to work and provide these items for themselves.
Over time governments began to take a more active role in the market economy. This role created a mixed-(market) economy – in which the government provides some
basic necessities and regulates the market.
For example the role of government in this type of economy might
include: keeping the market from
depressions and high unemployment, providing protections for workers and
consumers, setting a minimum wage, providing services for low income citizens,
while the consumers still keep their freedom of choice and private
property. This system combined with the
Capitalist theory serves as the basis of the U.S. economy.
In command economic systems
a central authority, usually the government, makes all decisions. State planners determine the needs of the
community and allocate resources to fulfill these needs. There is little to no competition within
this system and little to no private property ownership. Profit also does not exist within this
system, and there is no entrepreneurial spirit.
This system provides the basic needs for all the people (education,
health care, jobs), but rarely more than that.
Historically economic growth has not been a goal of this system, and due
to a lack of competition the quality of goods is often poor.
Communism is a philosophy
based on a command economic system, and was a reaction to the
negative effects of the Capitalist
system. In the Communist philosophy, all resources (used for production) are owned
by the government. Resources are
allocated by centralized planning, allowing the government to make all major
economic decisions. Socialism is a philosophy that advocates a partial command system
(it is the tradeoff between Communism and Capitalism).
In the Socialist philosophy
basic productive resources are
government owned and operated, the rest are privately owned and operated. For example all transportation and
communication systems are owned by the government, but the local car dealership
is privately owned. The government plans
ways to allocate resources in key
industries including energy, agriculture and transportation. Like Communism, Socialism provides many social services including education,
healthcare and jobs, however under Socialism;
there is still some choice on the part of the people as to what type of education,
healthcare and employment they want.
Reading Check
Economic Systems Directions: Use the reading
to match the system with its definition (Write the letter)
|
Applying
Economic Systems
Directions: Read each item below and decide which
economic system (Market,
Mixed-Market, Command or Traditional) is being identified; write the
correct system in the space provided.
1. _______________________ The government provides retirement pay and healthcare for
all workers.
2.
__________________________ The government sets national production goals
and prices of goods.
3.
__________________________ Supply and demand set the price of goods.
4.
__________________________ The basic economic questions are answered by
the market.
5.
__________________________ Technological advancements encourage economic
growth.
6.
__________________________ There is a strong emphasis on hunting and
farming.
7.
__________________________ Competition and private property ownership
are encouraged.
8.
__________________________ Large corporations compete for business.
9.
__________________________ Free trade is encouraged.
10.
_________________________ Inherited occupational roles.
11.
_________________________ The government requires licenses to practice
certain professions such as teachers,
doctors and lawyers.
12.
_________________________ The government provides job training programs
and student loans for those in
financial need.
13.
_________________________ The government gives tax breaks to encourage
women and minority businesses.
14.
_________________________ Little technology; very little to no economic
growth
15.
_____________________________ Quality of goods is often poor because
there is no competition
16.
_________________________ The government provides all basic needs for
the people: education, employment,
and healthcare.
17.
_________________________ Government raises minimum wage for workers.
END OF DOCUMENT
Unit 1A Cloze Notes
What is government?
The institution through which a makes and enforces its public
How Government Works
ž Powers
of government are often outlined in a ,
which is the fundamental laws setting out the principles, structures, and
processes of a .
What three kinds of power does every government have?
ž Legislative
power
ž Executive
Power
ž Judicial
Power
Legislative power
ž The
power to make and frame public
ž What
are the two assemblies of the legislative branch called?
ž House
of Representatives and the
Executive Power
ž The
power to execute, enforce, and laws.
Judicial Power
ž The
power to interpret ,
to determine their meaning, and to settle that arise within society.
The State
ž A
body of people, living in a defined ,
organized and with the power to make and enforce laws
without the consent of any higher authority.
Four Characteristics of a State
ž Population:
the living in the state
ž Territory:
land with known and recognized
ž . :
the supreme and absolute power within the state
ž Government:
the agency through which the government exerts its will and works to its goals
ž America
is based on the idea of -the
idea that the power comes from the people and government can only exist with
their consent.
Major Political Ideas and Theories
Force Theory
ž The
state was born through and war.
ž Belief
that a small group claimed an area and forced all within to to their will.
Evolutionary Theory
ž Idea
that the state developed out of the early
ž One
person was “head of the family”
ž Over
time, clans, or a network of related families, became a
Divine Right Theory
ž Belief
that God created the and given those of royal birth the right to
rule.
ž People
were bound to obey the ruler as they would
ž This
is also called an
ž Belief
held from 15th throughout18th centuries
Social Contract Theory
ž Evolved
from a time when humans were only as safe as their strength.
ž Individuals
created a contract with one another to keep each other safe, while giving up
rights for the state.
Forms of Government
Classifying Governments
ž There
are basic features that can classify a government
¡ 1.
Who can participate in the governing process
¡ 2.
The geographic distribution of governmental power within the state
¡ 3.
The relationship between the legislative and the executive branches of the
government
Types of Government
Democracy
ž System
of government where the for the exercise of powers rest with a
majority of the people
ž Types
of democracy
¡ Direct:
A pure democracy where the of the people is translated into policy directly by the people
¡ Indirect:
A democracy where a small group of persons are
chosen by the people to act as their representatives.
¡ Also called a
Dictatorship
ž System of government where the responsibility
for the exercise of power may be held by a person or a small group
ž Types
of a dictatorship
¡ . :
government in which a single person holds unlimited power
¡ . :
government in which a small elite hold unlimited power
ž All
dictatorships are , meaning those is power hold absolute and
unchallengeable power over people
ž Most
dictatorships are also ,
meaning the government has power over nearly every aspect of human affairs.
Geographic forms of Government
ž With
every government system, the power to govern is located in one or more places.
ž . :
system of government where all power belongs to a single central agency
¡ Examples:
Parliaments of United Kingdom and the Ukraine
ž . :
system of government in which the powers are divided between a central
government and several local governments
¡ Examples:
United States, Canada, Australia
¡ Division
of powers: Constitution provision in which governmental powers are divided
between central and local governments, on a geographic basis
ž . :
system of government where independent states have formed an alliance
¡ Examples:
European Union, Iroquois League
Presidential versus Parliamentary
ž Governments
are also classified based on the relationship between their and agencies.
Presidential Government:
A of powers between the executive and the
legislative branches of government. The branches are independent and coequal.
Parliamentary Government
ž Parliamentary
government: the branch is made up of a prime minister or
premier and that official’s cabinet.
ž The
official and cabinet members belong to the branch, which is called the Parliament.
ž The
prime minister is the leader of the majority in Parliament.
American Concept of Democracy
Rule of Law: the government and its officials are subject to the law!
Limited Government: individuals have rights the
government take away
Comparative Economic Systems
What is an economic system?
ž An way in which a state or nation allocates its
resources, goods, and services in the national community.
The Free Enterprise System
ž Economic
system characterized by of capital goods, investments made by private
decisions (not government directives) and success or failure determined by
competition in the market place.
ž These
decisions are made by the market based system of
ž When
supplies of goods and services are plentiful, prices go down. When supplies of
goods and services are scarce, prices go up
ž Based
on four fundamental factors:
¡ Private
ownership, Individual initiative, Profits, and Competition
Government’s Role in the Market
ž America
is a
¡ When
private enterprise exists in combination with a considerable amount of
government regulation and promotion
Socialism and Communism
Karl Marx
ž Father
of modern day
ž Critic
of
ž Believed
that capitalism was fatally flawed
¡ Workers
were abused and would overthrow upper-class and entire system
ž From
him, socialism and communism evolved
Socialism
Philosophy that the benefits of an economy should be equitably
distributed throughout a society
Characteristics of a Socialist Economy
ž Nationalization:
Placing enterprises under government control
ž Public
Welfare: equal distribution of necessities and services to all citizens
ž Taxation:
Taxing individuals around 50%
ž . :
The government plans how the economy will develop, with targets for production
and investment
Communism
A collective that calls for the state to own all land and
productive property
Characteristics of Communist Countries
ž Government
has %
control over decision making and the economy
ž Government
plans and supervises all in factories, farms, and stores.
ž Government
all enterprises, farms, transportation, and
industry.
1A Review Sheet
Systems of Government
(advantages/disadvantages/definition)
Federal System:
Unitary System:
Confederate System:
Democratic Systems
(advantages/disadvantages/definition)
Direct Democracy
Indirect Democracy (AKA
Democratic Republic or a Representative Democracy):
Constitutional Monarchy
Authoritarian Systems
(advantages/disadvantages/definition)
Absolute Monarchy
Oligarchy
Autocratic Dictator
Be able to explain what authoritarian and totalitarian mean and provide
examples
Purposes of Government
National security:
Public Services:
Vocab Terms: Popular
Sovereignty, Sovereignty, Rule of Law, Limited Government
Economic and Government
Systems:
Capitalism:
Socialism:
Communism:
Markets:
Command:
Market:
Mixed-Market:
Traditional:
Parliament v. Presidential
democracies:
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