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Citizen Participation in Government

Citizen Participation in Government. Autocratic, Oligarchic, & Democratic Unit 12 Notes. Citizen Participation . In each country, the people have different rights to participate in the government. In some countries, any citizen can run for office or vote in elections.

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Citizen Participation in Government

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  1. Citizen Participation in Government Autocratic, Oligarchic, & Democratic Unit 12 Notes

  2. Citizen Participation • In each country, the people have different rights to participate in the government. • In some countries, any citizen can run for office or vote in elections. • In other countries, there are restrictions placed on who can run for office and who can vote. • There are also countries where no citizen can vote and there are no elections.

  3. Autocratic Governments • have a single ruler with unlimited power • people have no ability to participate in the selection of the ruler or in the creation of laws • one benefit -- decisions for a country can be made quickly • however, the needs of the people may be ignored or unheard • leader may make poor or selfish decisions that hurt the people

  4. Autocracies of the World

  5. Oligarchic Governments • “rule by the few” • country is ruled by a small group of people • an advantage is that decisions can be made relatively quickly • compared to an autocratic system, oligarchies have more heads to think through problems and should make better choices • however, the people do not have a voice…

  6. Democratic Governments • This type of government puts the power of the government in the hands of the citizens of the country. • All citizens have the opportunity to be a leader, and all citizens have the opportunity to vote for leaders and laws. • All citizens are involved in the decision-making process of the government, and all groups are represented. • It can be slow to make decisions because all people must discuss & vote on the issues.

  7. This is a “Polity Data Series Map.” It tries to measure a country’s true democracy in government. It gives scores of -10 to +10. The countries in the lightest pink have the highest democracy score, the darker the color, the lower the democracy score.

  8. Democratic Governments • There are two predominate forms of democratic governments: • Parliamentary • Presidential • Both are designed to represent and protect the rights of the people.

  9. Parliamentary Democracy • Citizens elect members of parliament called MPs. • MPs choose a leader from among themselves called the prime minister. • The prime minister is the chief executive. • heads the military, enforces laws, and keeps the country running day to day • prime minister leads the lawmaking body -- parliament

  10. Parliamentary Democracy • MPs are elected to serve for a certain amount of time, but parliament can be dissolved and elections held again if the prime minister feels the government is not working well. • MPs can vote for a new prime minister in an election.

  11. Parliamentary Democracy • The country may have a king or queen with little ruling power or a president who serves as the head of state. • In a parliamentary system, the head of state is the symbolic leader of the country, but has little political power. • Examples: Australia, Canada, & the UK

  12. Presidential Democracy • The citizens elect the members of the legislature and the chief executive. • The president serves as the head of state, runs the government, and heads the military. • The president does not make the laws--the legislature does this. • The president serves for a fixed amount of time, then new elections are held. • Examples: US, Mexico, & most South American countries

  13. Government power increases Citizen power increases Autocratic Oligarchic Democratic Citizen power decreases Government power decreases

  14. Australia’s Democracy • an elected government runs the country • citizens over 18 may vote in an election every 4 years • failure to vote can result in a fine and a hearing in court

  15. Australia’s Democracy • voters elected members of parliament (MPs) • MPs represent the people’s interest in making laws • MPs choose a prime minister to lead the country • prime minister is the most powerful person in government • prime minister recommends a governor-general to the Queen (UK) • queen chooses a governor-general to perform duties as head of state and to represent her in Australia

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