Types & Systems of Government

1. Types & Systems of Government Unit 1: Foundation/theory of government & Constitutional Underpinnings

2. Types of government • Type of government: usually means who holds the power: • Autocracy • Oligarchy • Democracy • Pluralism theory • Elite & class theory • Hyper pluralist theory

3. Autocracy • Def: Power & authority to rule are in the hands of a single individual • Ex. Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, Castro • Characteristics: • Oldest & most common form of govt. • Get to power by inheritance, or ruthless police/military force • 2 types: • Totalitarian Dictatorship: total control of social & economic life • Monarchy: led by king, queen, emperor exercising full power • 2 types: • Absolute monarch: complete & unlimited rule over their people • Constitutional monarch: either share constitutional power with legislature, or are more ceremonial leaders

4. Oligarchy • Def: a type of government in which a small group holds power • All communist countries, Iran (theocracy) • Characteristics: • Group gets power from wealth, military power, social position, religion or combination of these • Mostly seen in communist countries: N. Korea, Cuba, Iran • Always pretending that are ruling for the people • All opposition is either suppressed, or eliminated

5. Democracy • Def.: a type of government in which rule is by the people, Greek term meaning people rule • USA, Chile, India, Japan, S. Africa • Characteristics: • People hold sovereign power • Individual liberty • Majority rule w/minority rights • Free elections • Competing political parties • 2 types: • Direct democracy: people rule themselves by voting directly on issues, can only exist in small societies • Representative Democracy: people elect representatives & give them responsibilities & power to make laws and conduct government, great for large countries, voters are source of power

6. Democracy: Pluralism • Def.: politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies • Ex. NRA, NOW, UAW • Characteristics: • a more positive theory, democratic way for people to get involved • Have open access to politicians & branches of govt • Compete with other groups for control over policy • No one group dominates • If they lose can take battle to another arena • Use bargaining & compromise to win people over • Groups of minorities working together to win

7. Democracy: Elite & Class Theory • Def.: societies are divided along class lines & that an upper class elite will rule, regardless of the formal niceties of governmental organization • Characteristics: • Created by critics of pluralist theory • Its not about who has power, but how power is distributed • 1% of population owns over 40% of wealth • They can control policy decisions since they can finance campaigns and control key institutions such as corporations • These few therefore not only control govt., but are the govt. • Who holds power in govt. is a minor compared to corporate giants • Ex. Ronald Reagan & 1980s an era for the elite & rich

8. Democracy: Hyperpluralism • Def.: groups (special interest) are so strong that government is weakened, influence of many groups cripples government’s ability to make policy • Characteristics: • A negative critique of pluralist theory • Too many groups try & control policy • Too much government; overlapping powers; hard to coordinate policy implementation • Groups have become sovereign & government their servant • When a group loses they take it to another part or branch • Ex. When a group loses in congress they take it to court to overturn • These groups divide govt. & its authority, govt. gives in to every group which leads to confusion & contradiction

9. Systems of government • System of govt. refers to: how the power is distributed across the state: • Unitary • Federal • Confederate

10. Unitary • Def.: All key powers & decisions given to the National/Central govt.: • Ex. Britain, Italy, France (works best in small land countries) • Characteristics: • Made up of central & provincial/state govt. • Power goes top to bottom • Power of local always checked by central govt.

11. Federal • Def.: power is divided between national, state, and local govt. • Ex.: USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia, India, Russia (usually big land mass countries) • Characteristics: • Power shared between all levels • Each with clear areas of sovereignty • Constitution supreme over all levels

12. Confederation • Def.: a loose union of independent states • Ex. Native tribes, USA under Articles of Confederation, Confederate states during Civil War • Characteristics: • Only unite for a limited few purposes • Economic or defense • A weak national government due to sovereignty of member states • Member states prefer it weak!