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Comparative Government

Explore various government systems worldwide - Absolute Monarchy, Constitutional Monarchy, Parliamentary Democracy, Presidential Democracy, Dictatorship, Theocracy, Totalitarianism. Learn about leader acquisition, citizen participation, powers, and limitations.

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Comparative Government

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  1. Comparative Government

  2. Essential Questions • How is the leader chosen, or how does the leader acquire power? • Given the manor in which the leader is decided, are they qualified to lead? • What powers or limits on powers does the leader have? • What advantages and disadvantages does each type of government have? • What opportunities for citizen participation are there in each government?

  3. Absolute Monarchy • Leader is a monarch (king or queen) • Leader is decided through hereditary lineage (by birth) • Leader is groomed by birth to lead • There is no limit to the monarch’s power, so citizens have no rights • Examples: France until 1789, Russia until 1917, Saudi Arabia today

  4. Constitutional Monarchy • Head of state is either through hereditary lineage or elected • Shares power, or is merely a figurehead, with a prime minister • Power of monarch is limited by a constitution that gives citizens rights • Examples: United Kingdom today

  5. Parliamentary Democracy • Prime minister is elected to be the head of government • People elect a legislature which then elects the head of government, so no true separation of powers • Leader can be removed for unpopularity with a “vote of no confidence” • Power of government is limited through a constitution, so citizens are guaranteed rights • Example: United Kingdom today

  6. Presidential Democracy • Leader is popularly elected as president • Has a complete separation of powers (with checks and balances guaranteeing no part of government gets too powerful) • Leader can be impeached for misconduct (high crimes or misdemeanors) • Government power is limited by a constitution guaranteeing citizens rights • Example: United States today

  7. Dictatorship • Leader acquires power through force • Has no laws or legally-organized opposition telling the leader what they can do • Equivalent to a police state • Considered exact opposite of a democracy • Involves constant indoctrination through propaganda to erase any potential for dissent • Examples: North Korea today, Cuba today, Iraq under Sadam

  8. Theocracy • Leader is either oligarchy or autocracy of ruling priests • Government is ruled through religious authority (This is basically a dictatorship, but the basis of rule is a strict religious command) • Citizens have no rights that conflict with religious doctrine • Examples: Iran today, the Vatican today, Afghanistan under the Taliban

  9. Totalitarian Governments • Totalitarianism • The state controls every aspect of public and private life • The ruler(s) have TOTAL control/power • Keep power by disseminating (spreading) propaganda through state-controlled media, restricting free speech, controlling the economy, creating a personality cult, and use of terror tactics

  10. Propaganda • Widespread promotion of particular ideas to further your cause or damage an opposing one • Indoctrination • The act of teaching particular doctrines, beliefs, or ideas of a party or cult

  11. Examples of totalitarian states: • Nazi Germany • Soviet Union • Mao Zedong’s Communist China • Khmer Rouge of Pol Pot in Cambodia • Saddam Hussein’s Iraq • North Korea today under Kim Jong-Il

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