Systems of Government

1. Systems of Government

2. Absolute Monarchy • Form of government where the ruler has complete authority over the government and the lives of the people he or she governs

3. Absolute Monarchy • Unrestricted Power • Gain power through heredity or marriage • “Divine Right of Kings” • Positives? • Negatives?

4. Modern Examples • King MswatiIII, Swaziland

5. Modern Examples • King Abdullah, Saudi Arabia

6. Constitutional Monarchy • a monarchy governed according to a constitution that limits and defines the powers of the monarch

7. Constitutional Monarchy • Limited Power • Today most monarchs give up power, position is title only • Pros: • Govern by rules, not personal feelings • Cons: • Irrelevant • Expensive

8. Modern Examples • King Abdullah II, Jordan

9. Modern Examples • Sheikh Saad Al Abdullah Al Salim Al Sabah, Kuwait

10. Parliamentary Democracy • Form of government in which the party with the greatest representation in the parliament (legislature) forms the government, its leader becoming prime minister or chancellor. • The parties in the minority serve in opposition to the majority and have the duty to challenge it regularly. • The prime minister may be removed from power whenever he loses the confidence of a majority of the ruling party or of the parliament

11. Parliamentary Democracy

12. Parliamentary Democracy

13. Parliamentary Democracy • Members of Parliament elected to serve a certain period of time • Early Elections Possible • Need majority to stay in power • Pros: • Avoid legislative gridlock • Accountability • Easily Replaceable • Cons: • Easily Replaceable

14. Modern Examples • India

15. Modern Examples • Japan

16. Presidential Democracy • A system of government where an executive branch is led by a president who is often elected by the people. This branch exists separately from the legislature.

17. Presidential Democracy • Direct Elections, President elected by people • Checks & Balances: President and legislature work separate from each other • President and Legislature serve fixed terms • Pros: • People decide • Checks & Balances • Stability • Cons • Gridlock

18. Modern Examples • United States

19. Modern Examples • South Africa

20. Dictatorship • The form of government in which absolute power is exercised by a single person/dictator.

21. Dictatorship • Dictator holds unlimited power • Censorship • One-party rule • Pros: • Actions easily taken • Cons: • Oppressive • Strict rules, little freedom

22. Modern Examples • North Korea

23. North Korean Propoganda

24. Theocracy • Form of government in which the official policy is to be governed by immediate divine guidance or by officials who are regarded as divinely guided • Government guided by specific religion

25. Theocracy • “Rule of God” • "God” himself is recognized as the head of the state • Hierarchy of the government identical with the administrative hierarchy of the religion or…. • Government hierarchy subordinate to the religious hierarchy

26. Modern Example • Iran