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Forms of Government. “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others” . Classifying Governments. What is the best form of government? No two governments are alike Arise out of particular needs . Three Classifications . Who can participate in governing process
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Forms of Government “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others”
Classifying Governments • What is the best form of government? • No two governments are alike • Arise out of particular needs
Three Classifications • Who can participate in governing process • Geographic distribution of governmental power within the state • Relationship between legislative and executive branch
Who can participate? • One of the most important classifications • Lets consider two basic forms • Democracies • Dictatorships
Democracy • Can be direct or indirect • Direct: will of people translates into public policy • New England town meetings • Does not exist on National level anywhere • Indirect: Group of people chosen by population express the popular will • Representative democracy, Republic • America, Ancient Rome
Democracy • Americans use term democracy, republic, representative democracy, and republican form of government interchangeably. • Each of the above are a different form of government • In democracy bottom line is that the people are sovereign
Dictatorship • Rulers not held responsible to will of the people • Oldest form of government in the world • Can be an autocracy, or an oligarchy
Dictatorship • Autocracy • Single person holds unlimited political power • Oligarchy • Political power held by small elite group • All are authoritarian • Absolute power over the people • Totalitarian: complete power over human affairs
Dictatorship • Militaristic in general • Usually gain control through force • Illusion • Often hold elections • Multiple government bodies
Geographic Distribution of Power • Power to govern is located in multiple places • Three basic models • Unitary • Federal • Confederate
Unitary Government • Centralized government • Central government creates local units • British government is perfect example • Parliament holds the power • Creates smaller government organizations to help
Federal Government • Powers divided between central and local governments • Authority superior to both governments creates the division of powers • Modern US, Australia, Canada, Mexico, etc
Confederate Government • Alliance of independent states • Central government has limited power • Allows states to maintain identity but come together for common good • EU is best modern example. CSA, Iroquois
Relation: Legislative—Executive • Another way to examine roles of government • Presidential and Parliamentary
Presidential Government • Executive and legislative separate and coequal • Have separate powers over one another • Invented by the US
Parliamentary Government • Executive is prime minister and that officials cabinet • PM and cabinet are part of legislator • PM is chosen by most powerful group of parliament • Executive is part of legislator and under its control
Parliamentary Government • PM only keeps control with confidence of parliament • Vote of no confidence • Can remove PM or reset all of parliament • Parliament can avoid deadlock with this structure • Checks and balances non existent