Types of Government

1. Types of Government Lesson 3

2. Lesson 3, Part 1 Types of Government

3. Types of Government • The type of government a nation has can be classified as one of three main types: • Democracy • Direct Democracy • Representative Democracy/Republic • Monarchy • Constitutional Monarchy • Dictatorship

4. Democracy • A type of government where government authority is based on people’s consent • Direct Democracy: When the people vote on ALL issues directly. • Representative Democracy: People elect / vote for representatives to make government decisions for them. • Not ALL decisions are made by the representatives. • Many issues are voted on by the people.

5. History of Democracy • Athens: The First Democracy • Arose in ancient Athens(Greece) in the 5th century B.C. • The word democracy is Greek for “people-power.” • Citizens of Athens assembled to make important decisions facing their city-state. • They voted on issues directly • Direct democracy

6. History of Democracy • The Romans developed the first representative democracy. • Different social groups elected their own representatives • Met in assemblies like the Senate. • These representatives elected Consuls to act as executives. • Ran the government and enforced the laws.

7. History of Democracy • Later in history, various countries developed their own national assemblies of elected representatives. • In England, landowners elected representatives to the House of Commons, one of two houses in the English Parliament. • When the English set up colonies in N.A. each colony had its own colonial legislature. • After the United States became independent, it created an elected national assembly known as Congress.

8. History of Democracy • In a democracy, people also enjoy certain basic individual rights, like free speech. • This gives then the confidence to criticize the government freely.

9. Monarchy • A form of government where the ruler inherits power to control the government (hereditary rule) and he decides what decisions are to be made. • Constitutional Monarchy: A government w/ a monarch as head of state and a parliament or other legislature that makes the laws. (modern) • Absolute Monarchy: the monarch exercises ultimategoverning authority as head of state and head of government; his or her powers are NOT LIMITED by a constitution or by the law. (traditional)

10. Monarchy • Oldest of the 3 forms of government. • The pharaoh of Egypt was a powerful monarch. • Main characteristic: ruler inherits power. • When the ruler dies, power automatically passes to one of the monarch’s children or close relatives.

11. History of a Monarchy • In older forms, the king or queen claimed absolute power over his or her subjects. • Rulers claimed to hold their power by “divine right”- or the will of God. • Ordinary people had no rights or freedoms, except those the monarch allowed. Charles I, being crowned by a hand from a cloud, possibly by God

12. History of a Monarchy- continued • In England, in 1215, King John signed the Magna Carta. • A document that limited the king’s power in England. • Gave citizen’s freedom from prison and protection of their property, except after a trial by a jury or according to the laws of the land. • Limited the king’s right to raise new taxes.

13. History of a Monarchy- continued • In more recent times, many monarchs have shared power with an elected legislature • Subjects of the monarch enjoy many traditional, protected rights. • This is the constitutional monarchy. • Example: Great Britain • Today, Britain has a hereditary monarch and an elected Parliament. • The monarch serves as a symbolic head of state, while elected officials in Parliament govern the country.

14. Lesson 3, Part 2 Types of Government

15. Dictatorship • A system of government in which a single person or small group of people has the power and tells everyone else what to do. • NOT power inherited and usually gained by seizing power violently by force.

16. Dictators • Dictators seize control by force, or is placed into a position of authority by others. • Free to do as they please, while other citizens in a dictatorship have few rights. • Ordinary citizens in a dictatorship have very little influence over government policies.

17. Dictatorship • Main advantage: Decisions can be made quickly. • In ancient times, the Romans appointed a dictator when they were at war and in needed strong leadership. • When the war was over, the dictator was supposed to give up his power. Rome’s Julius Caesar was a dictator.

18. 20th Century Dictators • In the 20th century, modern dictators like Adolf Hitler in Germany, Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union (modern day Russia), and Saddam Hussein in Iraq seized power.

19. 20th Century Dictators • Each of these brutal dictators used modern technology to impose their will on fellow citizens • Radio and television, magazines and movies were controlled by the dictator and repeated the dictators views. • Other views were suppressed.

20. 20th Century Dictators • Individuals had no rights and very little influence over the government. • Those who spoke out against the dictator were sent to concentration camps or gulags, where they were severely punished or killed. • The dictator was NOT limited by the rule of the law or any other restraints.

21. Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens • Democracy • People participate in govt. decision-making by voting and running for office. • They also enjoy many basic individual rights. • Monarchy • A FEW people participate by advising the monarch. • Dictatorship • People have NO right to criticize or oppose government actions; however, • They can participate in activities organized by the GOVERNMENT.

22. Other “Types” of Government • Theocracy • A government ruled by religious leaders. • Islamic Fundamentalism: A movement that seeks to convert the world to the strict codes of behavior and laws of Islam. • It dates back several hundred years.

23. More on Theocracy • The idea that government ideas are based, or follow the beliefs of ideas of a certain religion. • Example: An Islamic state is a state that has adopted Islam, specifically Sharia, as its foundations for political institutions, or laws, exclusively, and has implemented the Islamic ruling system.

24. Just to think about it??? • Can the United States be considered a Theocracy? • Why?

25. Political Cartoons- Democracy, Monarchy, Dictatorship, or Theocracy

26. Political Cartoons- Democracy, Monarchy, Dictatorship, or Theocracy