Types of Government

1. Types of Government Mr. Marinello * Chippewa Valley

2. Types of Government Mind maps • Brainstorm types of governments that you’ve heard of or read about. • Questions to ask yourself: • What kinds of governments exist? • What kind of leaders can be in charge of a country?

3. What did we think of?

4. Someone has to be in Charge • For most of human history there has been some form of government. • Governments are created as a way to order society • Provide protection • Stabilize commerce • Provide national identity • The question is “Who is in charge?”

5. Autocracy • A government in which one person (or small group of people) has all the power • Monarchy - A form of government in which sovereignty is actually or nominally embodied in a single individual • One of the oldest forms of government • Earliest monarchies date to over 5000 ago • Monarchies can be absolute or constitutional • Current monarchies • The United Kingdom (Constitutional) • Saudi Arabia (Absolute)

6. Autocracy • Dictatorship - An authoritarian form of government in which a government is ruled by either an individual or an authoritarian party • Dictatorship can exist alongside a constitution • All parts of the government serve the dictator • As old an the Roman Republic • An official is given absolute power over the government for a specific, limited period of time. • Current dictatorships • Cuba • Syria • North Korea

7. Democracy • A government where citizens hold the power. • Representative Democracy- Citizens elect leaders to represent their rights and interests in government. • Citizens hold the ultimate authority • Free and fair elections • Current Representative Democracies • The United States • France • Germany

8. Democracy • Direct Democracy - Citizens vote directly on issues and directly decide issues. • Most countries are too big for this to work • Ancient Athens was an example • Definition of “citizen” was limited • Current Direct Democracies • Two canton’s (states) in Switzerland are the only examples.

9. Other forms • Each of these can be seen as variation of the other stated forms. • Oligarchy - Rule of the country by a small elite group of people. • Similar to a Dictatorship • If the group are military officers it is called a “junta” • Examples of Oligarchies • South Africa (before 1994) • White minority population ran the state over black majority • Burma (before 2011) • Military junta since 1962

10. Other Forms • Theocracy - Rule of the country by an ultimate divine authority. • Religious law is supreme • One religious leader hold all the real power • Found in countries that are extremely religious • Can exist along side a constitution • Can be dictatorial • Current Theocracies • Iran (Muslim) • Vatican City (Christian)

11. Can there be overlap? Nazi Germany Iran Democracy Dictatorship Russia Zimbabwe

12. Can there be overlap? The United Kingdom Norway Democracy Monarchy Thailand Jordan

13. Can there be overlap? China Iran Oligarchy Dictatorship Russia (1990s) Burma

14. Can there be overlap? Iran Theocracy Dictatorship Vatican City

15. Can there be overlap? The United States? Democracy Oligarchy

16. What to Remember: • Who rules is key! • Autocracy • Rule of the one • Dictatorship • Monarchy • Oligarchy • Rule of the few • Junta • Democracy • Rule by all • Direct Democracy • Representative Democracy