Forms of Government

1. Forms of Government Chapter 1, Section 2 Mrs. Huston

2. Who Cares? You Should • There are different types of governments • How do we classify or group them? • How do they compare?

3. Classify by … • who can participate in the governing process? • How is the governmental power distributed geographically? • What is the relationship between the legislative and executive functions of the government?

4. Participation • Democracy: the supreme political authority belongs to the people. The only powers the government has are those given to it by the people.

5. Types of Democracies • Direct: where the people make all their own decisions in mass meetings. • Is that practical? • Why or why not?

6. Indirect democracy: this is also known as representative democracy. A small group of people, chosen by all the people allowed to vote in a particular system, represents the popular will. • They are responsible for carrying out the day to day business of the government

7. Republic vs. democracy • In a republic the power is held by those eligible to vote; they choose their representatives who are responsible to them • In a democracy, some say, all the people would have equal amounts of political power

8. Dictatorship • Those who rule are not held responsible to the people they govern • No accountability • Autocracy: where a single person holds unlimited political power • Oligarchy: where the power is held by a small, elite group

9. Geographic Distribution of power • Three types • Unitary • Federal • confederate

10. Unitary • Also sometimes called a centralized government • Local agencies only have the power that the central government chooses to give them • MOST countries in the world have this form of government

11. federal • The powers of government are divided between a central government and various local governments • Neither level can change that division of power alone

12. Confederate • This is an alliance of independent states • The central government only has the power to handle what responsibilities the members have assigned to it • Often the central government cannot make laws that apply directly to individuals

13. Confederations, continued • They are rare in modern times • The closest thing in the world today is the European Union • Currently has 27 members • Have a common currency • Try to co-ordinate foreign and defense policies of members

14. Which type does the US have?

15. Legislative and executive • Two basic forms • Presidential • Parliamentary

16. Presidential • separates the power between the legislative and executive branches • The two branches are independent and coequal • Chief executive is chosen by the people, separate from the legislature, and has a fixed term • U.S. is the prime example in the world

17. Parliamentary • The executive branch is the prime minister or premier and the cabinet (advisors) • Prime minister is the leader of the majority political party or a coalition of parties • The executive only remains in office as long as they have the support of the majority of the legislature

18. Parliamentary, continued • If they receive a vote of no confidence, they must resign and elections are held • It avoids the problem of prolonged conflict and gridlock • Doesn’t have the checks and balances of the presidential system

19. Which is the best form of government? Why?

20. The end