Forms of Government

1. Forms of Government Chapter 1 Section 2

2. orange - parliamentary republics green - presidential republics, executive presidency linked to a parliament yellow - presidential republics, semi-presidential system blue - presidential republics, full presidential system red - parliamentaryconstitutional monarchies in which the monarch does not personally exercise power magenta - constitutional monarchies in which the monarch personally exercises power, often (but not always) alongside a weak parliament purple - absolute monarchies brown - republics where the dominant role of a single party is codified in the constitution beige - states where constitutional provisions for government have been suspended grey - countries which do not fit any of the above systems

3. Its all Greek to me! • cracy = power • archy = rule • auto = self • oligos = few • demos = people

4. Who Can Participate • Democracy • Political authority rests with the people • Direct – public policy directed by citizens • Pros? Cons? • Indirect – representatives for government • Pros? Cons? • Reps. Responsible for public policy on behalf of constituents “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” - Abraham Lincoln

5. Who Can Participate • Dictatorship • Government not accountable to the people • Oldest most common form of government • Autocracy – single person holds unlimited power • Oligarchy – power to rule is held by few

6. Dictatorship • All are authoritarian – unchallenged by the people • May control every aspect of your life • Votes are often taken, but usually controlled • Legislative bodies exist • Typically militaristic in nature

7. Geographic Distribution of Power • Unitary Government – Central government • May distribute power to local governments • Can be unitary & democratic at the same time

8. Federal Government – power is divided between a central and several local govts. • Power above both creates a division of power, that neither can change alone • US – national and state governments

9. Confederate Government – alliance of independent states • Central government has limited power • Typically only to orchestrate a defense • Allows states to keep their identity

10. Legislative and Executive Branches • Presidential Government – separate powers of executive and legislative • Independent, but coequal • Can block each other out (checks)

11. Parliamentary Government – executive is from the parliament (prime minister) • Leader of the majority party • Remain in power until they lose support of the majority of the party • Lost of confidence • Parliament may as a whole go to the voters • Helps avoid deadlock

12. Comparing Presidential and Parliamentary Systems of Government Presidential System Parliamentary System Voters Voters British Parliament Prime Minister Gordon Brown U.S. House of Representatives President Barack Obama