Systems of Government
Classifying Government
Monarchy or Republic
Ask who makes the rules – a lifelong
leader or elected representatives?
Monarchy

A monarchy has a king, queen, emperor,
empress, etc.
 The ruling position can be passed on to the
ruler’s heirs.
 In some traditional monarchies, the monarch
has absolute power.
 But a constitutional monarchy, like the United
Kingdom, also has a democratic government
that limits the monarch's control.
Republic
A
republic is a country that has no
monarch.
 The head of the country is usually an
elected president.
Classifying Government
Democracy or Dictatorship
Ask who holds the power -- the people
or a small group of leaders?
Democracy
 In
a democracy, the government is
elected by the people. Everyone who is
eligible to vote has a chance to have his
or her say over who runs the country.
Dictatorship

A dictatorship is ruled by a single
leader. The leader has not been elected
and may use force to keep control.
 In
a military dictatorship, the army is in
control.
Classifying Government
Unitary or Federal
Ask whose authority is limited – regional
governments or the central government?
Federal or Unitary
Unitary - very strong central government;
states have weak authority (United
Kingdom)
Federal - central and states governments
share authority (United States)
Confederation - independent states agree
to certain limitations on their freedom of
action and establish a joint way to consult
(Switzerland)
Classifying Government
Parliament or President
Ask who is in charge – the legislative
branch or an elected president?
Quick Write
In 100 words or less please give me
YOUR explanation of the following
(please explain in your own words).
Difference between a Monarch and a
Republic.
How would you explain a Dictatorship to
someone who does not know what that
means?
Types of Monarchies
Parliamentary - The monarch does not make
policy; he or she is a figurehead. (United
Kingdom)
Absolute – The supreme power is in the hands of
a ruler who usually rules for life by hereditary life.
(Saudi Arabia)
Constitutional - The monarchy is guided by a
written constitution that lists laws and
responsibilities. (Japan, Bhutan)
Types of Republics
Representative Democracy - The people’s elected
representatives vote on legislation. (United States)
Federal Republic - The power of the central
government is restricted, the states or provinces
have some self-government, and ultimate power is
held by the voters who choose their representatives.
(United States, India)
Confederation - a combination of representative
democracy and direct democracy
Rule by Many
Democracy - a government in which the supreme
power is held by the people and exercised by them
directly or indirectly through a system of representation
(It usually involves periodically held free elections.)
--Constitutional Monarchy - Constitutional monarchy is a
form of government in which a king or queen acts as Head of State.
The ability to make and pass legislation resides with an elected
Parliament, not with the Monarch.
--Constitutional Democracy – is a form of government in
which representative democracy operates under the principles of
liberalism, i.e. protecting the rights of minorities and, especially, the
individual.
--Parliamentary Democracy – is a system of democratic
governance of a state in which the executive branch derives its
democratic legitimacy from, and is held accountable to, the legislature
(parliament); the executive and legislative branches are thus
interconnected.
Rule by Many
--Parliamentary Democracy – is a system of
democratic governance of a state in which the executive
branch derives its democratic legitimacy from, and is held
accountable to, the legislature (parliament); the executive and
legislative branches are thus interconnected.
(Great Britain, United States, Israel)
Rule by A Few
Oligarchy - a government by the few,
sometimes a government in which a small group
exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish
purposes (The citizen has a very limited role.)
--Communism - political theory derived from Karl Marx,
advocating class war and leading to a society in which all property is
publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their
abilities and needs.
--Totalitarianism - Form of government that subordinates
all aspects of its citizens' lives to the authority of the state, with a
single charismatic leader as the ultimate authority.
--Military Dictatorship - is a form of government different from
civilian dictatorship for a number of reasons: their motivations for
seizing power, the institutions through which they organize their rule,
and the ways in which they leave power.
--Theocracy - a system of government in which priests rule in
Rule by a Few (Con’t)
--Military Dictatorship - is a form of government
different from civilian dictatorship for a number of
reasons: their motivations for seizing power, the
institutions through which they organize their rule, and
the ways in which they leave power.
--Theocracy - a system of government in which priests
rule in the name of God or a god.
Rule by One
Autocracy - a form of government in which one
person possesses unlimited power and the citizen has
little if any role in the government
--Absolute Monarchy – is a monarchical form of
government in which the monarch has absolute power among his or her
people.
--Dictatorship – is a government or a social situation where
one person makes all the rules and decisions without input from anyone
else.
(Swaziland, Brunei)
[Interesting Note: The Sultan of Brunei, whose title has passed
within the same dynasty since the 15th century, is the head of state
and head of government in Brunei. There is no elected legislative
body.]
COMMON TERMS
Federal republic - USA, Austria, and Germany are republics governed by
representative democracy in which the states play a crucial role.
Confederation - Switzerland is a federal republic governed by a
combination of representative democracy and direct democracy.
Islamic Republic - Countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran are republics
governed in accordance with Islamic law.
People's Republic - Countries like China and North Korea are meant to be
governed for and by the people but generally without direct elections. This
name is generally used by communist states.
Democratic Republic – This term applies to the United States, but it is often
used by communists and it is similar in meaning to People's Republic.